Nov. 13, 2015 2015 Schedule | Give to LMU Athletics | LMU on Facebook |
LOS ANGELES - Making its third all-time NCAA Tournament appearance, the LMU women's soccer (13-5-1) team opens first-round action on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 17th-ranked Cal (13-5-3). The teams will kick off from Goldman Field at Edwards Stadium at noon.
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LMU at Cal - Saturday, Nov. 14 @ 12:00 p.m. - Goldman Field at Edwards Stadium
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LIONS IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
LMU has two previous appearances in the NCAA Tournament, making the field of 64 in 2002 and 2006. In 2002, the Lions faced crosstown rival UCLA in the first round, falling 4-0. In 2006, LMU hosted a first-round game against Cal State Fullerton, falling 3-0.
A RECORD YEAR
The 2015 season has been a record-setting one for the Lions. Their 13-5-1 overall record matched the program high, also reached in 1999. Their seven West Coast Conference wins is an all-time record, while their tie for second place matches the highest finish ever (also achieved in 2000). The Lions went a perfect 10-0 on Sullivan Field in 2015, making the second time they have gone undefeated at home (6-0-4 in 1998) and the second time they reached 10 home victories (10-1-0 in 2007). Senior Jocelyn Blankenship also had a record breaking season of her own, as she reached 19 assists for her career, setting an LMU all-time record.
WCC HONORS
In her fourth year at the helm of the program and 20th season overall at LMU, Head Coach Michelle Myers was named the WCC Coach of the Year, the first such honor for a Lion leader. Also earning a major award is senior Callie Taylor, who was named Co-Defender of the Year. Seniors Jocelyn Blankenship and Morgan Hilby earned All-WCC First Team honors and Taylor was also named to the All-WCC Second Team. Senior Shannon Kent and sophomore Sarah Sanger earned Honorable Mention selection while a trio of freshmen - goalkeeper Charlee Pruitt, defender Gabbie Sanfilippo and midfielder Emma Tyrnauer were named to the WCC All-Freshman Team.
LION NOTES
• Jocelyn Blankenship leads LMU with 19 points on seven goals and five assists.
• Blankenship collected her 19th career assist on Sarah Sanger's game-winner against Pepperdine on Nov. 7. She is now the all-time LMU record-holder, breaking Julie Gallaudet's previous record of 18 (2007-10).
• Fourteen different Lions have scored at least once this season and 12 players have contributed at least one assist.
• LMU made history on Friday, Oct. 23, as a 1-0 victory over Portland gave the Lions their first ever win in the 23-year all-time series. The game-winning goal by Morgan Hilby also snapped a nearly 14 year drought of goals scored against the Pilots.
• LMU's 1-0 OT victory over then No. 21 Long Beach State marked the first win against a ranked opponent since a 3-0 shutout of then No. 15 Pepperdine on Oct. 15, 2012.
• The Lions went unbeaten for seven straight matches between Aug. 28 (a 3-0 shutout of Bucknell) and Sept. 20 (a 2-2 double overtime draw at Utah.
• The Lions six-match win streak marking the longest win streak for the program since 2007. That season, they won nine straight matches and went on to finish the year 12-6-1.
• Sophomore defender Jill Farley was named WCC Player of the Week on Sept. 14 after playing all 187 minutes in a pair of LMU shutouts. She also scored the overtime game-winner against then No. 21/23 Long Beach State.
• The Lions are 3-0-1 in overtime matches this season. That mark extends their streak of remaining unbeaten in overtime to 10 matches (spanning two-plus seasons). Their last overtime setback was a 1-0 final against then No. 4 BYU on Nov. 1, 2012.
• LMU has scored five goals in a match twice this season (Oct. 25 vs Gonzaga, Sept. 4 vs Detroit), marking the highest scoring output for LMU since 2007 when they shutout Lamar University, 9-0.
• The home-opening win over Bucknell (Aug. 28) gave the Lions three straight home-opening victories as they also topped Northwestern, 1-0, in 2013 and New Mexico State, 3-1, in 2014.
• Senior midfielder Jocelyn Blankenship was named to the 2015 All-WCC Preseason Team.
• LMU was picked seventh in the West Coast Conference Preseason Coaches Poll.
• The Lions went 9-8-2 overall and 2-6-1 in WCC play last season with a young squad that featured just three seniors.
• Seniors Morgan Hilby (5g, 6a), Shannon Kent (6g) and Jocelyn Blankenship (6a) return to the pitch after leading LMU in points, goals and assists last fall.
• Ten total starters return and 15 total letterwinners while the Lions also welcome nine newcomers and four redshirts.
SERIES HISTORY VS CAL
The Lions and Bears have met just twice in program history, splitting the series, 1-1. LMU won the first-ever meeting, 1-0 back in 1999. Cal won the more recent affair, 2-1, in 2010 in Berekley.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN BEARS
Cal enters the postseason with a 13-5-3 overall record and a No. 17 national ranking. The Bears are in the NCAA Tournament for the 12th consecutive year. Arielle Ship is the Bears' go-to up front, leading the way with 14 goals and six assists. Celeste Boureille is the team's second leading scorer with five goals while Ifeoma Onumonu has five assists. In goal, Emily Boyd has 11 shutouts, 74 saves and an 0.55 GAA.
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