Aug. 15, 2011
Weekly Release 
SEATTLE -For the first time in two years, the Washington women's soccer team will open the season at home. To begin 2011, UW is ranked No. 20 in the NSCAA poll and No. 19 by Soccer America. First up for the Huskies is a very tough BYU team that is receiving votes in the NSCAA poll on Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. at Husky Soccer Field.
Washington is coming off of one of its best seasons in school history which saw the Dawgs make their second-ever run to the Elite 8, narrowly missing out on a trip to the College Cup, with a 1-0 loss at Boston College in overtime. Along that magical run, UW defeated UCLA in Los Angeles for the first time since 2000, and on national televison. The Huskies in the post-season defeated Oklahoma in the first round, 4-0, before taking down No. 2 Portland on its home field in the second round in 11 penalty kicks. Washington upset another higher-seed in UC Irvine on it field, earning the trip to meet BC in the Elite 8.
For the third-straight season UW was one of 34 teams to receive an at-large bid. The Huskies finished the season with a 13-9-2 record and a 4-5-0 record in Pac-10 play, which put them in sixth place.
While the Huskies lost five important seniors from 2010, five seniors return, including senior captains Kate Deines and Sarah Martinez, Jorde LaFontaine-Kussmann, Kelli Stewart and Alex Webber, along with redshirt-junior Kari Davidson, who despite has one more year of eligibility, will play her last with the Huskies this season.
UW welcomes five true freshman, a sophomore transfer and two "returning" players who have yet to play a game for UW because of injuries.
Women's Live Chat Tuesday
Tuesday at noon, fans can participate in an hour-long chat with head coach Lesle Gallimore, associate head coach Amy Griffin and senior captain Kate Deines. Chat live from the front page or click this link: http://www.gohuskies.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/081211aab.html.
Scouting BYU
BYU just switched from the Mountain West Conference to the West Coast Conference in most sports. The Cougars have made six-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, falling in the NCAA First Round last year to UCLA in penalty kicks. They ended the year with a 16-3-3 record. BYU is led by Jennifer Rockwood who has been the only full-time head coach in Cougar history since 1996. She has led BYU to three Sweet 16's and one Elite 8 while being named conference coach of the year three times, once in the WAC and twice in the MWC. Leading the way on the field for BYU is junior All-American defender Lindsi Lisonbee from Park City, Utah. Senior McKinzie Olson returns in goal after allowing just 11 goals last season. BYU leads the series, 1-3-1, winning the last meeting in 2007, 2-1. UW's only win over BYU came in 2000.
20 Years Of Women's Soccer At UW
20 years ago, women's soccer at UW began. In 1991, Dang Pibulvech became the first coach and led the team for three years before Gallimore took over in 1994. All season, UW invites fans to help celebrate and honor all of those who have passed through the program and helped in its success over the years.
Huskies Picked Fifth By Pac-12 Coaches
TIn a polling of the Pac-12 women's soccer coaches, the Huskies were picked to finish fifth in the new league that includes Utah and Colorado. UW was picked to finish seventh last year but placed sixth and advanced to the Elite 8. Washington is ranked No. 20 in the NSCAA Pre-Season poll. Stanford was selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2011 regular season. The 2010 NCAA runner-up garnered 121 points and all 11 possible first-place votes. UCLA, who made it to the third round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament, followed with 102 points to put the Bruins in second place. Oregon State took third place with 96 points, while USC's 86 points brought the Women of Troy to fourth. The Huskies received 82 points for fifth as Cal wrapped up the top half with 78 points in sixth place. Arizona State was picked seventh with 60 points, followed by Oregon and Washington State in a tie for eighth with 49 points each. Conference newcomers Colorado and Utah were picked 10th and 11th with 35 and 18 points, respectively. Arizona rounded out the poll in 12th place with 16 points.
Huskies Picked For NSCAA Game Of The Week
The seventh season of the NSCAA College Game of the Week on FOX Soccer will feature outstanding matches between some of the top NCAA Division I men's and women's teams, making Thursday and Friday nights the premier viewing destination for intercollegiate soccer fans.
Since 2005, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and FOX Soccer have joined forces to offer live and exclusive NSCAA College Game of the Week telecasts. This season's schedule includes eight women's and 12 men's matches.
This season the UW women will be featured in the final collegiate regular season women's game of the year as the Huskies host Washington State in Pac-12 play on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.
Four Huskies Played For Two Different National Teams This Summer
The U.S. Under-20 Women's National Team and U-23 teams featured four current Huskies this summer. 2011 sophomore Lindsay Elston (Sammamish, Wash.) has been playing with the team U-20 the last few years but later in the summer was joined by fellow 2011 sophomore Lindsey Bos (Snohomish, Wash.). Incoming freshman Chelsea Archer was also a last minute selection to the team. The U-23 National Team featured senior Kate Deines (Issaquah, Wash.).
Two Former Huskies Play In World Cup
Former Husky great Hope Solo played for the U.S. team in the 2011 Women's World Cup in Germany, leading the country to a second-place finish. Veronica Perez, last year's UW volunteer assistant coach, represented her home country of Mexico. Although her team didn't make it past group play, Perez and the Mexican National Team made their country and fans proud.
