THE STAR SEPT. 1 - SEPT. 7, 2009 _. SI'Qrts PAGE 11 3-0 shoutout over Hawaii-Hilo proves Season opener leads to 2-1 win in great start to women's soccer season I 12 shots on goal compared to Macy Usher scored her first of double overtime for men's soccer two shots attempted by Hawaii- two goals on· a header from Tay­ BRIAN EVANS Hilo, leading 1-0 at the half. lor Edmonds to set the score at Strong offense and an aggressive battle with Western StaffWriter Washington give the Seawolves first win of the season The second half proved to 2-0. The regular season opener be similar to -the first as SSU Seeking a finishing blow, BRYAN DREW tempted defensive clear played celebrated on Orea Field ih for the Sonoma State women's dominated on the offensive Sonoma took control of the ball Whatcom Community Col­ soccer squad com­ just under a StaffWriter wide by SSU. Sonoma posed many chanc­ lege's campus in front of their menced with a 3--0 minute after the As the students of Sonoma es to score towards the later part defeated opposition. shutout over the previous goal, State sweated away their week­ of the second half, but with Gallant commented that Vulcans ofHawaii­ as Usher earned end in Rohnert Park, the men's no promising outcomes, both this game was a "good start­ Hilo on Friday her second goal soccer team traveled north to teams headed into the first over­ ing point for the season after afternoon as se­ of the game, as defeat Western Washington time period. It was an equally losing some seniors from last nior Lindsay Cat­ well as the sea­ University in their first regular frustrating period for SSU as year, the young guys really ton and freshman son, with Cat­ season game, 2-1. there were plenty of opportunis­ stepped up.'' Macy Usher each ton earning the With several seniors leav­ tic passes and through balls but Vickers, a sophomore for­ found the back of assist in the fif­ ing the squad after last year, with no shots. ward, proved his worth early the net for the lady ty-eighth min­ it was the team's hope that Senior defender Stuart Gal- on in the game and also felt Seawolves. ute of the game, some new and younger play­ lant said that it was a very phys- strongly about the future for Looking to setting the score ers would step up and fill in the men's team in the upcom­ start the 2009 soc­ at 3-0. the gaps. "Our team has more ing months: cer season off on Hawaii-· That is exactly what hap­ "Our team has more fight the right foot, the Hilo goalie pened Saturday night as the fight and work rate and work rate than any other Seawolves showed Shanna Brown Seawolves stood up against the than any-other team team I have played, every guy up to play Friday, took on a bar­ Vikings for the opening game I have played, every is willing to battle for the guy clearly dominat­ rage of shots of the year. next to him," said Vickers. ing Hawaii-Hilo from the SSU did not waste any guy is willing to battle "That gives us a great founda­ throughout the Sonoma State time and performed quickly for the guy next to tion to start building our team span of the game, offense, de­ to score within the first five into what it will become" on both ends of the fending against • minutes of the game off a steal him." -Cam Vickers, In a game where offensive field. twenty-five at­ stemming from a defensive forward goals proved to be the decisiye Sonoma State tempts through­ mistake by the Vikings. factors, the defensive marks of struck first in the out the span of After stealing the ball, ical game and that the referee- senior goalkeeper Brook John­ twenty-third min­ the match, and Brandon De La Cruz delivered ing officials held somewhat of son who had eleven saves on ute of the first half committing 7 a through pass to Cam Vickers a home-team bias. Despite this the night could not be ignored. when a rocket to saves. who struck the ball towards the factor, the men of Sonoma kept Jphnson is one of only five the right hand cor­ The Sea­ STAR//STEPHEN K1SCHENMANN far post and into the net from their heads up. returning seniors on the roster ner of the goal off Freshmen Holly Weaver (center) and Macy Usher (right) wolf offen­ just under twenty yards out. With no goals in the first but with six red shirt freshman the foot of senior defend the hall from Hawaii-Hilo's Lauren Minami. sive attack 'had "The goal came very early ten-minute overtime period, and nine more incomers on captain Lindsay twelve different off