Aug. 21, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

Briefly

The 2008 regular season kicks off on Friday with LMU hosting UNLV in the season opener for both squads. This will be the first of four non-conference home matches for the Lions, who went 10-1 last season at Sullivan Field and are carrying over a 10-game home winning streak from 2007.

Listen To And Follow The Lions Live On The Web

Loyola Marymount University, in conjunction with Stretch Internet, is proud to present FREE live audio broadcasts over the World Wide Web on www.LMULions.com. Just click on the “Listen” or “Archive” link next to the game of your choice. All broadcasts will be archived within 72 hours of their original airing and will include both the pre-game and post-game shows. 

All home games and select away games will be available live on Gametracker through the LMU website. Check www.LMULions.com for all Gametracker live stats information.

Media Guide

The 2008 LMU women’s soccer media guide will available for download soon at www.LMULions.com. This is the only source of copies of the guide.

Season Opener is Team LMU Day

Friday's season opener against UNLV will be the first of four "Team LMU" days around the Westchester campus. "Team LMU" was created to generate awareness and excitement for LMU sporting events on game days. Staff and students are encouraged to wear LMU gear on designated "Team LMU" days and to attend the games.

About UNLV

This will be UNLV’s season opener after the Rebels tied Dixie State 1-1 in an exhibition match on August 14. UNLV is playing the first of two matches in California as it travels to UC Irvine on Sunday.

Head Coach Katherine Mertz is in her fourth season at UNLV, where she has compiled a record of 33-23-11. Last year, the Rebels went 11-5-5, winning the Mountain West Conference regular season title with a 5-1-1 mark but they missed out on a second straight NCAA Tournament appearance when they were eliminated in the MWC Tournament by BYU. The Rebels return 11 letterwinners, led by First Team All-MWC defender Brie Kuhne.

LMU won the only meeting between the schools in 2000, taking a 1-0 decision at home.

Lions Drop Exhibition Match to Texas, 3-1

LMU took to the field for the first time in 2008 last Saturday in a home exhibition match against Texas, one of eight NCAA Tournament participants from 2007 on the Lions’ 2008 schedule. LMU was incredibly efficient, scoring on 50% of its shot attempts on goal but the Longhorns prevailed via sheer volume, outshooting the Lions 15-5 en route to a 3-1 victory. 

Texas opened the game with a goal early in the first half, on a one-time shot from Alisha Ortiz at 4:14. Erica Campanelli fed the ball to Ortiz from about 17 yards out to put the Longhorns up 1-0.

It wasn’t until 13 minutes into the second half the Lions got their first shot on goal and they made it count. Senior Shannon Omahen served a cross to Lily Sorentino in front of the UT net and the sophomore headed the ball in off the crossbar to tie the game at 1-1.

UT would get the go-ahead goal and what proved to be the game-winner with 20 minutes left in the game when Amanda Lisberger put in a beauty from 15 yards out in the upper corner to make the score 2-1. Just 28 seconds later Manda Lisberger gave UT an insurance goal to make the final 3-1.

In goal, junior Allyssa Clark recorded seven saves for LMU while Dianna Pfenniger stopped one for UT.

Home Winning Streak on the Line

After dropping its home opener last season, LMU rattled off 10 straight victories at Sullivan Field and will carry that 10-game home winning streak into the 2008 campaign. The 10 home victories overall set a new single-season record at LMU while the 10 straight home wins is also a record.

Top-Ranked Opponents Await Lions in 2008

LMU played three ranked opponents in 2007, with all three coming within conference play. Oh, how that will change in 2008! The Lions have scheduled no fewer than seven opponents who are ranked in the NSCAA preseason top-25, including three top-10 squads. Head Coach Joe Mallia has built up a strong non-conference schedule, as well, with the Lions set to face four ranked opponents outside WCC play. The ranked foes are no lightweights, either: LMU will be visiting three of the last four NCAA National Champions in Notre Dame (2004), USC (2007), and Portland (2005). Additionally, the Lions will be taking on three teams who won their respective conference's regular season title in 2007 - UNLV (Mountain West), West Virginia (Big East), and Portland (WCC).

Mallia Aims For 100

Head Coach Joe Mallia enters his second season at LMU sitting on 99 career victories, meaning that the Lions' first win of 2008 will be the coach's 100th. Mallia amassed 87 of those victories at Loyola (Md.), with 12 more coming in his first season at LMU.