For the Portland State women’s soccer team, the spring season has its own special significance. It’s a time for the Vikings to bond as a team and try new tactics with the regular season’s roster in mind.
For the Portland State women’s soccer team, the spring season has its own special significance. It’s a time for the Vikings to bond as a team and try new tactics with the regular season’s roster in mind.
This year, the spring schedule started with an away game against crosstown rivals University of Portland and the Vikings followed it up with a home game against Western Oregon last weekend.
“Our spring schedule is challenging and fun,” head coach Laura Schott said. “Our team’s main objective remains the same as it is every spring: gel as a group without our seniors from last year as we prepare to challenge for another Big Sky Championship this fall.”
Portland State has not had the best of luck at the Big Sky Championship in the last three years. Despite winning the Big Sky regular season championship twice, they were unable to get past the semifinal barrier on all three occasions.
Schott and her team have been trying to improve various aspects of their game in preparation for the fall campaign. The team has added 9 new players to their 2012 roster.
“I am very excited about our 2012 class,” Schott said in a statement. “We add a bit of competitiveness and depth at every position. They are intelligent, motivated players, and I look forward to having them join us this fall.
“We’ve been working on a lot of things. Mostly transition speed, creating scoring opportunities and new formations. Since we lost most of our back line and one goalkeeper last fall, we are also working on finding a new balance in our back line. So far it is going well.”
Last year, in addition to winning the regular season conference championship, the team also hosted Big Sky Offensive MVP Megan Martin who won the conference’s Golden Boot award.
So far this season, the team has played two teams—University of Portland and Western Oregon—and Schott is pleased with the team’s performance.
“Both games went well,” Schott said. “While we don’t publicize scores in the spring, we do focus on our effort, improvement and preparing for the fall. I can say both games were close and we played well. We created great chances in both games and I am happy with the direction of this group.”
This weekend, the Vikings are playing four away games—against Seattle University, Seattle Pacific, Concordia University and St. Martin.
“We are playing a lot of soccer this weekend,” Schott said. “It should be fun, and everyone will have an opportunity to showcase what they can do for our program now and in the fall. I am looking forward to some great plays and enjoying the weekend with a talented group of Portland State athletes.”
The Vikings will play the last game of spring the following weekend, against state rivals University of Oregon, on their home turf at Hillsboro Stadium.
