Women’s Soccer Games of the Week (9/12 - 9/15)
This weekend starts conference play for some conferences, mainly the ACC, arguably the nation's top soccer conference. And there is no shortage of top games right out of the gate, as witnessed by Thursday's FSU-Wake Forest matchup.
#5 Florida State at #6 Wake Forest, Thursday, 7 pm ET
Wake Forest comes into the weekend undefeated and ranked sixth in the College Sports Madness ranking. Katie Stengel is the team's offensive star, as she not only has a team-high four goals, but four assists, also a team-high. Four other players have two goals and an assist each. Goalie Aubrey Bledsoe has given up only four goals in over 465 minutes and has made 11 saves. Wake has wins over schools like Kentucky, Alabama and Portland.
Florida State also comes in with an unblemished record, but with a tie last weekend to Oklahoma State. This will be just the second road game for the Seminoles, as their first was their trip to Gainesville to play Florida, a 3-0 win. Dagny Brynjarsdottir leads the team with three goal and three others have two. Goalie Kelsey Wys, the College Sports Madness Defensive Player of the Week after week two, has let up only two goals in 565 minutes of action. She has 10 saves and four shutouts.
Arizona State vs. Texas Tech at Tuscon, Ariz., Friday, 4:30 pm MT
ASU comes in with a single loss on its record, one to nationally ranked Texas A&M. It is coming off a weekend where it defeated both Illinois and Kansas. The Sun Devils have two huge offensive stars, Devin Mitchell and Cali Farquharson. Farquharson leads the squad with seven goals, while Mitchell has five. Chandler Morris has given up seven goals in over 466 minutes, but six of those have come in two games- three each to A&M and Illinois, which ASU pulled out a win in in double overtime. She also has 18 saves.
Tech comes into the weekend with a 5-1 record. ASU and Arizona will be arguably the team's toughest competition to date. Like many other teams, the Red Raiders' offense is equally distributed, with Hayley Haagsma and Janine Beckie each having three goals and three others having two. Haagsma also has a team-high three assists.
Minnesota at #15 Florida, Friday, 7 pm ET
The Gators have recovered nicely from their loss to FSU by sweeping Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and FIU by a combined score of 9-0. Savannah Johnson is the team's offensive star, having six goals on the young season. Havana Solaun is second on the squad with three scores, while five others have also scored. Taylor Burke has given up one goal in 405 minutes while saving 10 shots.
The Gophers come in with a perfect 6-0 record and are coming off of a sweep of LSU and Ole Miss to win their own invite. Katie Thyken has four goals, a team-high, on eight shots on goal and Josee Stiever has three goals. Three players have two assists each.
#12 Notre Dame at #1 North Carolina, Sunday, 1 pm ET
The ACC did the Irish no favors in their inaugural ACC season, sending them to play NC State and then the #1 team in the country on the road. Notre Dame is 20-1-1 in conference openers. Lauren Bohaboy leads the squad with five goals, while freshman sensation Morgan Andrews has three. Kaela Little has played all but eight minutes in goal and has 16 saves.
North Carolina comes in with a perfect 6-0 record, coming off of wins against highly-regarded West Virginia and UCLA. The Tar Heels have outscored their opponents 16-3 so far this season. Leading the offensive onslaught has been Crystal Dunn with six goals and Kealia Ohai with four. Ohai is also one of three players with three assists. Bryane Heaberlin and Anna Seiloff have split time in goal, with each starting three games.
#18 Denver at Colorado, Sunday, 1 pm MT
Denver comes into the in-state matchup with a 6-0 record, having allowed just three goals all season. Kristen Hamilton and Nicholette Digiacomo each have four goals and Hamilton has a squad-high four assists as well. Cassidy Rey has put up ridiculous numbers in goal. She has played 538 minutes, allowed three goals and saved 31 shots.
The Buffs also carry a 6-0 record into the weekend. Colorado has allowed just one goal all season. Brie Hooks and Anne Stuller are the Buffs' offense. Of the team's 13 goals, Hooks has six goals and Stuller five. Stuller also has four assists. Annie Brunner has played all but 5:31 in goal this season and has 17 saves, as well as five shutouts.
