TEMPE, Ariz. – After a 5-0 shellacking of Southeast Missouri State on Friday afternoon, the Wildcats will finish up the weekend against New Hampshire on Sunday in the second game of the Sun Devil Desert Classic in Tempe, Ariz. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. MST
Sept. 2 11:00 a.m.
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History Making Weekend
The Wildcats finished the weekend with their second shutout of the season with a 6-0 win against Houston Baptist. This win made history, making head coach Tony Amato the winningest coach in Arizona soccer history with 56 wins. Jada Talley, Sabrina Enciso, Gabe Jillings, Brooke Wilson, and Michaela Rentner all got on the board with their first goals of the season. Jill Aguilera picked up two assists, and is now tied for first in the Pac-12 in shots, with a total of 15.
Back to Business
The Wildcats are coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history after posting a record of 11-5-4 in 2017, including a 7-2-2 record in the Pac-12 and a trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The last time Arizona won 11 games in one season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, they followed that up with a 14-win season and a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2015.
Top Half of the Pac
Arizona won seven conference games in 2017, which is the most Pac-12 wins in school history and was good for a fourth-place finish after being picked to finish ninth in the preseason coaches' poll. There have only been three seasons in which the Wildcats finished above .500 in conference play, and two of those seasons have come in the last three years.
Replacing Some Key Players
With the departure of Gabi Stoian, Cali Crisler and Charlotte Brascia, Arizona will have to find a way to replace their production. Last season, Stoian, Crisler and Brascia accounted for 36% of the team's goals, 48% of the team's assists and 40% of the team's total points. Stoian, who finished her career No. 2 in goals scored (29), assists (22) and points (80), will definitely be missed out on the pitch for the Cats.
The Burd Cage
Arizona goalkeeper Lainey Burdett is back for one more go around in goal for the Wildcats this season. Coming into the season, the senior ranked second in career goals against average (1.03), second in solo shutouts (17) and eighth all-time in career saves (196). She needs four more shutouts to have the most in school history. Last season, she posted seven clean sheets.
Some Key Returners
Although Arizona lost Stoian, Crisler and Brascia to graduation, the cupboard is not bare as the Wildcats do return some key cogs to last year's NCAA Tournament team. There are a total of eight returning players who scored at least one goal last year. Additionally, the Wildcats return three defenders who helped Burdett keep seven clean sheets last season (Samantha Falasco, Sabrina Enciso & Morgan McGarry). Not only is that trio back for 2018, they will all be back for 2019 as well.
The Chance of a Lifetime
The senior class of Lainey Burdett, Kennedy Kieneker and Hailey Mazzola has a chance to become the winningest class in school history and also has a chance to become just the second senior class in school history to play in three NCAA Tournaments. In their first three seasons, this senior class has won 34 games and needs 12 to surpass last year's senior class who won 45 games in their four seasons. In the last three seasons, Arizona averages just over 11 wins per year.
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