University Southern California Trojans
Women's Soccer Hosts 2000 Fila Challenge This Weekend
September 05, 2000 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 5, 2000
THIS WEEK -- The USC women's soccer team (3-0) will host the 2000 Fila Challenge on Friday (Sept. 8) and Sunday (Sept. 10) at McAlister Field. The Women of Troy, who are off to their best start ever, will face Baylor on Friday at 3 p.m. and Vanderbilt on Sunday at 2 p.m. The tournament will also feature UCLA, who will play Vanderbilt on Friday at 1 p.m. and Baylor on Sunday at noon.
NEXT WEEK -- USC will travel to Gainesville, Fla., to face the University of Florida on Friday (Sept. 15) at 8 p.m. The Trojans will remain in Gainesville and play Central Florida on Sunday (Sept. 17) at noon.
LAST WEEK -- USC went 2-0 in the 2000 Sun Devil Classic in Tempe, Arizona. The Women of Troy defeated Colorado, 1-0, in the first-ever meeting between the two schools on Friday (Sept. 1). Freshman Becky Miller scored the lone goal for the Trojans. On Sunday (Sept. 3), the Trojans had another first-ever meeting, this time against No. 21 Michigan. Senior Isabelle Harvey scored both goals in a 2-1 victory over the Wolverines. Harvey's goal in the first half was assisted by sophomore midfielder Ali Fennell while her game-winning goal in the second half was unassisted.
RANKINGS -- As of September 4, USC is ranked No. 9 by Soccer Buzz, No. 12 in Soccer America and No. 15 by the NSCAA poll and Soccer Times (preseason poll).
EUROPEAN VACATION -- For the first time in the program's history, the women's soccer team went on an extended preseason trip. The Trojans played four games during a 12-day tour of Germany and Belgium (Aug. 11-22), going 4-0 and outscoring their opponents by a 16-3 margin. USC opened the tour with a 5-2 win over FSV Frankfurt with a two-goal performance by junior Christy Callier. Freshman Jessica Edwards scored twice as the Trojans defeated the Belgian National Team, 5-1, on Aug. 17, with Isabelle Harvey, Ali Fennell and Megan Orach also scoring goals. Callier added another two-goal game on Aug. 19 in a 4-0 shutout of V.V. Saestum, the current Dutch national champions. Freshman Megan Abbamonto scored both goals to complete the tour sweep on Aug. 21 in a 2-0 win over RSV Anderlecht.
OPPONENT OUTLOOK -- Baylor is 2-1-1 in 2000. The Bears tied Arkansas, 1-1, and defeated North Texas, 1-0, as they hosted the Baylor Tournament last weekend. Senior Molly Cameron is the career goal scorer at Baylor with 59 goals. Vanderbilt is 2-3 this season after splitting two games last weekend while hosting their its tournament. The Commodores lost to Furman, 2-1, and defeated Arizona, 4-0. Sophomore Kat Carroll scored twice in the win over Arizona. UCLA is 3-1 on the season and ranked No. 8 in the nation by Soccer America and the NSCAA. The Bruins are coming off a successful weekend where they routed two Southeastern Conference teams in Gainesville, Fla. UCLA defeated Georgia, 6-1, and host Florida, 4-0. Freshman forward Katherine Bjazevich recorded a hat trick in the Georgia match.
HEAD COACH JIM MILLINDER -- Jim Millinder is in his fifth season at the helm of the USC women's soccer program and has placed the Women of Troy on the verge of national prominence. He has a record of 62-21-2 (.741) with USC and an overall mark of 70-48-6 (.589). A former U.S. National Team member, Millinder was named the 1997 West Region Coach of the Year and the 1996 and 1998 Pac-10 Coach of the Year.
RING MY BELL -- Senior midfielder/forward Isabelle Harvey (Cap-Rouge, Quebec, Canada) begins her senior season at USC and is receiving accolades as one of the top collegiate players this season. Harvey was named as a first team preseason All-American by College Soccer News and has been named as a finalist for the Hermann Award, given to the top player in the nation. The three-time All-American currently holds school career marks for goals (42), points (117) and game-winning goals (19). She is also second in assists (33), three behind Kim Clark (1996-99). Harvey opened the 2000 season on Aug. 27 with an assist on the Trojans' first goal in a 2-0 win at UC Irvine off a corner kick. With her two goals against No. 21 Michigan on Sept. 3, Harvey leads the team with five points (2-1=5). Last season, Harvey led the team with 30 points (11-8=30). On Oct. 17, 1999, Harvey recorded two assists against Washington State, becoming the first player in USC history to record 100 points in a career. Harvey also played for Canada in the 1999 Women's World Cup.
