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Ex-Solano Soccer Player Knopp Thriving at San Jose State

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.