Complete week three match notes (PDF)

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland State women's soccer team wraps up its four-match road trip with a pair of tough matches at Colorado State and Texas Tech. The Vikings play Colorado State at 12 p.m. (MT) Friday, Sept. 5, and then face the 10th-ranked Red Raiders at 1 p.m. (CT) Sunday, Sept. 7.
 
The visit to Texas Tech will be another significant test against a ranked opponent for the Vikings. The Vikings faced No. 21 California last week, and stayed with them for 60 minutes before a second-half barrage from the Bears turned the match into a 5-0 rout.
 
LIVE STATS:
Live stats will be available for both matches this weekend. Live stats for the Vikings' match against Colorado State will be available here, while live stats for the Vikings' match against Texas Tech will be available here. Links to live stats for both matches can also be found on the women's soccer schedule page on GoViks.com.
 
SCOUTING COLORADO STATE:
The Colorado State Rams (1-1-0) are in just their second year as a varsity soccer program, and earned their first home win last weekend with a 1-0 win over Northern Colorado. The Rams went 2-13-2 last season in the program's first year, but went 0-6-0 at home. The Rams' two wins in their first year came via a 3-0, neutral-site win over Lubbock Christian and a 1-0 win on the road at Nevada. The Rams return nine starters from last season's inaugural team, and added 17 newcomers. The Rams beat the Northern Colorado on an 87th-minute goal from one of the team's newcomers in junior transfer Gianna Bertana. That win was just the Rams' second match of the season so far, as the Rams have only played only one match during the first two weeks of the season. The Rams lost 2-0 on the road to Colorado in their season opener on Aug. 22 after the Buffs scored two second-half goals in the 74th and 79th minutes. The Rams play their home matches at The Lagoon, which sits at over 5,000 feet of elevation. The Vikings' match against the Rams will be the first of six matches the team will play above 3,000 feet this season, with four of those matches coming in Big Sky play.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST COLORADO STATE:
This will be the first meeting between Portland State and Colorado State in women's soccer. It will also be the first meeting between CSU head coach Bill Hempen and PSU head coach Laura Schott. Hempen has a career record of 278-201-47 in Division I women's soccer after previously coaching at Duke and Colorado.
 
SCOUTING NO. 10 TEXAS TECH:
The Texas Tech Red Raiders (3-0-0) entered the top 10 of the NSCAA Coaches' Poll this week after upsetting then-No. 11 Notre Dame last Friday. The No. 10 ranking is the highest the Red Raiders have ever been ranked in the poll, breaking the No. 11 ranking the team received on Nov. 5 last year ahead of the Big 12 Championships. Additionally, the Red Raiders have now been ranked in the NSCAA poll for a school-record 13 consecutive weeks dating back to the 2013 season. The Red Raiders earned their marquee win over Notre Dame after coming back from a 1-0 halftime deficit. The Red Raiders scored two goals within the first 90 seconds of the second half, as junior midfielder Hannah Devine and junior forward Janine Beckie scored within 25 seconds of each other to put the Red Raiders up for good at 2-1. Texas Tech also had to comeback to beat Eastern Michigan, 2-1, in overtime in their next match on Sunday. The Red Raiders gave up a fifth-minute goal to Eastern Michigan, but then tied the match in the 56th minute from junior forward Briana Rohmer. The match stayed tied into overtime until senior midfielder Paige Strahan ended the match with a golden goal less than three minutes into the first overtime period. The Red Raiders had less trouble in their season opener on Aug. 24, when they beat Oral Roberts 5-0 behind five different goal scorers. Texas Tech's early success to the 2014 season should come as no surprise, however, as they feature some of the top individual talent in the nation. Beckie and senior defender Jaelene Hinkle were both named to the 2014 Women's MAC Herman Trophy Watch List during the preseason, while both also earned USWNT experience on the youth level in the spring. Beckie played for the U.S. U-20 Women's National Team, while Hinkle played for the U.S. U-23 Women's National Team. Additionally, Hinkle was named a third-team NSCAA All-American last season after leading the Red Raiders to an 18-2-3 overall record and 6-0-2 Big 12 record. Texas Tech returns 20 letterwinners overall from that 2013 season, when they also led the Big 12 in goals scored (48) and goals allowed (9).
 
ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST TEXAS TECH:
The Vikings are 0-2-0 all-time against Texas Tech, having lost 5-1 at home in 2000 and 2-1 at the New Mexico Tournament in Albuquerque, N.M., in 2004. The Vikings have never played the Red Raiders in Lubbock, Texas, where Sunday's match will be played, and Texas Tech head coach Tom Stone and PSU head coach Laura Schott have never faced each other as coaches.
 
VIKINGS VERSUS RANKED TEAMS:
The Vikings' match against Texas Tech will be their second match against a ranked opponent this season following their 5-0 loss to then-No. 21 California last weekend. After the loss to Cal, the Vikings are 0-6-0 against ranked teams under head coach Laura Schott, and 0-9-0 all-time against ranked opponents. The Vikings' match against Texas Tech will also be their first against an opponent ranked in the NSCAA top 10 since the Vikings lost 1-0 on the road to California in 2009. The Vikings are 0-5-0 all-time against top 10 opponents, and have not scored against a top 10 opponent in their five previous matches.
 