of great team pressure. It's WWU and SSU pushed on into the squad, the older members Catton proved to be too much front as well as defensively, al­ players attempt shots against the something we have been work­ double overtime. will certainly need to provide for Vulcan goalkeeper Shanna lowing only two shots on goal Vulcans, with Catton attempting ing a lot on lately and my goal The Seawolves came out leadership and showcase team Brown to handle as Catton from Hawaii-Hilo. a game high six shots. was a result of that," Vickers enthused and ready to claim unity for a successful season. scored her first goal of the sea­ Offensively, the Sonoma The Sonoma State women's commented after the game. their first victory of the year The Seawolves play Se­ son from thirty-five yards out. soccer squad added some insur­ soccer team faces off against Though the Seawolves when junior forward Ben Lang- attle Pacific on Monday after­ The Seawolves controlled ance to their lead in the fifty­ Notre Dame de Namur at home dominated the first half and with drilled a shot through the noon in hopes to extend their the first half as they attempted seventh minute when freshman on Wednesday at 2 p.m. kept the Vikings on their heels, net from a proper one-touch. wins on the first road trip. the men from WWU had other Coming in the 106th min- With a 1-0-0 record, and a plans as they turned the tempo ute of double-overtime, this No. 17 ranking in the National around at the beginning of the proved to be the decisive goal Soccer Coaches Association On the sidelines w~th Peter Cady second half with a goal from for Sonoma as they grasped a of America NCAA Divi'sion Gators a lock to win BCS National Championship midfielder Oscar Jimenez. The 2-1 victory over Western Wash- II preseason poll, this year's goal came within the t twp !!}&l9n '.s Vikj!)gs. . .._ .J

StaffWriter Volleyball sweeps up Seawolf Spike Julio Jones or No team USC's Dami­ ERIN GUE'.'l'THER Taylor Krenwinkel led with 11 from Gabby Pecora evened the is in a better p()filtion to win the an Williams. digs. score out and allowed Domini­ National Championship and safeties Sports Editor BCS Western Oregon would not can to steal the lead and win this .. year thatf the .Universiy go down quite as easily in Fri­ 27-25. of Florida Gators, and there is and Major It seemed like Sonoma day's second game. SSU came back and won •doubt¥\ my mind that they Wright can State women's volleyball could Sonoma State took control the next two sets neccesary to ·wilt hoist the ~y on Jan. 7 jump any do no wrong in the Seawolf of the first two sets, with 25-16 claim victory over Dominican. · in .Pasadena. · route, as is Spike season opener, dominat­ and 25-10 victories, then lost In their final match against · .They are simply too deep. proven by the ing strong opposition to win all in a close contest of 22-25 in Central Washington University, t()() fast. too eq,erienced and 12 ·intercep­ four games. the third, and finally ended the the Seawolves took off right t® well coached. Combine tions that they The Seawolves began the match with a 25-23 win. from the start, only losing the those factors with a favorable br<:>Ught down tournament with a quick battle Satfier brought in 17 kills lead once in the first set. It was a schedule. and it is tough· to last year. against Notre Dame de Namur, and Peterson contributed an ad­ close round, with constant back see how Florida could end up Florida's Fri., Aug. 28, defeating them ditional 11. and forth action, but Sonoma playing in any bowl game be­ offense may 3-0. While the first set ran Competition was the tough­ State prevailed with a 25-19 sides the National Champion­ not average smoothly, with senior Lindsay est in the Seawolves' first game win. ship this year. 43.6 points Brown assisting on 10 of the on Saturday against Dominican From there, the domination Sure. Florida no longer· per game like T'l.D1 Tebow's accuracy and strength will be Seawolves' 15 kills to win 25- University, taking all five sets to continued as Sonoma State won ha$ the most explosive player they did in '08 key in Florida's attempt at bringing home..the 12, Notre Dame fought back in determine the winner. the next two sets with ease. in the coon.tty in wide receiv­ with Harvin National Championship. the second. Though Sonoma State Senior Lindsay Brown was et/ running back , scaring defensive coordinators, and could have an offense that With