Beavers Head to Seattle for Monday Tilt

The Kick Off: The Oregon State women’s soccer team returns to action after an extended break on Monday, as they take on Washington in Seattle. The match is slated to begin at 7 p.m.

Follow Along: Monday’s contest will be carried live on Pac-12 Networks. Live stats will also be available, and can be accessed through the OSU women’s soccer schedule page. Twitter updates for all Oregon State games this season can be found @OSU_WSoccer.

Series History: Oregon State is undefeated in its last five meetings with the Huskies, in a stretch that dates back to 2009. The Beavers beat Washington three straight times in 2009, 2010 and 2011, and the teams have battled to a draw in each of the last two seasons, tying 2-2 in 2012 and 1-1 last season.

Scouting the Opponent: Washington is 10-4-0 on the season and 3-2-0 in Pac-12 play. The Huskies are No. 20 in the NSCAA rankings and No. 25 in the Top Drawer Soccer Poll this week, after winning three consecutive matches against No. 12 California, No. 19 Arizona State and Arizona. Jaclyn Softli has eight goals this season, while Kate Bennett has six goals and three assists. Megan Kufeld has started all 14 games in goal, posting four shutouts.

Last Time Out: The Beavers fought hard in a pair of matches against Rocky Mountain foes last week, as they hosted Colorado and Utah at Paul Lorenz Field. Oregon State created some good scoring opportunities, but was unable to find the net on Friday, as it fell to the Buffaloes 1-0. The Beavers came out aggressive against the Utes, tying a season high with 14 shots, but were unabled to break through, as Utah took the win 2-0.

Head coach Linus Rhode on the performance vs. Colorado:
“I thought the way we conceded the goal was unfortunate. I think we started the second half a little flat, and we got punished for it. I thought we played a really good first half from start to finish, but that start of the second half proved to be the difference.”

Head coach Linus Rhode on the performance vs. Utah:
“I’ll give Utah credit, because their first goal was a really good goal. We did some really good things offensively. We created some really good chances today. We need to build on that and keep creating those opportunities. We were much more aggressive in the match today. We were able to get off good shots and good crosses. We need to continue to be aggressive in the attacking third, like we were today.”

Experience at the Back: Four of Oregon State’s most experienced players have joined forces to form a solid back-line. Sophomore Kathryn Baker and junior Gwen Bieck have locked down the center of the field as OSU’s centerback pairing. They are flanked on either side by the fullback combination of sophomores Helene Haavik and Annie Govig.  The quartet has helped the Beavers hold nine opponents to a goal or less this season, including three clean sheets.

Go Geist: Freshman goalkeeper Bella Geist has already recorded three shutouts in her young collegiate career. The Milwaukee, Ore. native leads the Pac-12 with 87 saves this season, and is just three saves away from tying the Oregon State freshman record.

Sattler Up: Senior Julia Sattler made her first two career starts last week, as she cracked the first-11 against Colorado and Utah. Sattler also recorded her first assist since 2010 earlier this season, when she played a pass to set up Kayla Latham’s goal vs. Saint Mary’s.

Faris Wheel: Freshman Nikki Faris leads the Beavers with 21 shots this season, six of which have been on goal. The San Clemente, Calif. native has started all 14 of Oregon State’s games at forward, after setting the San Clemente High School single season record with 25 goals. Faris has created a number of good scoring opportunities in the last four matches.

Say Hello...: A number of Beaver players have made their debut in the Orange and Black this season. Twelve true freshmen have seen the field in the 2014 campaign, with eight of them making at least one start. Nikki Faris and Natalie Higgins have all started each of the Beavers’ 14 games this season as true freshmen.

Can’t Beat Bieck: If there is one thing you can count on when it comes to Oregon State soccer, it’s that you will find Gwen Bieck in the starting lineup every week. The Duvall, Wash., native has started 41 consecutive matches for the Beavers,  in a streak that began against Colorado on Oct. 13, 2012. She has played in 53 of the 54 games the Beavers have played since she joined the program. Bieck has been named a team-captain for the 2014 season, and has taken over an expanded role as a leader on the team.  

Govig or Go Home: Sophomore Annie Govig will help lock down an experienced core of Beaver defenders. The Sherwood, Ore., native played primarily at outside back last season, playing 18 matches and starting 13 games, and has continued that trend to begin this season, starting all 14 of Oregon State’s matches this year. Govig recorded her first career assist on Aug. 31, whipping a cross into the box that ultimately found the head of Kayla Latham.
Baker’s Field: Sophomore Kathryn Baker has started all 34 games the Beavers have played since she joined the team last season. The underclassman from Vancouver, B.C. was a Pac-12 Conference Honorable Mention last season for her efforts at centerback.

Latham On the Mark: Freshman Kayla Latham scored her first career goal on Aug. 31, hammering home a header in the 58th minute to level the score. The midfielder has played in all 10 games this season, making six starts. He late header off the post nearly gave the Beavers a victory over Potland on Sept. 19.

Step in Santarossa: Sophomore Sabrina Santarossa scored her first career goal against St. Mary’s on Aug. 31, converting a spot-kick in the 29th minute. Santarossa aims to take on a bigger role in the Beaver midfield this season, helping to facilitate the attack while providing defensive cover. WIth 10 shots in Oregon State’s first 10 games, she has already surpassed her season-total from 2013. Santarossa has started nine matches this year, after making three starts a year ago.

Youth Movement: The 2014 Oregon State roster includes just four upperclassmen, compared to 20 underclassmen including 13 freshmen. The Beavers lost a number of outstanding seniors at the end of the 2013 season, as nine players graduated. Despite the departures, Oregon State’s returners come in with solid experience. Junior Gwen Bieck will step in as team captain, and will be expected to lead the team on and off the field. She will be joined by sophomore Kathryn Baker, who was a stalwart on the Beaver back line in the 2013 campaign.

It Ain’t Easy: The Oregon State women’s soccer schedule features four games against teams ranked in the NSCAA’s top-25, and nine games against teams that made the 2013 NCAA Tournament. The difficult schedule is headlined by a visit from defending national champion No. 1 UCLA at Paul Lorenz Field on Oct. 24. The Beavers will follow that up by taking on No. 6 Stanford in Northern California just over a week later on Nov. 2.

Get the (Pac-12) Net: The Beavers will have seven games televised on Pac-12 Networks this season. Oregon State made its 2014 television debut on Aug. 31, when it hosts St. Mary’s. The Orange and Black will then make back-to-back appearances on the screen when it faces Washington State at Paul Lorenz Field on Sept. 26, before taking on Arizona in Tucson on Oct. 3. After hosting its final home television contest of the season on Oct. 10 (vs. Colorado), the Beavers will close out their 2014 Pac-12 Networks slate with road games at Washington (Oct. 20), Stanford (Nov. 2) and Oregon (Nov. 7).