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NCAA post-season journey begins today in L.A. for Dixie State
NCAA playoff journey begins today in L.A. for Dixie St.
LOS ANGELES, CA - Armed with the Pacific West Conference Player of the Year, its first PacWest Championship, and seven All-Conference selections, the Dixie State College women's soccer team is looking to make Friday the 13th a good day in L.A.
The Red Storm will battle the Toros of Cal State Dominguez Hills this afternoon in the opening round of the NCAA II Women's Soccer Championship Tournament. It is the first meeting between the two schools that will kick off at 1 p.m. MST, Noon PST.
Live stats from Los Angeles will be available at www.DixieAthletics.com.
The fifth-seeded Red Storm takes on a tough fourth-seeded Toros squad that finished as the runner-up to Cal State Los Angeles in the CCAA tournament. The winner of today's contest will face top-seed Cal State Los Angeles on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 1 p.m. MST, Noon PST.
If Dixie State survives its first two playoff contests, then the third round of the post-season tournament - or West Region Championship - will be held on Friday, Nov. 20, at a site and time to be determined. The other side of the bracket features UC San Diego vs. Chico State.
Chico State started the national tourney on Thursday by beating Seattle Pacific 4-3 in a penalty kick shootout. The two squads played to a 0-0 double-overtime draw before settling the match on kicks.
Dixie State makes its first appearance in the Division II National Tournament after winning the Pacific West Conference with a record of 14-4-0. It is just the second year of NCAA II post-season eligibility for the Red Storm.
Senior Mikala Wilkes (Cedar Hills, UT/Lone Peak), who will be a marked played on Friday, was one of seven Dixie State student-athletes to receive All-PacWest accolades in 2009. This year the Pacific West Conference coaches or designated representatives from each school selected 33 student-athletes for all-conference accolades. The squad consisted of a first team, second team and honorable mention featuring four forwards, for midfielders, three defenders and a goalkeeper on each listing.
In addition to earning Player of the Year, Wilkes claimed her third straight All-PacWest First Team selection, this time as a midfielder after scoring 29 points in 17 starts. She ranked third in scoring in the PacWest, tied for second in goals with 12, and tied for eighth in assists with five. She produced one game-winning goal, ranked second in both points (1.71) and goals (0.71) per game, and tied for eighth in assists per contest (0.29). She will have a chance to add to those totals this weekend.
Wilkes was one of two Dixie State players making All-PacWest First Team Midfield. Sophomore teammate Camille Peterson (North Logan, UT/Skyview) joined Wilkes after recording 17 points in 18 starts. She tallied her points on five goals and seven assists, ranking second in the PacWest in total assists, and tying for seventh in scoring. She also drilled two game-winners, tied for eighth in points per game (0.94), and ranked second in assists per contest (0.39).
Senior Carly Haycock (Bountiful, UT/Bountiful) was named to the All-PacWest Team for the third straight year, this time claiming Honorable Mention as a midfielder. She was a First Team choice in 2008 and a Second Team winner in 2007. In 15 games, Haycock totaled 13 points on six goals and an assist. She registered a pair of game-winning goals and ranked 10th in goals per game (0.40).
Dixie State also collected All-PacWest honors for two defenders and two forwards in 2009. On offense, junior Wendy Stratford (Layton, UT/Layton) - an Honorable Mention last year - was named a First Team Forward, while senior Shannon Larsen (Salt Lake City, UT/Skyline) earned Second Team accolades.
In 16 games, Stratford amassed 16 points on seven goals and two assists. She tied for eighth in the PacWest in total goals and tied for ninth in total points. She also ranked third in game-winning goals (4), shared sixth place in points per game (1.00), and ranked eighth in goals per contest (0.44).
Larsen contributed 14 points on four goals and six assists over 18 games. She tied for third in total assists and in assists per game (0.33).
Sophomore Whitley Davis (Sandy, UT/Brighton) was named All-PacWest First Team Defender, while freshman Kelsey Tesoro (Las Vegas, NV/Shadow Ridge) claimed Honorable Mention.
Davis and Tesoro each contributed six points on two goals and two assists. The Dixie State defense finished the regular season ranked second in the PacWest in goals allowed (21) and in goals against average (1.14).
