W-League Feature
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Stanford will try to continue its undefeated run in the Pac-12 this weekend as it hosts Washington State on Thursday night at 10:30 p.m. ET, leading off a big weekend of Division I Women’s Soccer action to feature current and former W-League standouts. The Cardinal, who maintained their No. 2 ranking in the nation with a 4-1 victory against Arizona last weekend, lead UCLA by two points with five games to play in the Pac-12 standings.
The victory against the Wildcats gave the Cardinal a conference record 37 consecutive victories, and was led by the LA Strikers Lo’eau LaBonta. The sophomore, making her first start at forward having begun the season in Stanford’s midfield, had a goal and assist. The Pali Blues’ Mariah Nogueira, meanwhile, continues to have a standout season, recording 12 points and this week being named a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award for Women’s Soccer.
Washington State hasn’t quite has the same success as Stanford, but the Cougars are 3-2-1 in Pac-12 play as they vie for a place in the NCAA Tournament. The Vancouver Whitecaps Women’s Brandi Vega leads the side with four assists and has also tallied six goals this season, while her W-League teammate Gurveen Clair has a 1.07 goals against-average in her 12 appearances this season.
Stanford also features on Sunday night at 8:30 p.m. when Washington comes to visit for the Cardinals’ home finale. The Huskies have received a standout season from the Seattle Sounders Women’s Lindsey Elston, who leads the team with eight goals and 21 points.
The Pac-12 Network heads to the Pacific Northwest on Friday evening as Oregon State hosts Arizona State at 6:30 p.m., with the Beavers aiming to solidify their place in the field of 64 for the NCAA Tournament. Currently ranked No. 23 in the NSCAA Coaches Poll, OSU has been led by former Seattle Sounders Women standout Megan Miller, who has 15 points. Whitecaps Women standout Jenna Richardson has also chipped in 11 points, sitting tied with Miller on five goals.
The NSCAA Game of the Week comes from Morgantown, W.V. on Thursday night at 7 p.m. as West Virginia hosts Oklahoma in a Big 12 match-up. The No. 19 Mountaineers have received a big season so far from former Vermont Lady Voltage forward Frances Silva, with the junior leading the team with 10 goals and sitting second with 22 points. Former Toronto Lady Lynx Bryana McCarthy has also added two goals and three assists for her side.
ESPN3.com features action from the ACC, with Virginia Tech meeting Clemson on Thursday night at 7 p.m. The No. 22 Hokies have received key contributions this season from the D.C. United duo of Katie Yensen, who has three goals and two assists, and Ashley Manning, who has two goals and two assists. Colorado Rush goalkeeper Dayle Colpitts has also performed well, recording a 0.89 goals-against average and six shutouts in 11 appearances.
Clemson, meanwhile, has received strong performances by the Central SC Cobras’ Tabitha Padgett, who sits second on the Tigers with seven points. Padgett also had seven points this summer in the Cobras’ inaugural season, scoring two goals and adding three assists as they finished as they top expansion side in the Southeast Division.
Toronto Lady Lynx goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo leads South Carolina into action on Friday night on ESPN3 as they Gamecocks face Kentucky at 6:30 p.m. ET. D’Angelo has recorded a 1.13 goals-against average in 12 starts this season, and will try to add to her two shutouts against the Wildcats.
ESPN3 returns to the ACC on Sunday afternoon as North Carolina faces Wake Forest at 1 p.m. ET. The Tar Heels continue to be led by New Jersey Wildcats standout Amber Brooks who has 14 points, and former Cary Clarets forward Maria Lubrano, who has seven goals, while the Demon Deacons have received strong performances by midfielder Rachel Nuzzolese, who has two goals and two assists this fall.