Spartans Off to Their Best-Ever Start

1/27/2015 12:00:00 AM

Jan. 27, 2015

SAN JOSE STATE (8-0 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) is off to its best start in school history at 8-0, with four wins at the UCSB Winter Invitational, beating the 2010 Spartans who started 7-0. San Jose State took down Cal Baptist 18-8, CSUN 8-6, Michigan 7-5, and Long Beach State, 12-7 (Jan. 23-24). Clara Espar Llaquet scored a second quarter hat trick against the 49ers, finishing with five goals in that win, after being blanked by Michigan for the first time in her 40-game collegiate career. Rae Lekness had a hat trick each game on day two, giving her 29 on the season and 159 in her career. She combined for a 13-goal tournament, highlighted by a six-goal first half against CBU. Goalkeeper Katelynn Thompson accumulated 32 tournament saves, moving into fifth all-time at SJSU (161), while carrying a 5.71 goals-against average for the weekend.

UCLA (6-0 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) won all four of its games at the UCSB Winter Invitational, routing the host UCSB 20-8, and Cal Baptist 20-2 on day two, and Sonoma State 16-2, and Long Beach State, 15-2 on day three. Goalkeeper Sami Hill combined for 11 saves against the Gauchos and Lancers. She ended the day with 747 career saves, one better than Nicolle Payne (1995-98), to break the all-time Bruin record. She moved into 12th in MPSF history (759) with 12 saves vs. LBSU. Mackenzie Barr recorded a career-high six goals against the 49ers, and Devin Grab scored five of her 12 goals in the Cal Baptist game.

ARIZONA STATE (6-0 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) opened its season at the UCSB Winter Invitational (Jan. 23-25). The Sun Devils defetated CS Northridge 9-6 and Cal Baptist 15-9 Friday, UC San Diego 9-5, and Azusa Pacific 16-8 Saturday, and CSU Bakersfield 19-6 and the host UCSB 12-7, Sunday. Alkistis Benekou matched a school record seven goals vs. APU, becoming the fifth Sun Devil to achieve the feat, and becoming the first to do so since Alicia Brightwell on April 29, 2012. Benekou totaled 20 goals in the first six games of the season. E.B. Keeve stopped a 2015 conference-high 16 shots against UCSB. Lena Mihailovic scored eight goals in six games, five vs. CSUB.

CALIFORNIA (6-0 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) Dora Antal combined for 17 goals at the UCSB Winter Invitational, as the Bears improved to 6-0 with wins over CSU Bakersfield, 20-4, Azusa Pacific, 24-5, Michigan, 14-8, and Long Beach State, 14-4. Antal topped out with six goals vs. CSUB and five vs. APU on day one, bringing her season total to 23 (3.83 GPG). Anna Illes combined for eight scores on day one. Roser Tarrago delivered hat tricks in each game on the second day vs. UM and LBSU.

CSU BAKERSFIELD (1-6 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) earned its first victory of the season as it played five games at the UCSB Winter Invitational. The Roadrunners knocked off UC San Diego, 11-6, on day two. The outcome marked the squad's first win over a ranked opponent since Feb. 4, 2012. Janelle Shelby recorded a hat trick, while Courtney Wahlstrom collected 13 saves. She went on for a 33-save weekend. Shelby also tallied three goals in the Northridge game.

STANFORD (2-0 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) was off last week. The Cardinal began defense of their NCAA Championship with two victories on Jan. 17 at San Jose State's LouStrong Memorial Tournament. They blanked CSU Monterey Bay, 20-0, and beat Pacific 14-3. Kiley Neushul combined for five goals, including her 29th career hat trick in the Pacific game. Her career total stands at 164 goals, in pursuit of becoming the fourth Stanford player and 37th MPSF player all-time to reach 200. Freshman Katie Dudley debuted for the Cardinal by scoring three times over the two wins.

USC (2-0 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) was off last week. USC outscored its opponents at the UCLA Invitational 57-8, defeating Cal Baptist 24-3 and CSU Bakersfield 33-5 to kick-off the season. Monica Vavic combined for 14 goals over the two wins, including eight vs. CSUB, tying the most by an MPSF player since 2007 (Sarah Harris of Pacific had nine in a game that year). Eight goals had been achieved two other times in the conference since then. Vavic owns 205 career goals, currently tied for 32nd in MPSF history. Stephania and Ioanna Haralabidis each had five-goal games vs. CSUB, and Brigitta Games totaled five goals in her first collegiate day.