August 24, 2011

Soccer prepares to host Jacksonville, Utah State

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Northern Colorado notes | Big Sky Conference notes

GREELEY – After kicking off its 2011 campaign last weekend with the inaugural Colorado Cup, the Northern Colorado women's soccer team begins its home schedule this weekend. The Bears are hopeful that free admission all season long, along with their strong play, will help to bring an intimidating atmosphere to Jackson Stadium.

Northern Colorado kicks off its home schedule on Friday with a match against the Dolphins of Jacksonville. It will mark just the second time the two schools have squared off, with the Bears winning the first meeting in 2007 at Jackson Stadium.

In the season's opening weekend, the Dolphins participated in the UNF Tournament, where they grabbed a win against Coastal Carolina and fell to UNC Charlotte. Last year, the team finished with a 13-5-2 (8-1-1 Atlantic Sun) record and lost to Mercer in the Atlantic Sun Tournament Final.

On Sunday afternoon, the Bears take on Utah State for the third time in school history. The Aggies have taken the first two games, with the two teams last meeting in 2008. Last year, Northern Colorado won both games against WAC opponents.

Utah State comes into the weekend owners of a 2-0 record. Both of the Aggies' first two games came against Big Sky opponents, as they defeated Weber State and Portland State. Aggie forward Shantel Flanary was named the WAC's first Offensive Player of the Week.

Game details

  • Game 1: Northern Colorado (0-2, 0-0 Big Sky) vs. Jacksonville (1-1, 0-0 Atlantic Sun)
  • When: 5:00 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26
  • Where: Greeley, Colorado – Jackson Stadium (1,860)
  • Coaches: The Bears' Tim Barrera (169-147-16) vs. the Dolphins' Brian Copham (31-22-9)
  • All-time series: Northern Colorado leads 1-0, starting in 2007. The Bears are 1-0 in Greeley.

Series history
2007       Jacksonville        W, 2-1

  • Game 2: Northern Colorado (0-2, 0-0 Big Sky) vs. Utah State (2-0, 0-0 WAC)
  • When: 12:00 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28
  • Where: Greeley, Colorado – Jackson Stadium (1,860)
  • Coaches: The Bears' Tim Barrera (169-147-16) vs. the Aggies' Heather Cairns (77-70-17)
  • All-time series: Utah State leads 2-0, starting in 2003. The Bears have never played Utah State at home.

Series history
2003       Utah State*        L, 2-0
2008       at Utah State     L, 3-0
* Game was played in Boise, Idaho

  • Game notes
     The Bears began their transition to the NCAA Division I level in 2003-04 and were postseason eligible for the first time in 2007-08.
  • Sophomore forward Danielle Birdsall was named Big Sky Offensive MVP after putting together an outstanding sophomore campaign. She was also awarded the league's Golden Boot for having the most points (18) in the league.
  • For the seventh time in series history, Northern Colorado and Denver were forced into overtime. Friday's 2-1 loss was just the Bears' second loss in overtime to the Pioneers.
  • Northern Colorado senior forward Kimmie Feidler seems to have a flair for the dramatic. In 2010, the Arizona native put away a shot as time expired to give the Bears a win over New Mexico State. To kick off 2011, Feidler added to her late-game heroics by putting away a shot from 20 yards out to tie a game against Denver in the closing minutes.
  • The Bears played WAC teams last season (Boise State, New Mexico State) and defeated both at Jackson Stadium.
  • After finishing in fourth place in the Big Sky with a 3-2-2 conference mark, the Bears qualified for just their second birth in the Big Sky Conference Tournament. The team eventually fell in the semifinals to Northern Arizona.
  • For the first time in school history, Northern Colorado had players named to the All-Big Sky First Team in 2010. Both Danielle Birdsall and Kimmie Feidler were named to the team. Ariel Cook and Aundreaha Martinez were both named to the second team. The four all-conference selections is most in school history.
  • Heading into the season, senior forward Ariel Cook needs just two more goals to move into the top-10 of Northern Colorado's all-time career goals list. Her 17 career goals is already the most in the school's Division I history.
  • The Bears' five-game unbeaten streak in the middle of last season marks the longest such streak since 2002, when the team opened up the season with a nine-game tear.
  • After making 86 saves in 2010, senior goalkeeper Kirstin Salminen sits in fifth-place on the school's all-time career saves list. If she can post another season similar to her 2010 campaign, the Washington native could find herself finishing her career in the top-three.
  • With Northern Colorado's 2-1 win on August 20th on the road against Wyoming last year, head coach Tim Barrera earned his 100th victory as the head coach of the Bears. His  109 career wins as a Bear almost double the numbers of Dana Kusjanovic, who sits in second place on the list.
  • With nine newcomers to this year's squad, the Bears will have plenty of new players for fans to get to know.
  • The Bears are the only Big Sky team to have two players finish in the top-four in  total points in 2010. Danielle Birdsall posted 19 points, while Ariel Cook finished with 18.