nine ties and five lead started out strong, dominating named tournament MVP after and no team ha$ been orowned but they won't )lave to because is 4eadlier than 18$0n Bourne changes, Sonoma State faced the Penguins 25-9, Dominican the game. Brown accumulated undisputed national cham­ of their defense, which will if their running game is any the fierce offense of Breanna retaliated in the second and 161 ssists, 12 digs and 15 kills pions in back-to-back years hold more than half of their op- better than it was last year;. and Morales and Caitlin Torres, both abrubtly quieted SSU's cheers over the weekend. since Tom Ost?ome's Nebraska ponents to under 20 points this USCcouldcomeouton.scatbed with five kills that set. with a disheartening defeat of The Seawolves remain Cornhusker squads .were from season. , agajnst Ohio State, Cal, Notre Allyson Sather made an 16-25. undefeated and will travel to 1994-to-95. lt's also easy to be It would be tough to see • Dame and Oregon on the road outstanding volleyball debut, It then took 52 points be­ Washington for the CWU In­ tempted to think that Texas and Florida losing a game this year on their way to a 12-0 record leading the team with 11 kills tween the two teams to declare vitational next weekend where quarterback Colt McCoy will even if they had the SEC sched- if true freshman quarterback with sophomore transfer Keala a winner for the third set. The they will face BYD-Hawaii, slay Florida in the Rose Bowl ule that turned an uber-talented Matt Barkley doesn't force any Peterson adding a close ten. Seawolves maintained the lead Seattle Pacific, Evergreen State just like Vmce YOUJll did four Georgia squad into just a decent throws into coverage in the first Brown totaled 27 assists and for most of the set until a kill and Western Washington. seasons ago when· USC was 9-3 team last year. And that is half of th~ games (Oklahoma trying to repeat. what makes Florida's chances will take a step back this year But you quickly forget of repeating in '09 even more because -0f their inexperienced about those thoughts when you likely, as their schedule is ex- receiving core). look ·at ·Plorida's team from tremely favorable. There is only But Texas will not be able. top-to-bottom, as they have a one Saturday during the regular tohangwithFlorida'splaymak­ strong~ strong-willed season that Gators head coach ers over a span of four quar­ , and -~'!mite ~k in will have to sweat ters, and will eventually fall to Tun Tebow to go along with about, and that is when the team Tebow and co. by two scores two track stars at rwming back travels to Baton Rouge to take when they meet the Gators in in and Chris Rain­ on LSU on Oct. IO. Pasadena ~ome January. ey, a top-ten tight end in the While it is possible that Everything is in •place for country in Florida could lose to Les Miles Florida to repeat as the kings and • •five-deep receiving core and the Tigers (I'll pick Florida of college football this year, as that will be much more pol· to beat them), the status that the no reasonable coach could ask ished than it was a year ago. SEC has gained over the years for a more skilled set-of players And on the other side of will make it so AP Top 25 vot- to fill his roster and a quarter­ the ball you have two ferocious ers will, still put them into the back to lead them on the field pass ~rs in defensive ends BCS National Championship like Tebow does, nor a sched~ Jermaine· Cunningham and game if that happens as long ule that is as favorable and yet , a quick line­ as it marks their only loss and competitive enough -~ WarnuJt backing-core led by Brandon they beat their SEC West op- a spot in the national champi­ Spies and a secondary whose ponent (probably Alabama) in onship game like the one that starters plucked 19 picks in the conference's championship the Gators have. 2003. In fact. no secondary game on Dec. 5. Thenationalcbampionship .is even worthy of being_ men­ Don't get me wrong, there has Florida's name on it, and tionedin the same sentence with are other uber-talented teams in it will literally have Florida's STAR//STEPHEN KIRSCHENMANN Seniors Ali Walker (left) and Sarah Illingworth (center) block a hit from Western Oregon's Florida's going into the sea­ college football this year, as Tex- name on it for the third time in Stephanie Beeler to heat the Wolves 3-1 on Friday night. son, as comerback as has an experienced defense four years come January.