PORTLAND, Ore. - Fresh off their first win of the season, the Portland State women's soccer team aims to keep the momentum going this week as they continue a four-match homestand, hosting Grand Canyon at Hillsboro Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 25 (1:00 p.m.)

The Vikings and Lopes will meet for just the second time in program history, with the match streaming live on ESPN+ and live stats available online (link below). Admission to Hillsboro Stadium is free for all fans.

VIKINGS SOCCER MATCH NOTES - WEEK 3

Grand Canyon (1-1-0) at Portland State (1-1-1)
Thursday, Aug. 28 | 1:00pm | Hillsboro, Ore. (Hillsboro Stadium)
Game links: Watch on ESPN+ |  Live Stats

GCU is coming off a strong 2024 campaign, finishing with an 11-6-3 overall record (.625) and a 5-1-1 mark in conference play. They entered the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Championship Tournament as the No. 2 seed but fell to fourth-seeded Cal Baptist, 3-2, in the final. Now set to compete in the Mountain West Conference in 2025, the Lopes return an experienced squad led by Mountain West Preseason Watch List selections Ellie Johannes (F), Neve Renwick (F), and AJ Lorea (MF). GCU was picked to finish fifth out of 13 teams in the Mountain West Preseason Coaches Poll released earlier this month.

SERIES HISTORY VS. GRAND CANYON

• Lopes lead the all-time series over Portland State, 1-0-0
• This week's match marks just the second-ever meeting between the two programs
• The first meeting was in 2018 when the Lopes defeated PSU 4–1 on their home field in Phoenix
• Thursday's match-up will be the first time the Vikings and Lopes face off in the state of Oregon

RECENT RESULTS

• The Vikings opened a four-match homestand with a 2-1 win over Western Oregon in their home opener at Hillsboro Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 24. All goals came in the second half: Yammile Picon put PSU ahead in the 57th minute, WOU equalized in the 71st, and Ocean Rideout scored the game-winner in the 81st for Portland State's first win of the year.
• The Vikings began the 2025 season on the road with a 2-2 draw at Iowa State (Aug. 14) and a 2-0 loss at Kansas State (Aug. 17). Aliayha Saldana scored a 30-yard unassisted goal in the 14th minute against Iowa State. After trailing, Kalo Iongi equalized in the 82nd with an assist from Carmen Lewis. Against Kansas State, PSU held a clean sheet for 72 minutes before conceding two late goals.

OFFENSE ON POINT 

• Portland State has recorded two multi-goal games this season—scoring twice against both Iowa State and Western Oregon—already doubling their total from 2024, when they managed just one multi-goal match all year.
• PSU recorded 26 shots with 15 on target in the win over WOU on Sunday—its highest single-game shot total since the 2023 season opener.

DIFFERENCE MAKERS 

• Aliayha Saldana leads the Vikings in three offensive categories: points (3 — 1 goal, 1 assist), shots (9), and shots on goal (5).
• Senior defender Liv Frazier remains a consistent force on the back line, appearing in 48 career matches (34 starts) with 3,427 total minutes. She played every minute of the 2024 season (1,640 minutes) and enters Thursday having played the full 90 in 33 straight matches (2,990 minutes) and started 35 in a row—both streaks dating back to August 2023.
• Three Vikings have already recorded career firsts this season: underclassmen Carmen Lewis (at Iowa State, 8/14) and Bianca Potesta (vs. Western Oregon, 8/24) each notched their first career assists, while junior Yammile Picon scored her first goal in a Viking uniform on Sunday against the Wolves (8/24).

SECOND-HALF SUCCESS 

• The Vikings have made a habit of finishing strong, scoring 31 of their 40 goals (78%) in the second half across the 2023 and 2024 seasons—including 11 of 13 goals (85%) in 2024 alone.
• That trend continues in 2025, with three of PSU's four goals so far coming after halftime. 
• Portland State is especially dangerous late, with the game-winner scored in the final 30 minutes in 9 of their last 13 victories.
• Senior forward Ocean Rideout continues to fuel the Vikings' late-game success. She scored her fourth career game-winner with under 10 minutes to play in Sunday's 2-1 win over Western Oregon (Aug. 24). Remarkably, five of her seven career goals have come in the final 12 minutes. Rideout has tallied 15 career points and has scored in each of her four seasons at PSU.

