Aug. 16, 2010
SEATTLE The Washington women's soccer team kicks off its 2010 season this week with a single game on the road at Seattle University at 5 p.m. at Championship Field. Washington is coming off of back-to-back trips to the NCAA Second Round and the Huskies have high hopes for 2010. "The past two years have been good years for our program, but good isn't the goal and never has been for our team," said head coach Lesle Gallimore. "Our goal is to be great and be in contention for a Pac-10 title and a National Title every year. We have an ambitious and motivated returning squad which for me is the key to any college team's success. In soccer, if preparation, training, and learning the nuances of the game are more important to the coaching staff than the players you are never going to be much more than a good team. This team is very self-motivated to achieve and it makes coaching them extremely exciting, very challenging, and just plain fun. I believe that is what will be at the forefront of the 2010 season: hard-work and competition which translates into fun."
ABOUT THE HUSKIES In the Second Round, the Dawgs played Portland much better than they had earlier in the year, falling to the No. 2 team in the country, 2-1, on a last-second goal. In the regular season, UW had big wins over No. 11 Illinois, No. 23 Cal and Oregon. They also tied Washington State and No. 19 USC. During the season the Huskies put together a string of 10-straight unbeaten games from Sept. 13 - Oct. 23, just one shy of a school record. The Huskies lost some key players from 2009, including All-Region Second-Team honoree Veronica Perez who was a senior. She tied for a team-high six goals. Deines returns after also earning All-Region honors a year ago. She will be a junior this season along with Kari Davidson the Huskies goalkeeper. Davidson already is at the top of many UW career records at her position. Tying Perez for the lead in goals last year was McKenna Waitley who returns for her senior season. Eight talented newcomers will join the team and many will return from injuries that kept them out last season.
SCOUTING SEATTLE The Redhawks are in their third season at the D1 level and went 7-11-1 a year ago. They are led by head coach Julie Woodward, who enters her 14th season at the helm of the Seattle women's soccer program. Seattle played an exhibition match on Sunday, defeating Trinity Western 2-1. Kara Kuttler and Mary Hill each scored goals for the Redhawks. Kuttler led the team in goals last season with 10.
SERIES HISTORY WITH SEATTLE
HUSKIES RECEIVING VOTES IN NSCAA POLL
FOLLOW THE HUSKIES LIVE
GALLIMORE SECOND TO ONE Associate head coach Amy Griffin also returns for her 15th season and assistant Jim Thomas for his third. The new volunteer assistant in her first season is Missy Strasburg.
WASHINGTON PICKED TO FINISH SEVENTH IN PAC-10 Head coach Lesle Gallimore's team received 37 votes, just four shy of sixth place. Stanford was picked to finish first with nine first place votes and 81 total points. UCLA was picked second, followed by USC, Cal, Oregon State, Washington State, Washington, Arizona State, Oregon and Arizona. The top seven teams ranked in the Pac-10 preseason poll are either ranked or receiving votes in the NSCAA poll.
HUSKIES TO APPEAR ON FSN The Huskies will be one of the first teams featured in their match at UCLA on Oct. 29. Because of the television deal, the game time has changed to 8 p.m. The Oregon State at Stanford match on Nov. 5 will air at 8 p.m.
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW Fans looking for season tickets can purchase the Husky Gold Card which grants general admission access to all men's and women's soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, baseball and softball games. Visit www.gohuskies.com each day this week for a special preview on each position. Tuesday: Goalkeepers; Wednesday: Defenders; Thurdsay: Midfielders; Friday: Forwards. |