LAST TIME OUT:
The Vikings went 0-1-1 at the USF Tournament last weekend, tying host San Francisco 1-1 on Friday before a tough second-half cost them in a 5-0 loss to No. 21 California. The Vikings went up 1-0 in the ninth minute against San Francisco on a goal from freshman forward Mackenzie Bean. The momentum shifted dramatically soon after the Vikings' goal, however, as afterEmma Cooney's shot in the 23rd minute proved to be the Vikings' last in regulation as USF outshot the Vikings 7-0 after that. USF tied the match amid a particularly dominant stretch in the second half, as midfielder Jaciara Mello scored in the 72nd minute. The Vikings found their attack again as the match went to overtime, but neither team could score to break the tie. Meanwhile, against Cal, the Vikings fell behind 1-0 on a goal from Taylor Comeau in the 24th minute, but then stayed within a goal of the 21st-ranked Golden Bears through the 60th minute. The Bears broke the match open with goals in the 62nd and 63rd minutes, however, and then followed that up with goals in the 73rd and 82nd minutes to finish the Vikings off at 5-0.
 
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Vikings return home for a match against in-state rival Oregon Friday, Sept. 12, at Hillsboro Stadium. The Vikings and Ducks will kick off at 1 p.m. (PT).
 
FANTASTIC FRESHMEN:
Freshman forward Mackenzie Bean has quickly become the Vikings' top offensive threat with two goals in her first four career matches as a Viking. Bean scored the Vikings' game-winning goal on a penalty kick in the team's 1-0 win over Utah Valley in their season opener on Aug. 22. Bean then put the Vikings up with a ninth-minute goal against San Francisco last Friday, Aug. 29, helping lead the Vikings to a 1-1 road tie with San Francisco. Besides Bean, fellow freshmen Maddie Prehoda and Katie Forsee have each started three of the team's first four matches of the season. Prehoda has integrated herself with the Vikings' veteran backline while playing predominately at right back, while Forsee has stepped in as the Vikings' holding midfielder.
 
IT'S ALL ABOUT ALTITUDE
The Vikings' matches against Colorado State and Texas Tech will both be played above 3,000 feet of elevation this weekend. Those matches will be the first of six eventual matches played above 3,000 feet for the Vikings this season, including four in Big Sky play. The Vikings' match against Colorado State will be played at 5,004 feet, while the match against Texas Tech will be played at about 3,200 feet. The Vikings will also play at elevation against Northern Arizona on Sept. 26 (6,903 feet), Southern Utah on Sept. 28 (5,800 feet), Idaho State on Oct. 10 (4,462 feet) and Northern Colorado on Oct. 17 (4,658 feet).
 
FINDING A LEADING SCORER:
The Vikings' offense has yet to break out in the 2014 season, having only scored three goals in four matches so far this season. The delayed breakout for the offense should come as no surprise, however, as the Vikings lost their leading scorer from last season, Eryn Brown, who led the Vikings in goals (8), assists (5) and points (21), and was part of 13 of the team's 31 goals scored. Freshman forward Mackenzie Bean has emerged as a possible candidate to replace Brown, as she has scored two goals in the team's first four matches of the season. Senior midfielder Ariana Cooley also scored for the Vikings in their 1-1 draw with Boise State on Aug. 24, and could help the offense break out at some point after she ranked third on the team in goals (4) and points (10) last season. Junior midfielder/forward Cori Bianchini could also help the offense later, as she finished second on the team in goals (5), assists (4) and points (14) last season.
 
DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE
The Vikings' 5-0 loss against No. 21 California snapped a streak of defensive dominance for the Vikings, as it marked the first time the Vikings had given up more than one goal in a match in their past 20 matches. The Vikings have still had strong defensive performances to start the 2014 season outside of their match against Cal, however, furthering the team's strong defensive identity from its record-breaking defensive season in 2013. The Vikings set program records for shutouts (12) and goals-against average (0.76) last season, and recorded their first shutout of the 2014 season against Utah Valley in their season opener on Aug. 22. The Vikings were particularly dominant defensively against Big Sky opponents last season, as they only gave up three goals to Big Sky opponents, two of which came on penalty kicks. Additionally, the Vikings led the Big Sky with a 0.32 goals-against average in conference matches last season, more than half a point lower than the next-best team, Northern Colorado at 0.84. The Vikings also led the Big Sky with 12 shutouts overall last season, four more than any other team.
 
RECORD BREAKERS;
The Vikings' 5-0 loss to No. 21 California Sunday also snapped the Vikings' Big Sky-record unbeaten streak at 16 matches. The Vikings broke the conference record for longest unbeaten streak with their 1-0 win over Utah Valley in their 2014 season opener, their 14th straight match without a loss. That moved the Vikings past Weber State, which set the Big Sky record after going unbeaten over 13 straight matches during the 1998 season. Additionally, the Vikings extended the streak with draws against Boise State and San Francisco earlier this season before their loss to California.
 
