Tag: Indianna Asimus

2019 Week 6 Preview

(Image Credit: Stanford Athletics)

Only two teams received first place votes in the Pac-12 preseason coaches’ poll, and those teams just happen to be the two featuring Aussies – Beattie Goad’s Stanford outfit, and a UCLA side featuring Rachel Lowe and Teagan Micah. With conference play starting this week, both sides will be out to prove that they are deserving of those votes, but it won’t be easy, particularly for Stanford, who face USC in their only game of the weekend. USC sit just one spot below the second-placed Cardinal in the national poll, having compiled a 7-0-1 record to this point, including a win over Florida State on the same weekend that UCLA picked up a win over the Seminoles. With Stanford having just eked out wins in their last two matches, this game on the road will be a significant test, and it will also be interesting to see what kind of playing time Beattie Goad sees. The senior played just 15 minutes off the bench against Santa Clara last week, but prior to that had regularly played significant minutes and even started four games. The return of players like Sophia Smith from injury certainly makes competition for playing time far more intense, but Goad has certainly staked her case for more minutes than she received last time out.

Teagan Micah and Rachel Lowe are flying high at the moment, with both players receiving Matildas training camp call-ups for next week’s camp in Sydney. However, prior to that camp they have one more game against California at home. The Golden Bears are 8-1 to this point, but almost all of their games have come against in-state mid-majors, meaning that whilst they have played some solid opponents, they are yet to face a true test outside of the Portland side that defeated them 2-0 in their last start. However, it is highly unlikely that Teagan Micah will face the same cruisy day that saw the senior not forced to make a save against Hawaii, with the Golden Bears averaging over 5 shots on target per contest. It may be in attack that UCLA need to be at their absolute best though, with Cal sitting in the top 15 in the nation for fewest goals conceded, and that is where Rachel Lowe comes in. Lowe tallied two shots on target and an assist in a career-high 48 minutes against Hawaii, and if the freshman can reprise that form before heading to national team camp, it will provide UCLA with an additional strike weapon that perhaps was not expected to emerge until deeper into the season.

Grand Canyon have struggled in non-conference play so far this season with just one win, but the Antelopes are starting to look better with Sandra Hill back in the lineup. With just one game remaining before league play commences, this match against Omaha looms as an opportunity to find some form against a team that has also secured just one victory to this point. Tabbed to finish fifth in the WAC by the league’s coaches, Grand Canyon are in the kind of position that will see them require a good start to a conference slate that consists of just eight games, as there won’t be many chances to make up ground if they are to qualify for the six-team conference tournament. A little bit of confidence could go a long way in helping the Antelopes do just that, and a win in this one could be just the tonic.

Big 12 play kicks off this weekend, with Demi Koulizakis and Texas Tech having posted the equal-best non-conference record of the ten teams in the league. That makes their first-up game against Oklahoma State especially tasty, as the Cowgirls are the team with whom Texas Tech share that honour. In a league that is expected to be incredibly tight, this game could prove decisive even at this early stage, but it could also be a chance for Demi Koulizakis to make a significant impact against a high-level opponent. The senior is one of a number of attackers playing an integral rear gunner role behind the dominant Kirsten Davis, with the former W-League player tallying a pair of goals and three assists to this point. Davis can almost be guaranteed to bang home the opportunities when presented them, so there will be no shock if Koulizakis tallies at least one more assist this weekend.

Indianna Asimus’ goals have kept Wyoming’s season steady so far, and the Cowgirls faithful will be looking towards the sophomore to keep scoring as the team looks to defend its Mountain West Conference regular season title. With this weekend’s second game coming against a New Mexico side with whom Wyoming shared the title last season, securing a good result here will be crucial to the team’s chances going forward, and this is where Asimus could be integral to their fortunes. Each of the sophomore’s goals have been crucial for the Cowgirls, with three of the sophomore’s four tallies helping her team force overtime and the other proving to be the game-winner in a 2-0 win over Southern Utah. Ex-teammate Caitlin Pickett had a penchant for scoring goals at vital times for Wyoming, and it may be the case that Asimus is taking over for the now-departed Victorian.

Full Schedule

Alabama State (Sophie Bui)

This week: @ Grambling State – 9am, Saturday September 28; @ Arkansas-Pine Bluff – 4am, Monday September 30

Chicago State (Sarah Clark)

This week: @ Western Illinois – 4am, Monday September 30

East Tennessee State (D’arne Boato)

This week: v Western Carolina – 9am, Saturday September 28

Fairleigh Dickinson (Sam Roff)

This week: v Merrimack – 2am, Monday September 30

Grand Canyon (Sandra Hill)

This week: @ Omaha – 8:30am, Saturday September 28

Hofstra (Monique Iannella, Grace Watson Carr)

This week: v Drexel – 8am, Friday September 27; v Elon – 2am, Monday September 30

Illinois (Ashleigh Lefevre)

This week: @ Iowa – 11am, Friday September 27; @ Nebraska – 4am, Monday September 30

La Salle (Claudia Jenkins, Alyssa Van Heurck)

