CHENEY, Wash. -- The season continues for the Eastern Washington University women's soccer team as it travels for two opponents this week, facing Cal State Bakersfield this Friday, Sept. 9, starting at 7 p.m. PST, and concluding with Saint Mary's on Sunday, Sept. 11, starting at 2:30 p.m. PST.
Due to the no-contest ruling in the previous match against Gonzaga, EWU remains at 3-1-0 on the season for its two-game stretch in California.
CSU Bakersfield is nursing a 4-0 loss against Campbell on Sunday, Sept. 4, and Saint Mary's will get its rematch against the Big Sky Conference after a 0-0 tie against Idaho last Sunday. Both teams should be a similar match for Eastern Washington, as the two teams played an exhibition match against each other to start this season, with SMC winning 1-0 in overtime.
Last Time Out
The Eagles will be eager for a victory this week after last week's disappointment, as their 2-1 lead over the Bulldogs was squandered due to inclement weather. The contest was delayed in the 61st minute because of lightning, followed by a 40 minute delay that eventually resulted in the no-contest, voiding all stats recorded.
Eastern got on the board first with a goal in the third minute from Allison Raniere. It wouldn't take long for the Bulldogs to find the equalizer, as GU's Karley Baggerly scored in the seventh minute. Eastern went up 2-1 in the 16th minute off a Jenny Chavez header that was played to her off a corner kick from reigning Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week, Aimie Inthoulay.
Chasing Records
Junior Chloe Williams is still on the hunt for the Eastern Washington career records in goals and points. Even though she has not recorded a point since the second game of the season, Williams is just nine points away from tying Cassie Black's (2011-14) leading points total of 55, and seven away from her goals record of 24. Williams has already broke one EWU record this season when she notched her 12th career assist in the 3-2 victory over Utah State.
All-Time Series
CSU Bakersfield: Friday's contest will be the seventh meeting between the two programs, and will break up the even series that sits at 2-2-2. The Eagles forced a 1-1 tie at home in the last outing against the Roadrunners on August 28, 2015.
Saint Mary's: Eastern has only faced the Gaels one time in program history, 17 years ago, when EWU lost at home 2-0.
Knowing Your Opponent: CSU Bakersfield
Bakersfield is coming off a 6-12-3 record last season, and went 3-5-2 in the Western Athletic Conference. The team is off to a 2-3-1 record so far this season. Their head coach Gary Curneen is entering his third season with the program.
The Roadrunners return eight starters to the team with only one senior and have 12 newcomers. Out of the returning starters is redshirt sophomore Aminah Settles who led the team in goals and point by a large margin in 2015. She scored 11 goals and tallied 23 points. In 2016, there is a three-way tie for the points lead with four.
Knowing Your Opponent: Saint Mary's
Saint Mary's is coming off a 7-9-4 2015 season that saw them go 2-5-2 in the West Coast Conference. The Gaels have had a less than desirable start to their season, sitting at 0-5-1. Their head coach Travis Clarke is entering his second year with the program.
SMC returns eight starters while bringing in 13 newcomers. The team comes with a good amount of experience with six juniors and seniors on the roster. Last year's leading scorers, junior Hannah Diaz and senior Samantha Dion, who both scored 15 points (6 goals, 3 assists) both return to the roster. Diaz has scored the Gaels' lone goal this season as the team's only point scorer.
For more information on the Eastern Washington soccer team, follow @EWUSoccer on Twitter.