END-OF-SEASON GOAL:
The Portland State women's soccer team has a clear agenda for its 2014 season: get to the NCAA Tournament. A tournament berth would be the Vikings' first-ever in program history, and would likely come via a Big Sky Tournament title, which would end to a series of frustrating results for the Vikings in the conference tournament. The Vikings have never won the Big Sky Tournament despite winning four of the past five Big Sky regular-season titles, and six regular-season titles overall. The Vikings made the tournament final for just the second time in program history last season, but fell 3-0 in penalty kicks after finishing tied with Weber State after regulation and two overtime periods. Overall, the Vikings are 2-7-3 in Big Sky Tournament matches.
 
DEFENDING THE TITLE
The Vikings enter the 2014 season as the three-time defending Big Sky champions after winning regular-season titles in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The Vikings won their most recent title in their most convincing fashion yet, as they went unbeaten in the Big Sky Conference for the first time in program history. The Vikings won the Big Sky regular-season title in 2009 as well, giving them titles in four of the last five seasons. The Vikings should be well positioned to defend their title in 2014, too, as they return 10 starters from last season, as well as 17 letterwinners.
 
VIKINGS TABBED AS NARROW FAVORITES IN BIG SKY PRESEASON POLL
Big Sky coaches picked the Vikings as slight favorites over Weber State in the Big Sky Preseason Coaches' poll, released earlier this month. Both teams received five first-place votes in the poll, but the Vikings finished with one more point at 93 to Weber State's 92. Besides the Vikings and Wildcats, Northern Arizona picked up the remaining first-place vote to finish third in the poll with 86 points, while Northern Colorado (69), Montana (62), Idaho State (52), Sacramento State (51), Southern Utah (32), Idaho (29), Eastern Washington (27) and North Dakota (12) rounded out the poll.
 
HENNINGSON TWINS' SWAN SONG:
Senior defenders and twin sisters Kayla and Kelsey Henningsen enter their fourth and final year within the Portland State women's soccer program this season. The Henningsen twins, prized recruits when they came into the program, have seen unprecedented success since joining the Vikings, as neither has been on a team that didn't win at least a share of the Big Sky regular-season title, while both have also earned numerous individual honors during their PSU careers. Kayla was named the Big Sky Defensive MVP last season, while both Kayla and Kelsey were named All-Big Sky honorees (Kayla: 1st team; Kelsey: 2nd team). Additionally, both Kayla and Kelsey earned CoSIDA Academic All-District VIII second-team honors last season.
 
NON-CONFERENCE TESTS
The Vikings have set up a tough non-conference schedule for themselves in 2014. Of the Vikings' eight non-conference opponents, four of them finished in the top half of their respective conferences, including 2013 NCAA National Tournament participants Texas Tech of the Big 12 and California of the Pac-12. The Vikings will also face several individual stars during the non-conference schedule, as four of their opponents have members playing some level of international youth soccer.
           
Opposing players with national team camp or playing experience:

• Madalyn Schiffel, junior goalkeeper for San Francisco – U.S. U-20 Women's National Team
• Leticia Torres, junior defender for San Francisco – Chile U-20 Women's National Team
• Jaelene Hinkle, senior defender for Texas Tech – U.S. U-23 Women's National Team
• Janine Beckie, junior forward for Texas Tech – U.S. U-20 Women's National Team
• Bri Pugh, senior defender for Oregon – U.S. U-23 Women's National Team
• Marlo Sweatman, sophomore midfielder for Oregon – Jamaica U-20 Women's National Team

             
NEWCOMERS
The Vikings added 10 incoming freshmen during the 2014 signing period, giving the team extra depth going into the season. Of the 10 incoming freshmen, the Vikings signed two goalkeepers, one defender, five midfielders and two forwards. The 10 freshmen also come from six different states between Oregon (3), California (2), Washington (2), Colorado (1), Arizona (1) and Illinois (1).
 
THORNS FC GOALKEEPER CRIS LEWIS RETURNS TO ALMA MATER AS VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT:
Cris Lewis, the all-time leader at Portland State in shutouts, saves and goalkeeper wins, will return this season as a volunteer assistant coach. Lewis, the 2009 Big Sky Defensive MVP, will work closely with this year's crop of goalkeepers, which includes 2013 Big Sky Co-Goalkeeper of the Year Caitlin Plese. Plese ranks just six shutouts behind Lewis on the all-time list at PSU, and could pass Lewis as Lewis coaches her this season. Since leaving PSU, Lewis has played off and on with Portland Thorns FC as an amateur. Lewis started the Thorns' match against the Chicago Red Stars on June 1, 2013.
 
2013 SEASON REVIEW
The 2013 season was easily one of the best in program history, as the Vikings completed their first unbeaten run through the Big Sky Conference at 8-0-1, and advanced to the Big Sky Tournament final for just the second time in program history. The Vikings also set program records for shutouts (12) and goals-against average (0.76) during the season, and only gave up three goals to Big Sky opponents during the season, two of which were penalty kicks.