Oct. 21, 2008

Complete Women's Soccer Notebook and Statistics in PDF Format

With just three matches remaining in the 2008 regular season, the Conference USA women's soccer race is shaping up as seven teams are still in contention for the title. East Carolina sits atop the standings for the fourth straight week with an unblemished 6-0-2 record in C-USA play. Defending champion Memphis is in second place, followed by Colorado College, Rice and UCF. All five are ranked regionally and have a RPI in the NCAA Top 75.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Erin Scott, Rice
Junior, F, Richardson, Texas
Scott scored three goals and assisted on another for a team-leading seven points as Rice posted two C-USA road wins. Scott scored both goals in a 2-1 double overtime win against UCF on Friday. The junior also scored and assisted on the game-winning goal in a 4-0 shutout victory at Southern Miss on Sunday. Scott took a total of four shots in the two games, all on-goal, for a 1.000 SOG percentage. She maintained a .750 shooting percentage for the week. This is the first C-USA Player of the Week honor for Scott, but she becomes the fourth different Owl to earn the laurels this season.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Amber Campbell, East Carolina
Senior, GK, Frederick, Md.
Campbell remains unbeaten in her last eight games in goal with a 6-0-2 conference record. She earned her eighth shutout of the season, and 29th of her career, on Friday in a 0-0 decision against Colorado College. On Sunday, Campbell made six stops against UTEP to tie the school record for career saves (352) and was also credited with an assist in the 2-1 win over the Miners. Campbell has allowed just one goal over two games and 200 minutes. This is her third Defensive Player of the Week honor this season and fourth of her career.

UCF AND EAST CAROLINA MOVE UP NCAA RPI CHART
The NCAA released the second Women's Soccer Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) of 2008 on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Five Conference USA teams are ranked in the Top 75 out of 318 teams. UCF and East Carolina both moved up the chart, with a respective ranking of No. 24 and No. 42. Colorado College remains in the Top 50 at No. 48. Rice comes in at No. 66 and Memphis moved up 10 spots from the first report to No. 71. A complete list of the most recent RPI rankings is located in the sidebar and the next report will be released Monday, November 3.

2008 NCAA RPI (as of Oct. 19)
24. UCF
42. East Carolina
48. Colorado College
66. Rice
71. Memphis
115. UTEP
140. SMU
165. UAB
171. Tulsa
183. Marshall
219. Houston
241. Southern Miss

SHOOTING STARS
East Carolina closed out a four-match homestand with a 2-1 victory against UTEP to remain in sole possession of first place in the C-USA standings.

ECU junior Jessica Swanson scored the game-winner and Pirate GK Amber Campbell tied the school record for career saves with 352.

Swanson has made 35 straight starts for the Pirates. e Reigning C-USA Defensive Player of the Week Kelsey Bakker scored the first goal for Memphis in a 4-2 victory at Tulsa Sunday.

It was the Tigers' fourth-straight win and sophomore Vendula Strnadova scored in her fourth-straight match as the U of M are second in the C-USA standings.

Colorado College settled into third place in the standings as Kelly LaVoie scored the game-winning goal and added an assist in the Tigers' 3-1 victory at Marshall.

UAB freshman Carolyn Polcari scored both goals for the Blazers in a 2-1 road victory over SMU.

Blazer sophomore GK Kate Blankenship tallied five saves in the win.

The Mustangs got on the board first in the 56th minute when Kristin Medeiros knocked in a goal, with assists by Devon Herrman and Katie Leonard. e Rice freshman Hope Ward scored a goal and notched two assists to lead the Owls to a 4-0 road win over Southern Miss.

Rice sophomore GK Meghan Erkel made 11 saves in more than 170 minutes of work over the weekend.

The Owls rebounded from two losses while veteran defender Kellen Schugart was sidelined with an injury, to pick up a pair of wins this weekend upon her return. Only three Owls, Christine Petric, Kate Edwards and Meghan Erkel have been healthy enough to play all 15 matches this season.

UCF junior MF Brianna Schooley scored two goals and added two assists in the Knights' 6-0 victory over Houston on Sunday. Teammate Yvonne George also notched five points against the Cougars.

Senior GK Jessie Gardner made her first start for the Knights against UH and earned UCF's sixth shutout of the season and largest shutout victory in its four years in C-USA.

Friday's contest marked the fourth-straight overtime game for the Knights, tying a school record set in 1995. However it was UCF's first OT loss of the year (2-1-3).

Tulsa played its fourth overtime game in the last five matches, as well as the fifth double-overtime game this season in a 1-1 tie with UAB Friday.

UAB's Marie Yempuku took a free kick from 25 yards out and Danya Barsalona headed in the ball to put UAB on the board first in the 11th minute.

Tulsa tied up the contest when Jennifer Kacergis crossed the ball to Stephanie Johnson, who punched in the goal from five yards out into the center of the net.

Just 35 seconds into Friday's match with Marshall, UTEP's Chelsea Winbush beat the Herd defense and drilled her fourth goal of the season to the back left of the net to put UTEP ahead, 1-0. Winbush then assisted on a Jo Radcliffe goal for a 2-0 victory against Marshall.

Houston's Kaitilin Thulin scored in the sixth minute in a 1-0 victory against Southern Miss Friday.