Oct. 10, 2000

THIS WEEK -- The No. 10 USC women's soccer team (8-1-2) will play two Pac-10 Conference matches as the Trojans host Oregon on Friday (Oct. 13) at McAlister Field at 3 p.m. and Oregon State on Sunday (Oct. 15) at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at 1 p.m. The Trojans are in the midst of a five-game unbeaten streak and have not lost since a 2-1 overtime loss at Florida (Sept. 15).

NEXT WEEK -- USC will have an extended road trip with three road games, including two Pac-10 Conference matches. The Trojans travel to Santa Clara for a non-conference match on Wednesday (Oct. 18) at 7:30 p.m. before playing at Washington on Friday (Oct. 20) at 7 p.m. and Washington State on Sunday (Oct. 22) at 1 p.m.

LAST WEEK -- USC played only one match, a Pac-10 contest at the Coliseum against No. 5 UCLA. Freshman Jessica Edwards scored in the first half before the Bruins scored in the second half as both teams played to a 1-1 tie. Edwards scored at 21:21 with her team-leading fifth goal of the season off an assist from senior Isabelle Harvey. Sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Arase made 11 saves as the Trojans improved their unbeaten streak to five games. The Trojans played in front of their largest home crowd of the season (1,351). USC is now 2-0-1 all-time when playing UCLA at the Coliseum.

RANKINGS -- As of Oct. 9, USC is ranked No. 10 by Soccer Buzz, No. 13 in Soccer America and the NSCAA and No. 15 in Soccer Times.

DUCKS DISPATCH -- Oregon is 4-9 this season and 1-1 in Pac-10 Conference play. The Ducks opened Pac-10 play with a 2-1 loss on Oct. 6 against Arizona State and a 2-0 win against Arizona on Oct. 8. Junior Chalise Baysa leads the team with 13 points (6-1=13). Head Coach Bill Steffen is in his fifth season at Oregon. USC holds a 4-0 all-time advantage against Oregon and defeated the Ducks, 3-1, last year in Eugene.

BEAVERS BEAT -- Oregon State is 6-7-1 on the season and 0-1-1 in Pac-10 Conference play. The Beavers opened Pac-10 play with a 1-1 tie on Oct. 6 against Arizona and a 2-0 loss on Oct. 8 against Arizona State. Sophomore forward Dante Lipfert leads the team with five goals. Head Coach Steve Fennah is in his third season at Oregon State. USC has a 5-2 series advantage over Oregon State and have won the last five meetings. The Trojans won, 3-0, last year in Corvallis.

RING MY BELL -- Midfielder/forward Isabelle Harvey (Cap-Rouge, Quebec, Canada) is receiving accolades as one of the top collegiate players this season as a senior. 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 (44), points (123) and game-winning goals (20). She is also second in assists (35), one 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. She recorded a two-goal game against No. 21 Michigan on Sept. 3 in Tempe, Ariz. Harvey is second on the team with 11 points (4-3=11). 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.

THE QUEEN OF ASSISTS -- Isabelle Harvey is closing in on another school career mark. Harvey needs one more assist to tie Kim Clark (1996-99) for most career assists (36).

PHOENIX PHENOM -- Freshman Jessica Edwards (Mesa, AZ/Dobson HS) has made an immediate impact on the team and is adding scoring punch for the Women of Troy this season. She is first on the team with 12 points (5-2=12). Edwards scored the lone goal in a 1-1 tie on Oct. 8 vs. No. 5 UCLA and recorded her fourth goal of the season on Sept. 30 at Utah (4-1 win) as time expired at the end of the second half. On Sept. 8, Edwards scored two goals and added an assist in USC's 3-1 win over Baylor. She 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 55 shots (sophomore Ali Fennell is second with 24 shots).

TAKING A SHOT AT THE RECORD -- Jessica Edwards is on pace to challenge Maggie Merritt's record for most shots in a season. Edwards has 55 shots through 11 games and is on pace to record 100 shots this season (Merritt registered 92 shots in the 1994 season).

A PERFECT WORLD -- Sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Arase (La Canada/La Canada HS) is 6-0-2 this season for the Trojans and has allowed only three goals for a 0.46 goals-against-average (tied for seventh in the nation as of Oct. 10). She opened the 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. On Sept. 10 vs. Vanderbilt, she added her fifth solo shutout, making four saves in a 3-0 victory. Arase recorded her fourth shutout of the season on Sept. 22, making three saves in a 1-0 decison at home against Loyola Marymount. She also recorded 11 saves in a 1-1 tie against No. 5 UCLA on Oct. 8. Arase is now 13-0-2 as a starter for the Trojans.

