TUCSON, Ariz. – The University of Arizona women's soccer team will host BYU this Friday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. in Tucson, Ariz. at Mulcahy Stadium. Arizona has played BYU 12 times in the past and has lost eleven of those matches, winning only one. The last time was on August 23rd, 2012 where the Wildcats fell 1-0.
The BYU squad is coming off a 3-0 win on Monday night against Oregon State. The team's current record is 1-3-3 and they are unranked but currently receiving votes.
Wildcat Classic Recap
Arizona hosted Florida Gulf Coast University and Texas Tech University last weekend for the Wildcat Classic. Their match against FGCU on Friday ended in a loss as the team fell 1-0 after dominating the Eagles and outshooting them 19-2. Sunday was better for the Wildcats as they finally found the back of the net after 87 minutes and firing 18 shots (seven on frame). Outside back Morgan McGarry was quoted saying that after watching the ball hit back of the net everyone took a sigh of relief.
Troubles Up Top
The Wildcats have had no issues generating chances this season, having taken 94 shots on frame already over the course of six games (avg. 15.67 per game). However, the team has only five goals (avg. 0.83 per game). These metrics are a product of the team's offensive trouble in-and-around the box as they have been unable to consistently find the net. Once this breaks, expect a flood of goals to be coming for Arizona. Stoian has led this charge, having taken 28 shots (almost a third of the team's overall). Expect to see her start to beat more goalkeepers as the Wildcats approach Pac-12 Conference play.
Falasco's Force and Crisler's Cross
Samantha Falasco has been a huge part of the Wildcat's defensive effort this season as discussed in "A New Line of Defense." However, she also put away the Wildcat's lone goal in their match against Texas Tech on Sunday with her nose off a corner from Cali Crisler. This goal matched her tally from the final match of the 2016 season where Falasco scored again off a Crisler cross to beat rival Pac-12 school ASU 1-0 in the final minutes of the match.
New Line of Defense
Arizona's back line for the last six matches has been Samantha Falasco, Brandi Park, Sabrina Enciso, and Morgan McGarry. Falasco and Park saw over 2,500 combined minutes on defense last season, while McGarry and Enciso are new to the starting lineup. Together, the four defenders have been a major part in Arizona's three shutout matches this season, limiting their six opponents to only 17 shots-on-frame. Those metrics come against formerly-ranked No.16 Oklahoma and currently-ranked No. 20 UCF.
One More Go Around for Gabi
Senior Gabi Stoian is poised to finish her career as the most decorated player in Arizona history. The Scottsdale native started every game last season and earned 1,503 minutes of time over the course of the season. She scored six goals and tallied five assists for a total of 17 points. These stats pushed her career numbers to 25 goals, 20 assists and 70 points. Stoian is second all-time in each of those categories and is in striking distance of breaking all three of those records in 2017. Her two goals at the Sun Devil Desert Classic have moved her one step closer to building that legacy.
In the Burdett Cage
Junior Lainey Burdett has played all six matches for the Wildcats this season. Her goals-against average through those six matches is only 0.67 as she has allowed only four goals. Although Burdett has a strong defensive line in front of her that have prevented most shots from finding the frame, Burdett has made some really huge saves this season. Last match against Texas Tech saw her make a point-blank, fingertip save inside the 6-yd. box against a top attacker. Burdett has three shutouts on the season, pushing her career count to 13. She has 122 career saves which is ninth all-time.
The Fab Five
The Wildcats roster features five seniors this season (Gabi Stoian, Charlotte Brascia, Cali Crisler, Brandi Park and Jackie Bollinger). Stoian, Brascia, Crisler and Bollinger are looking to be the first class in Arizona history to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the third time (Park transferred from Pima Community College in 2016). From 2014-16, the team posted a record of 34-22-5 (tied for the most wins in a three-year period in Arizona history).
FOLLOW SOCCER ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
Fans can keep up with the latest in Arizona women's soccer by following us on Facebook (Facebook.com/ArizonaWSocccer), Twitter (@ArizonaWSoccer), Instagram (arizonasoccer), Youtube (Youtube.com/arizonawildcatsoccer) and Vine (Arizona Soccer).