WHITNEY AT THE HELM

• Viking Head Coach Maureen Whitney is entering her ninth season with the Vikings, but 2025 marks her first year as the program's solo head coach.
• She joined the Portland State program in 2017 as an assistant coach under former Head Coach Katie Burton.
• After just one season, Whitney was promoted to Associate Head Coach prior to the 2018 campaign — a role she held for six seasons.
• Ahead of the 2024 season, she was elevated to co-head coach, sharing leadership duties with Burton.
• In January 2025, she assumed full leadership of the program, becoming the ninth head coach in Portland State history.
• During her time at PSU, Whitney has helped guide the Vikings to five Big Sky Conference Tournament appearances, including three semifinal finishes (2017, 2023, 2024).

2025 ROSTER RUNDOWN

• Despite graduating five key seniors last season, Portland State returns 22 players from its 2024 roster.
• Four of the Vikings' five 2024 all-conference selections are back: Liv Frazier, Elle Frazier, Aliayha Saldana, and Kalo Iongi.
• The Vikings boast a strong veteran presence, with nine players entering the season with three or more years of collegiate experience.
• The 2025 roster includes five newcomers: three true freshmen — Claire Masters, Bianca Potesta, and Wynn Farrell — and two transfers, Josie DeLine and Addi Sebren.

KEY RETURNERS 

• Aliayha Saldana and Liv Frazier were both named to the 2025 Big Sky Preseason All-Conference team 
• Saldana had a standout freshman season for the Vikings in 2024, becoming the first player in program history to be named Big Sky Freshman of the Year. She also earned Second Team All-Conference honors as a forward, tallying three goals, two assists, and a Big Sky-best 3.28 shots per game.
• Frazier was a First Team All-Big Sky selection in 2024 and helped power the Vikings to four shutouts and only 19 goals allowed — the program's fewest in a season since 2014.
• 2024 Second Team All-Big Sky defender, Kalo Iongi is back for her senior season. In 2024 she tallied 32 shots with 13 on-goal and played a crucial role in the Vikings' defensive success.
• Elle Frazier, a three-year starter for the Vikings and a 2024 Second Team All-Big Sky midfielder, will utilize her medical redshirt this season.

NEWCOMER NOTES

• Bianca Potesta (Fr., MF): Seattle, Wash. | Two-time First Team Metro League selection at Ballard High School
• Josie DeLine (Jr., D): Corbett, Ore. | Transferred from Weber State (two seasons)... all-Conference selection and three-time conference champion at Sam Barlow High School
• Addi Sebren (RS-Fr., D): Gig Harbor, Wash. | Transfer from UT Rio Grande Valley..did not appear in any matches as a freshman at UTRGV...attended Peninsula High School
• Claire Masters (Fr., F): Tigard, Ore. | Two-time all-league forward at Tigard High School...second Team All-State in 2024...also a member of the Portland State softball team
• Wynn Farrell (Fr., MF): Laguna Niguel, Calif. | Attended San Clemente High School...second Team All-League...2022–23 Crestview League champion

2024 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

• The Vikings finished the 2024 season with a 4-9-5 overall record, including a 2-3-3 mark in Big Sky play to place sixth and earn a third consecutive Big Sky Tournament berth.
• Reached the Big Sky semifinals for the second straight year, advancing past Eastern Washington in a dramatic opening-round shootout by converting all 7 penalty kicks, before falling 2-1 to Idaho.
• Five Vikings earned All-Big Sky honors, the program's most in a single season since 2014.
• Posted four shutouts and held opponents to just 19 goals during the regular season, the program's lowest number since 2014.
• The Vikings graduated five seniors in 2024, all of which were starters during the 2024 season.