SAVING THE DAY -- Lauren Arase registered a career night on Sept. 28 when she made 21 saves in a 1-1 tie at No. 23 BYU. BYU recorded 38 shots in 120 minutes against Arase, who missed tying the school record of 23 saves by a goalkeeper in a match (held by Cathy Zoccoli in 1993 vs. Stanford).

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. Fennell is fourth on the team in scoring with eight points (3-2=8). On Sept. 10 against Vanderbilt, Fennell scored two goals and added an assist in the Trojans' 3-0 shutout. 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.

DOUBLE TROUBLE -- The Women of Troy have a sister act this season with the presence of sophomore Kim and freshman Megan Abbamonto (Mission Viejo/Capistrano Valley HS). Both midfielders have played in every game this season. Kim, who has been hampered in two seasons (one as a redshirt) by injuries, has made solid contributions off the bench while Megan has three goals and three assists for the Trojans.

PLAYING WITH `ABBA'ILITY -- Megan Abbamonto is third on the team with nine points (3-3=9). She is tied with Isabelle Harvey for the team lead with three assists. She scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 decision on Sept. 17 against Central Florida in Gainesville, Fla. Abbamonto has dominated the midfield for the Trojans in her first season, she is tied for the team lead with Isabelle Harvey with two game-winning goals.

FIT TO BE TIED -- The Trojans have recorded two ties this season, both against top 25 teams. USC tied at No. 23 BYU, 1-1, on Sept. 28, and registered a 1-1 tie on Oct. 8 against No. 5 UCLA.

WHO'S HOT: -- Freshman Jessica Edwards has a goal in two straight games. -- Sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Arase is 6-0-2 this season and has made 34 saves in her last three games. She is tied for seventh in the nation with a 0.46 goals-against-average.

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.

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. 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.# # #

2000 USC NUMERICAL ROSTERNO. NAME POS. HT. YR. HOMETOWN (HIGH SCHOOL/UNIV.) 00 Julie Peterson GK 5-11 Fr. Mission Viejo (Santa Margarita) 0 Lauren Arase GK 5-7 So. La Canada (La Canada) 01 Taylor Amaro GK 5-9 Fr. Clovis (San Joaquin Memorial) 1 Shaelyn Fernandes GK 5-7 Jr. San Jose (Presentation) 2 Susie Mora D 5-6 Sr. Mission Viejo (Santa Margarita) 3 Andrea Warner MF 5-4 Sr. Dana Point (Dana Hills) 4 Jessica Edwards F 5-1 Fr. Mesa, AZ (Dobson) 5 Jennifer Prigmore F 5-4 So. Norman, OK (Norman North) 6 Megan Orach D 5-7 Sr. Huntington Beach (Marina) 7 Megan Abbamonto MF 5-9 Fr. Mission Viejo (Capistrano Valley) 8 Stephanie Scholl D 5-7 So. Torrance (South Torrance) 9 Katie Ticehurst MF 5-6 Sr. Los Alamitos (Mater Dei) 10 Kim Abbamonto D 5-9 So.* Mission Viejo (Capistrano Valley) 11 Isabelle Harvey MF 5-2 Sr.* Cap-Rouge, Quebec, Canada (Cegep F.X. Garneau) 12 Ali Fennell MF 5-6 So. Santa Ana (Mater Dei) 13 Jackie Fodor F 5-5 So. Winnetka (Chatsworth) 14 Christy Callier F 5-8 Jr. San Diego (University City) 15 Liane Nakano D/MF 5-4 Jr. Fountain Valley (Fountain Valley) 16 Erin Reed D 5-6 Jr. Alamo (San Ramon Valley) 17 Barbara Almaraz MF 5-6 Sr. Ventura (Buena/Ventura JC) 18 Amanda Roach D 5-9 Fr. Upland (Upland) 19 Brittany Savelkoul F 5-9 Jr. Seal Beach (Los Alamitos) 20 Nicole Goza D 5-4 Fr. Walnut Creek (Carondelet) 21 Tawny Flores MF 5-3 So. Los Angeles (Santa Monica) 22 Whitney Cale MF 5-7 Fr. Los Angeles (Marymount) 23 Becky Miller MF 5-3 Fr. Westlake Village (La Reina) 24 Hillary Coffelt MF 5-6 Fr.* La Mesa (Helix) 26 Fallon Johnson MF 5-7 Fr. Redondo Beach (South) Shannon Cross F 5-7 Fr. Manhattan Beach (Mira Costa)

* Used up redshirt yearHead Coach: Jim Millinder (Cal State Dominguez Hills '93)Assistant Coach: Kit Vela (Brown '90) Goalkeeper Coach: Jorge Vela