Sept. 14, 2005
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Briefly
The Loyola Marymount women's soccer team hosts its annual tournament this weekend, and will face Oakland University on Friday at 4:00pm and the University of Georgia on Sunday at 1:00pm. USC is the fourth team in the field and will play in the first game on both days.
A Look Back
The Lions played another pair of overtime games last weekend, their fifth and sixth straight to open the season. Six overtime games to start the season breaks a WCC record. LMU started with a double overtime contest against Penn, recording a 2-2 tie. LMU took a 2-0 lead, but the Quakers tied the game in the final minute of regulation. LMU's game against Princeton was almost short in comparison, as the Tigers scored the game-winner in the third minute of overtime to take a 2-1 win. Lori Sims scored two goals on the weekend, while Michelle Kanama recorded her first career goal against the Tigers.
The Tournament Field
Oakland - The Grizzlies are 3-1 on the season. They opened with three straight wins, but fell to Northwestern in double overtime, 3-2, on Sept. 9th. Marianne Samdal leads all scorers with four goals and two assists on the year. A pair of players named Kristi - Kristi Swaving and Kristi Vandeberghe- have three goals and one assist each. Jessica Howard has a 0.97 GAA average. Oakland will play LMU on Friday and USC on Sunday.
Georgia - The Bulldogs are undefeated on the season at 6-0, and are ranked #29 by Soccer Buzz. Georgia has allowed just one goal on the season, and has scored 21 in six games. Ali Williams leads the dogs with five goals, and Erin Sekerak and Caitlin Dingle have three goals and an assist each. Lauren Church has a miniscule 0.17 GAA and has saved 94.1% of shots faced. Georgia will face USC in the tournament opener on Friday, and the Lions in the tournament's last game on Sunday.
USC - The Women of Troy are 3-2 this year, and are coming off of a 3-1 loss to Penn State. LMU and USC will not face each other in this tournament, but will play at USC's McAlister Field on Sept. 30th. The Trojans are ranked #22 by Soccer Buzz this weekend. Rosa Anna Tantillo has made seven assists this season, and leads the Women of Troy with nine points. Amy Rodriguez and Lauren Brown each have scored three goals and made one assist. Veronica Simonton has a 1.42 GAA.
All About the Overtime
While it is a WCC record that the Lions have opened their season with five straight double overtime games, and the sixth game ended in just one overtime, the double overtime concept is not foreign to them. Last season, LMU played in five double overtime games, and another two games that ended in a single overtime period. The 2003 squad played three double overtime games, and the 2002 team also appeared in five double overtime games.
Player Diary
Throughout the season, senior Kellie Schroeder will be writing a diary on the LMU website. Her journal will give fans an inside peak into the LMU women's soccer team. Be sure to check the LMU website at www.LMULions.com for Schroeder's latest entry.
Gametracker
Follow the Lions all season with GameTracker for Women's Soccer. During any LMU home game, you can get the up-to-the-minute score, as well as updated game stats and a play by play. For more information, go to www.LMULions.com.
Climbing the Charts
Several current players started the season in the top 10 of several LMU career statistical categories and are making their way up the charts. Lori Sims sits in the top 10 of the goals, assists and points list, and her two goals against Penn moved her closer to the top. She is now the second all-time goal scorer in school history with 17 goals, and her 45 career points puts her in third place. She needs just three goals and six points to tie for the top of both the goals and points lists.
Making a Debut
Fans of the LMU women's soccer program received a treat at the game against Navy when Amy Sauer entered the game for the Lions after halftime. The third-year defender has missed the last two seasons with torn ACLs, but has battled back from injuries this season. Sauer started the second half, and played in the next 65 minutes of action.
First Start
LMU's freshmen are slowly making their way into the Lion lineup. Freshman Amanda Lernor made her season debut against Princeton, starting at defense for the Lions. She played all 92 minutes of the game. She is the fourth LMU freshman to make an appearance this season, and just the second to start a game.
Challenging Schedule
As a member of the West Coast Conference, LMU's schedule is one of the toughest in the country. Eight 2005 opponents are currently ranked in Soccer Buzz's top 30 poll this week, including three WCC opponents. In addition, Florida State (#9), Utah (#18), USC (#22), Cal Poly (#28) and Georgia (#29) are all ranked among the nation's top teams.
Sullivan Field Upgrades
Fans to Sullivan Field will notice a few changes to the atmosphere this season. Brand new banners on the back on the bleachers welcome fans to the "Home of the Lions." In addition, a new scoreboard has been installed. This season, the Lions play 12 of their 20 games at Sullivan Field.
