Feb. 13, 2012
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SAN DIEGO STATE (0-0 MPSF, 0-1 Overall) competed against No. 18 Ohio State last Saturday on the Stanford campus in the program's first game, a 19-4 Buckeye win. Lauren Maack scored just 22 seconds into the opener, the first of her two goals on the day to give the Aztecs an early lead. Jackie Mills and Meris Walsh were the other SDSU scorers. Christina Ricciardulli caused three turnovers. The home opener is Friday (Feb. 17) against Cincinnati.
#6 STANFORD (0-0 MPSF, 0-2 Overall) began the 2012 season with home losses to No. 1 Northwestern (18-6) and No. 18 Ohio State (14-10). Anna Boeri scored twice against the Wildcats and Lyndsey Munoz collected 13 saves in goal. Catherine Swanson knocked in a hat trick against the Buckeyes, also picking up four groundballs, three draw controls, and a pair of caused turnovers. Stanford takes on No. 20 Notre Dame Sunday in South Bend, IN.
CALIFORNIA (0-0 MPSF, 0-0 Overall) starts its season at St. Mary's Sunday (Feb. 19) in a conference game. The Bears' home opener is Feb. 23 against ninth-ranked James Madison. Tara Arolla (36G/39DC), Megan Takacs (32G/16A/48P), and Tori Harrison (33 GB/12CT/8DC) return from All-MPSF seasons, as Cal played in the semifinals a year ago.
UC DAVIS (0-0 MPSF, 0-0 Overall) hits the road for its first five games, beginning with San Diego State Sunday (Feb. 19) and St. Mary's Feb. 23 in conference play. All-MPSF Defender Vanessa Jamison, along with Hannah Mirza (UCD record 58 DC) and Elizabeth Datino (30G/16A) are back from last year's 10-win team.
DENVER (0-0 MPSF, 0-0 Overall) begins at Johns Hopkins on Feb. 24. Two-time all-conference Ashley Harman and Kara Secora highlight the returnees from last year's second-place finish, as the former was third in the MPSF last year in save percentage (.422) and the latter leading in assists (2.06 A/G) and third in points per game (4.33).
OREGON (0-0 MPSF, 0-0 Overall) begins the season with three on the road, visiting Temple Friday (Feb. 17), La Salle Sunday (Feb. 19), and Towson on Feb. 21. Kristina Barrett (24A/52P), Jana Drummond (36G) and Jess Drummond (34G/15CT/31DC) return from All-MPSF seasons. The Ducks reached the conference title game last year.
ST. MARY'S (0-0 MPSF, 0-0 Overall) plays its first two games this year as MPSF home competition, facing California Sunday (Feb. 19), followed by UC Davis on Feb. 23. All-MPSF honorees Jilian Chong (26G/35P) and Mariah Walk (27G/35P/39DC) return to Moraga for their junior seasons, along with 20-goal scorer in senior Juliet Munroe.
FRESNO STATE (0-0 MPSF, 0-0 Overall) opens its season against Cincinnati Sunday (Feb. 19), to be played at San Diego State, the lone game until the home opener vs. New Hampshire on Mar. 14. Briana Hetherington (11G/4A) and Natalie Harrington (8G/7A) are each coming off 15-point seasons.
CATHERINE SWANSON MPSF PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Stanford senior midfielder Catherine Swanson (Potomac, MD/Holton-Arms School) combined for a four-goal week in the first two games of the year, taking on top-ranked and defending NCAA Champion Northwestern and 18th-ranked Ohio State. Swanson had a final line of one goal, one draw control, and two groundballs vs. the Wildcats, followed by four groundballs, three draw controls, two caused turnovers, and a hat trick against the Buckeyes.
Also Nominated: Lauren Maack (SDSU)