Oct. 13, 2005

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Briefly
The Lions continue conference play this weekend when they host #1 Portland and Gonzaga. The Lions look to hand the Pilots their first loss of the season on Friday at 4:00pm. LMU and Gonzaga will play on Sunday at 1:00pm.

A Look Back
Overtime has not been kind to the Lions this season, and it was another overtime battle with Pepperdine in Malibu. LMU took a quick 2-0 lead in the first half, thanks to goals by Kelly Lewandowski and Jessica Johns. However the Waves made it a 2-1 game right before halftime, and tied things up in the second half. After a scoreless first OT, Pepperdine scored the game-winner three minutes into the second extra period.

About Portland
The Pilots are ranked #1 in the nation by Soccer America, and #2 in three other polls this week. Portland is a perfect 13-0 on the season, and is led by 2004 M.A.C. Hermann Trophy winner Christine Sinclair. Sinclair leads the nation in scoring with 24 goals and 6 assists this season, and enters Friday's game with a 14-game scoring streak. Megan Rapinoe has eight goals and six assists for Portland, and Cori Alexander enters the game with a 0.25 GAA. She has recorded seven shutouts this season.

About Gonzaga
The Bulldogs are off to their best start in school history with a 9-3-1 record. They had a seven game winning streak snapped last weekend at Portland, falling to the Pilots, 2-0. Nanda McCormick leads the team with eight goals and two assists on the season, and Christin Leverson has four goals and two assists. Ashley Haugen has a 1.06 GAA, and has recorded five shutouts this season.

Sims Watch
Senior foward Lori Sims has been climbing the LMU charts this season, and needs just one point to the the all-time career scoring chart. With two assists in the last two games, Sims now has 50 career points (18 goals, 14 assists). She needs just one point to tie Heather Farr's record of 51, and two points to own the record herself. On the other charts, Sims needs two goals to tie the record of 20, and four assists to tie the record of 18.

Lewandowski Watch
Not to be outdone, Kelly Lewandowski has been making a midseason charge to get to the top of the charts as well. She has two goals in the last two games, and is now just three goals away from tying the career record of 20. Lewandowski has 40 career points (17 goals, 6 assists) and sits in a tie for fifth place in the career points list.

Horn Honored by Soccer Buzz
Senior defender Jennifer Horn was selected to Soccer Buzz's Team of the Week after earning Defensive MVP honors at the LMU-Four Points Sheraton Culver City Tournament. She led LMU to two shutout victories, and scored the game-winning goal against then-#29 Georgia. It is the first such honor for Horn who was also named the Defensive MVP of the LMU Tournament last year.

All-Tournament Team
As the only team to go 2-0 in the LMU-Four Points Sheraton Culver City Tournament, LMU had four players named to the All-Tournament team. Jennifer Horn was named the Defensive MVP for the second straight year, and Lori Sims was named the co-Offensive MVP. Tana Smothermon and Joslyn Slovek were also named to the All-Tournament Team.

All About the Overtime
The Lions opened their season with five straight double-overtime games, and the sixth game ended after just one overtime period. The six straight overtimes to start the season marks a WCC record, but the double overtime concept is not foreign to the Lions. Last season, LMU played in five double overtime games, and another two games that ended in a single overtime period. The 2003 squad played three double overtime games, and the 2002 team also appeared in five double overtime games. After six straight non-OT games, LMU took Pepperdine to a double overtime last weekend.

Looking Ahead
The Lions continue conference play in the Bay Area, taking on Saint Mary's on Friday, October 21st and San Francisco on Sunday, October 23rd. The Gaels are having a solid year, and sit at 7-4-1 overall, while USF is struggling a bit with a 2-10-2 record.

Win Number 150
LMU Head Coach Gregg Murphy recorded his 150th career win with the 2-0 victory over UC Riverside. In his 16th year, Murphy coached at Chapman College before coming to LMU. He is in his 10th season with the Lions.

Player Diary
Throughout the season, senior Kellie Schroeder will be writing a diary on the LMU website. Her journal will give fans an inside peak into the LMU women's soccer team. Be sure to check the LMU website at www.LMULions.com for Schroeder's latest entry.

Gametracker
Follow the Lions all season with GameTracker for Women's Soccer. During any LMU home game, you can get the up-to-the-minute score, as well as updated game stats and a play by play. For more information, go to www.LMULions.com.

Fresh Start
LMU's freshmen are slowly making their way into the Lion lineup. Freshman Allyssa Clark made her season debut against the Women of Troy, starting in between the pipes for LMU. Rookie Lauren Shanklin saw action for the first time against Georgia, and freshman Amanda Lernor made her season debut against Princeton, starting at defense for the Lions. Lernor has started three games this season.

Challenging Schedule
As a member of the West Coast Conference, LMU's schedule is one of the toughest in the country. Six 2005 opponents are currently ranked in Soccer Buzz's top 30 poll this week, including three WCC opponents. In addition, Florida State (#6), Cal State Fullerton (#27) and Cal Poly (#29) are all ranked among the nation's top teams. Other opponents have been ranked so far this season - USC, Princeton, Utah, Georgia, and San Diego have all seen time in the top 25. Every team that has handed the Lions a loss has been ranked in the top 30 at some point this season.

Sullivan Field Upgrades
Fans to Sullivan Field will notice a few changes to the atmosphere this season. Brand new banners on the back on the bleachers welcome fans to the "Home of the Lions." In addition, a new scoreboard has been installed. This season, the Lions play 12 of their 20 games at Sullivan Field.