W-League Feature
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Memphis will try to close in on the Conference USA regular season title, with a W-League standout leading the way, as the Tigers’ contest with rival Rice is featured on the NSCAA Game of the Week on Thursday on Fox Soccer, leading the weekend’s televised action in Division I Women’s College Soccer.
Memphis leads Conference USA with a record of 5-1-0, with a key factor in their success the standout season being put in by Hamilton FC Rage forward Christabel Oduro. After recording three assists in eight outings in the W-League this summer, her third year in Hamilton, Oduro has scored 11 goals and recorded 29 points in 12 games for the Tigers. Oduro has been helped by fellow Canadian and Laval Comets midfielder Kylie Davis, who sits second on the team with 15 points.
Rice features its own Canadian standout, with Ottawa Fury defender Lauren Hughes showing her attacking prowess for the Owls this fall. Hughes sits second on the team with six goals and two assists, including a pair of game-winners. Rice sits two points behind the Tigers in the Conference USA standings, meaning a victory would push them into top spot.
Elsewhere on Thursday night, ESPN3 has a pair of ACC contests on offer, with No. 1 Florida State facing Virginia Tech at 8 p.m. looking to maintain their perfect season and overtake Maryland at the top of the conference standings.
The Seminoles sit a point behind the Terrapins, but Maryland has played two more conference games, making FSU the favorite to claim the regular-season crown. Led by former Pali Blues standout Tiffany McCarty, who has six goals and 15 points, the Seminoles routed Clemson 7-0 in their last outing. While McCarty has led the scoring, former Colorado Rush goalkeeper Kelsey Wys has been as effective in goal, recording a 0.30 goals-against average while conceding just three goals this fall.
Virginia Tech was on a similar course to the Seminoles in the non-conference schedule, going 9-0-0, but the Hokies have struggled in the perennially tough ACC. Sitting with a record of 2-3-0 in conference play, they will hope for a big performance from D.C. United Women duo of Katie Yensen, who has eight points this season, and Ashley Manning, who has two goals and two assists.
Earlier in the evening, North Carolina State faces No. 7 Duke with the Blue Devils hoping to remain in touch with FSU and Maryland at the top of the conference standings. Led by Long Island Rough Riders standout Kim DeCesare, who has 10 goals and 24 points this season, Duke has won two consecutive contests, scoring seven goals in the process.
FSU faces another big clash on Sunday afternoon as the Seminoles host Virginia at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN3. D.C. United Women goalkeeper Danielle DeLisle will try to deny FSU’s potent attack as the Cavaliers try to improve their seeding for the ACC Tournament.
Meanwhile, on the west coast, No. 2 Stanford visits Arizona on Thursday night at 10 p.m. ET on the Pac-12 Network after rallying to victory against Colorado in its last outing. Former Pali Blues standout Mariah Nogueira began the comeback for the Cardinal, scoring her sixth goal of the season, and will be looked to as her side tries to maintain its perfect record in Pac-12 play.
The Big Ten Network has a pair of games this weekend, with Purdue’s visit to Indiana on Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET leading things off. The Hoosiers have received a strong season so far by former Cleveland Internationals standout Rebecca Candler, who is tied for the team lead with 15 points, while the Boilermakers’ Jordan Pawlik, who played for the Fort Wayne Fever, has scored seven goals in 12 games this season.
Sunday’s contest sees Wisconsin host Illinois at 5 p.m. ET, with the Illini led by former Super-20 League standout Vanessa DiBernardo. Now a junior, DiBernardo leads her side with four goals, and scooped the TopDrawerSoccer.com and Big Ten Player of the Week Award this past week after her hat trick against Michigan State last Thursday.