SUPER SOPHOMORE -- Sophomore Ali Fennell (Santa Ana/Mater Dei HS) thrived for the Trojans last season in her freshman campaign and, along with Harvey, gives USC one of the top 1-2 tandems on the flanks. Last year, she was third on the team in scoring with 16 points (6-4=16). Among the highlights in 1999, she was named a two-time Pac-10 Player of the Week (Sept. 13 and 20) and to the Soccer America Team of the Week twice. She received the first award after scoring the game-winner against then-No. 8 UConn and assisting on the game-winner against then-No. 12 Portland. After scoring both goals in a 2-1 win over then-No. 8 BYU, she received the second set of honors.
SCORING DYNAMO -- Freshman Jessica Edwards (Mesa, AZ/Dobson HS) has made an immediate impact on the team and may add additional scoring punch for the Women of Troy this season. Edwards scored a goal and led the team with a game-high eight shots on Aug. 27 in a 2-0 win at UC Irvine. She leads the team with 20 shots (freshman Megan Abbamonto is second with nine shots).
ENTICING SOCCER -- Senior defensive midfielder Katie Ticehurst (Los Alamitos/Mater Dei HS) offers a potent mix of offensive and defensive prowess. She had three goals and one assist for seven points in 1999, with all three of her goals coming from at least 30 yards out.
A PERFECT WORLD -- Sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Arase (La Canada/La Canada HS) opened the 2000 season with her third solo career shutout on Aug. 27 in a 2-0 win against UC Irvine. Arase made three saves on five UCI shots. She started and won both matches at the Sun Devil Classic, including her fourth solo shutout on Sept. 1 in a 1-0 decision against Colorado. Arase is now 10-0 as a starter for the Trojans.
FORWARD PROGRESS -- With the new offensive system in place for the 2000 season, the team will utilize three forwards. Junior Christy Callier and freshman Jessica Edwards will take the first two spots in the starting lineup with junior Brittany Savelkoul (Seal Beach/Los Alamitos HS) and sophomores Jackie Fodor (Winnetka/Chatsworth HS) and Jennifer Prigmore (Norman, Okla./Norman North HS) will battle for the final spot.
ON MIDDLE GROUND -- A mix of experience and talent exemplifies the strength of the team: the midfield. Senior Isabelle Harvey and sophomore Ali Fennell create a 1-2 punch on the flanks for the Women of Troy while senior Katie Ticehurst serves as the defensive leader in the middle. Senior Andrea Warner (Dana Point/Dana Hills HS) is pencilled in as the offensive midfielder, but will see some competition from freshman Megan Abbamonto (Mission Viejo/Capistrano Valley HS), who was named Orange County Player of the Year in 1999 by the Orange County Register and the Los Angeles Times. Abbamonto's sister, Kim, is also back in her sophomore season after spending two seasons on the sidelines with various hip and lower back injuries. Adding depth to the midfield are senior Barbara Almaraz (Ventura/Ventura College), who played for Mexico in the 1999 Women's World Cup, junior Liane Nakano (Fountain Valley/Fountain Valley HS) and sophomore Tawny Flores (Los Angeles/Santa Monica HS). A surprise competitor may be freshman Becky Miller (Westlake Village/La Reina HS), who played well during the team's recent European tour.
DEFENDERS OF THE CROWN -- Senior Megan Orach (Huntington Beach/Marina HS), a forward her first two seasons, and Susie Mora (Mission Viejo/Santa Margarita HS), a starter for Mexico in the 1999 Women's World Cup, anchor the Trojans' defense in 2000. Junior Erin Reed (Alamo/San Ramon Valley HS), who made seven starts last season, has locked up the left back starting position. Junior Liane Nakano (Fountain Valley/Fountain Valley HS) and sophomore Stephanie Scholl (Torrance/South Torrance HS) add depth as returners while the team will also see some action this season from freshmen Nicole Goza (Walnut Creek/Carondelet HS) and Amanda Roach (Upland/Upland HS).
GOALKEEPER GOSSIP -- For the first time in the program's history, the Women of Troy have four goalkeepers. This season, the team will utilize the same starting tandem that was used last year. Junior Shaelyn Fernandes (San Jose/Presentation HS) was 7-6 last year and had a 1.332 goals-against-average while sophomore Lauren Arase, a member of the U.S. Under-18 National Team pool, was 7-0 as a starter with a 0.631 goals-against average. Fernandes had four solo shutouts while Arase had two. Both keepers combined for three shutouts in 1999. Two freshmen, Taylor Amaro (Clovis/San Joaquin Memorial HS) and Julie Peterson (Mission Viejo/Santa Margarita HS), will back up the Trojans' starting tandem.
CLASS BREAKDOWN -- The Women of Troy are led by six seniors this season with five juniors, seven sophomores and 11 freshmen.
LAST SEASON -- In 1999, the Women of Troy went 14-6 overall and placed second in Pac-10 play with a 7-2 record. The Trojans made their second straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament, losing at home to SMU in the first round, 1-0, in two overtimes. It was the fourth straight season that USC won at least 14 games. #
