Courtesy: GoBearkats.com, October 27, 2010

By Paul Farmer | Daily Republic | October 13, 2010 21:27

FAIRFIELD – The closest thing to going home again for former Fairfield High and Solano Community College standout Katie Knopp was the San Jose State women’s soccer team’s trip to UC Davis on Sunday.

Knopp, a senior forward, made the drive to Davis a happy one for the Spartans by driving home a rebounded shot in the 89th minute to lift the visitors to a 2-1 victory.

‘It was pretty exciting,’ Knopp said in a phone interview Wednesday. ‘We really wanted to get a win out of Sunday. It was exciting for me personally because my parents were there and (Solano coach Jeff) Cardinal was there. Overall, it was pretty sweet.’

The game was a rough one throughout with numerous yellow cards handed out to both squads.

According to a release by San Jose State, ‘The Spartans responded and scored on a Kelsey Lord rebound, which found Katie Knopp for the go-ahead goal. Knopp’s third goal of the season put the game away with less than two minutes remaining.’

‘We just fight,’ Knopp said. ‘We’re a fighting team, and we just happened to come back and win it.’

The Aggies scored first in the 69th minute, with the Spartans (7-5-1) getting the equalizer 10 minutes later.

‘Davis went up 1-0, but we responded well and we came back,’ Knopp said.

Women’s soccer

Another former Solano Falcon to find the net recently was Jessica Hamister, who had the only goal for Cal State East Bay in a 3-1 loss to Cal State Dominguez Hills on Sunday. It was her first goal of the season to go with two assists in 13 games played.

Also playing for the Pioneers (5-6-2) is Giana Raccanello (Armijo/Solano), a senior defender who’s played in seven games.

Kellie Detweiler (Solano) and the Menlo Lady Oaks have a made a turnaround, upping their record to 3-7-1 after an 0-5-1 start. Detweiler, a senior forward, has 13 shots, seven of which have been on goal, with one goal scored.

One of Menlo’s victories was 2-1 over William Jessup, for which Chelsea Aberson (Vacaville) is a sophomore. The loss on Tuesday snapped a four-game winning streak for the Lady Warriors (6-4-1). Last week Aberson had a goal in a 17-0 mauling of Mills.

Brittany Prieto (Fairfield) has started all 13 games for Southeastern Louisiana, which is 8-2-3 after a 6-0-1 start. Prieto, a senior defender, has two assists and has taken two shots.

Sam Houston State, for which Adriana Vasquez (Solano) is a senior midfielder, has won five of its last six games and is 7-7-1 after opening 0-4-0. Vasquez has played in 12 games with two starts, taking three shots.

Amanda Radich (Wood/Solano) has played four games in goal, starting two, for Kansas Wesleyan. She is 1-1 with a shutout for the Coyotes (5-3-2), making nine saves.

Courtesy: Kansas Wesleyan University News, November 13, 2010

NORTH NEWTON - What a difference a player makes – Corina Villegas to be exact. Villegas made her return to the starting lineup for the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes and she scored twice, including the match winner in the 99th minute to life the Coyotes over the Ottawa Braves 3-2 at Thresher Stadium.

“As you saw, she played well,” Kansas Wesleyan coach Mike Dibbini said of Villegas. “But there was a difference in our execution and her setting up our scoring chances that made the difference in the match today.”

Wesleyan also welcomed back defender Brittany Corcoran to the pitch, who had missed the last four games before returning part time in last Saturday’s regular season finale and again on Tuesday against Friends in the KCAC Semifinal in Salina.

“Having Brittany back brought back our confidence and gave us that added security in the back,” Dibbini said.

Wesleyan broke a scoreless tie in the 28th minute as Villegas connected on her first goal of the match. Elba Menjivar sent a ball into the penalty area on a corner, and after the scrum for the ball, Villegas connected from about 12 yards out for the top shelf score past Ottawa’s Lauren Peil.

Two minutes later Ottawa got the equalizer as Amanda Just found Whitney Bowen on a corner kick and Bowen headed it home past Wesleyan keeper Amanda Radich.

The teams would head to the break tied at 1.

Just four minutes into the second half, the Coyotes were on the board again. Hannah Kern broke free at the top of the box, beat a couple defenders and slid one past Peil for the go ahead goal in the 49th minute.

Ottawa again evened things at 2-all in the 86th minute as Bowen connected on a shot from about 12 yards out.

“I was a little disappointed and sad at that point because we didn’t preserve the win and let them back into the game,” Dibbini said. “It goes to show that a couple opportunities that we didn’t convert earlier can come back to haunt you.”

The match then headed to overtime with Ottawa taking three early shots all stopped by Radich, then in the 99th minute, Villegas connected on the match winner. Imaan Issa who was just inside the 18-yard box on the left side dropped a ball into Villegas at the left corner of the six-yard box.

Villegas knocked down the ball and poked the shot with her left foot to the far post. The slow, slow roller snuck just inside the post for the match winner with 1:32 left in overtime.

“She was determined,” Dibbini said of Villegas on the winner. “I wasn’t sure I was even going to start her today, but when I asked her prior to the start of the match she said she was ready. She had a great practice two days ago, where she got her rhythm and she brought that today for us.”

Wesleyan (10-6-2) was led by Villegas with four shots, including three on goal and scoring twice. Amanda Radich picked up the win in goal, allowing two goals and recording ten saves.

Bowen had five of Ottawa’s (15-3-2) 15 shots, scoring both goals for the Braves. Peil took the loss in goal, allowing three goals and tallying three saves.

Wesleyan advances to the NAIA Women’s Soccer Championship Opening Round, which will be played next Saturday at 16 campus sites around the country. The winners of those 16 Opening Round matches will advance to the NAIA National Championship Final Site in Decatur, Ala., starting November 29 and running through December 4. Opening Round sites and pairings will be announced by the NAIA on Sunday.

Courtesy: San Jose State Athletics, October 10, 2010
Davis, CA – San Jose State women’s soccer rallied late in the second half to score a pair of goals, en route to a 2-1 win over UC Davis on Sunday afternoon, October 10.  San Jose State (7-5-1, 1-0-1 WAC) extends its unbeaten streak to seven for the year.

In a physical first half, each team had opportunities to get on the board, but neither could find the back of the net.  San Jose State had five shots, including three on goal.

Seconds before the end of the first half featured a scramble after an Aggie corner, but goalkeeper Meghan Maiwald safely collected the ball to keep the score tied 0-0 at the intermission.

After a scoreless first half, the Aggies converted in the 69:30 mark for the first goal.  Lisa Kemp dodged  a couple of Spartan defenders and placed a goal in the upper left corner.  The lead was short lived however, as the Spartans tied the game in the 79th minute from a 25-yard shot by Cheryl Kute.  Kayla Santacruz was credited with the assist.

The physical play continued in the second half, with San Jose State drawing its only yellow card of the game and UC Davis drawing its third yellow card.  The Spartans responded  and scored on a Kelsey Lord rebound, which found Katie Knopp for the go ahead goal.  Knopp’s third goal of the season put the game away with less than two minutes remaining.

“I’m proud of our team today,” stated head coach Jeff Leightman.  They responded well after being down a goal.  UC Davis disrupted our style and we responded well.  The win today gives us character that we can build on.”

Meghan Maiwald stopped seven shots and improved to 7-5-1 overall.

The Spartans return to action with a pair of WAC opponents on the road with Louisiana Tech on October 15 at 4:00 p.m. and New Mexico State on October 17 at 12:00 p.m.