Nov. 19, 2009

Live Video | Gametracker | Game Notes

The Oregon State women’s soccer team returns to action this week as the Beavers historic run in the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship continues when they face No. 2 seed Notre Dame in a regional semi-final match on Friday, November 20, at 4:30 p.m. in South Bend, Ind.

“Taking on Notre Dame in its own stadium is going to be a great challenge, but we are going to go out and give it everything we have,” head coach Linus Rhode said. “We need to stick to our game plan and do our best to get them out of their rhythm.”

Chelsea Buckland leads the Oregon State attack heading into the match as the freshman enters the contest with seven goals and 16 points. She has participated in every match this season and is tied for the team lead in game winning goals with four.

Senior Melissa Peck ranks second on the squad with five goals and 15 points and has played in every game during her final campaign as a Beaver.

Junior Courtney Wetzel has been a force during the post season compiling her first multi-goal game of the season with two goals against Ohio State in the 3-1 first round victory. She leads the team with four assists.

On the defensive side of the ball, Ashley Wood and Colleen Boyd continue to split time in net as the duo has combined to allow only 0.89 goals per game. Wood leads the squad with a 0.77 goals against average while Boyd has posted a mark of 0.98 goals against.

The Irish come into the match with a 19-3-1 record and ranked as high as No. 5 in the national rankings. Notre Dame defeated Marquette to win the Big East Tournament as the Fighting Irish have made 10 College Cup appearances and own two national championship titles (1995, 2004).

Notre Dame features one of the most prolific goal scorers in the nation in Melissa Henderson who has 17 goals on the season. In the Irish’s second round victory over Central Michigan she scored a school record four goals.  She also has four assists on the season for a total of 38 points.

Along with Henderson, the Irish have Lauren Fowlkes, who is second on the squad with 10 goals on the season along with four assists for a total of 24 points.

The Irish have played three different keepers during the season but have compiled a goals against average of 0.73. Nikki Weiss has spent the most time in goal this season having started 14 games this season and is 12-1-1 with five shutouts this season.

The meeting between Oregon State and Notre Dame marks the first time the schools have met in women’s soccer.

WATCH IT LIVE

Live video and audio of the important match is available online free of charge, courtesy www.und.com.

WHO NEEDS A RANKING?

With the victory over Florida in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the Oregon State women’s soccer team defeated its fourth nationally ranked team of the season which beats the previous record of three set in 1994 which was the last time the team made a tournament appearance. Along with Florida, the Beavers have defeated ranked Denver, USC, and Ohio State.

MAKING HISTORY

It is only the second time in Oregon State women’s soccer program history in which it has reached the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship. The only other appearance for Oregon State in the tournament occurred in 1994. The win over Ohio State in the first round marked the first NCAA Tournament win for the program and history continues to be made with each subsequent victory.

OVERTIME BREAKTHROUGH

The Oregon State women’s soccer team won its first overtime match of the season with the 1-0 (OT) win over Florida in the second round of the NCAA Championship Tournament. Oregon State’s overtime record is now 1-1-1 on the season with a 1-0 loss to Arizona State and a 1-1 (2OT) draw at San Diego State.

PRIMETIME PLAYERS

Senior midfielder Rachael Axon and junior defender Courtney Wetzel were named Primetime Performers for the week of Nov. 9-15 by CollegeSoccer360.com. Axon had the primary assist against host team Ohio State (3-1 win), then provided the thru-ball assist on the 99th-minute goal to beat No. 3 national seed Florida in the second round (1-0). Wetzel is a key member of a defense that allowed only three shots on goal Ohio St. (3-1; 3 SOG) and No. 3 national seed Florida (1-0/OT; 0 SOG). The junior also had two goals in win over the Buckeyes.

A GOAL MEANS A WIN FOR THE OREGON STATE WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM

Everybody knows if a team does not score a goal, that team is not going to win. However, a goal does not necessarily mean victory will be secured. This season, however, that does not seem to be the case with the Oregon State women’s soccer team. Incredibly, Oregon State carries an unblemished mark of 14-0-1 when the Beavers score a goal. In each Oregon State loss this season, the Beavers have been shutout by the opposition.

UP NEXT...

The winner of the match between Oregon State and Notre Dame will advance to the Elite Eight to face the winner of No. 1 seeded Florida State and Texas A&M next weekend.