This week: @ Richmond – 6am, Friday September 27; v Duquesne – 3am, Monday September 30

LSU (Caitlin Cantrill)

This week: v Georgia – 9am, Friday September 27; v Texas A&M – 4am, Monday September 30

Marshall (Laura Farrelly)

This week: v UTEP – 9am, Friday September 27; @ Florida International – 3am, Monday September 30

Mississippi (Aimee Medwin)

This week: @ Mississippi State – 9am, Friday September 27; v Auburn – 5am, Monday September 30

Nicholls State (Tessa Calabria, Kristy Helmers, Shauni Reid)

This week: v Abilene Christian – 7am, Saturday September 28; v Incarnate Word – 4am, Monday September 30

North Dakota State (Eden Taylor-Wineera)

This week: @ Utah Valley – 9am, Sunday September 29

Old Dominion (Gaby Bentley)

This week: v Louisiana Tech – 7:30am, Saturday September 28

Rhode Island (Teresa Morrissey)

This week: @ Dayton – 9:30am, Friday September 27; v George Washington – 3am, Monday September 30

Southeast Missouri State (Siena Senatore)

This week: @ Austin Peay – 10am, Saturday September 28; @ Murray State – 4am, Monday September 30

Stanford (Beattie Goad)

This week: @ USC – 6am, Sunday September 29

Texas Tech (Demi Koulizakis)

This week: v Oklahoma State – 10am, Friday September 27; v Oklahoma – 4am, Monday September 30

UCLA (Rachel Lowe, Teagan Micah)

This week: v California – 12pm, Saturday September 28

UMBC (Abi Jordan, Teal Kilbride)

This week: v Albany – 4am, Monday September 30

Western Carolina (Kate Swartwout)

This week: v East Tennessee State – 9am, Saturday September 28

Wyoming (Indianna Asimus)

This week: v San Diego State – 8am, Saturday September 28; v New Mexico – 5am, Monday September 30

2019 Week 5 Wrap

Goals for Indianna Asimus are becoming a regular occurrence, whilst Rachel Lowe took advantage of an extended run on Sunday afternoon to make her case for extended playing time for UCLA.

(Image Credit: Greg Carroccio/Sideline Photos)

It may not have been her prettiest finish of the season to this point, but Wyoming sophomore Indianna Asimus found a way to find the back of the net for the fourth time this season even as the Cowgirls fell to a 3-2 overtime defeat to South Dakota. Finishing the night with four shots, Asimus’ third found the goal as a scrum on the goal line ended with the midfielder just managing to steer the ball home. As the only Aussie to score a goal this week, Asimus doubled her lead atop the goalscoring charts, and the sophomore’s willingness to have a crack at goal suggests that there are more goals to come.

Fresh off a frustrating 2-2 draw with Pepperdine earlier in the week, UCLA were looking to bounce back against Hawaii, and did so emphatically with a 4-0 win that saw an Aussie heavily involved. However, it was Rachel Lowe, rather than Teagan Micah, who made more of an impact as the senior goalkeeper found herself completely untested in her 45 minutes on the pitch, finishing the half without a save but also without conceding a goal. However, Lowe came off the bench to tally an assist on the Bruins’ opening goal whilst also tallying two shots on target in 48 minutes of action to go with one that the freshman had tallied against Pepperdine. Despite the scoreline, there were positives for Hawaii freshman Eliza Ammendolia, who started for the second consecutive game, playing 56 minutes and tallying two shots. Kiri Dale also featured for ten minutes off the bench, ensuring that all four Aussie players saw time on the pitch.

However, the outstanding day was not over for Micah and Lowe, with the UCLA pair named to the Matildas squad for a training camp featuring a mixture of Women’s World Cup squad members and players looking to break into the team.

La Salle may have fallen to a 3-1 defeat to George Washington to open conference play, but defender-turned-attacker Alyssa Van Heurck continues to prove why she is fully deserving of a starting berth for the Explorers. Starting for the seventh time in eight games this season, Van Heurck once again saw playing time either side of halftime, managing to tally an assist on La Salle’s only goal of the game as the Explorers managed to pull one back to trail 3-1 just after the hour mark, but found themselves unable to put together a rally. Claudia Jenkins once again played a complete game for the Explorers, coming up with four saves in the defeat.

Player of the Year Points:

3: Indianna Asimus (Wyoming)
2: Rachel Lowe (UCLA)
1: Alyssa Van Heurck (La Salle)

Complete Results

Alabama State (Sophie Bui)

This week: lost 4-1 to North Alabama; lost 4-3 to Mercer

Sophie Bui did not feature for Alabama State in either game this week.

Chicago State (Sarah Clark)

This week: lost 8-1 to Oral Roberts; lost 6-0 to Tulsa

Sarah Clark started and played 73 minutes in Chicago State’s loss to Oral Roberts, but did not feature against Tulsa.

Clark – start, 73 minutes v ORU

East Tennessee State (D’arne Boato)

This week: defeated Hampton 2-1

D’arne Boato did not feature for East Tennessee State in their win over Hampton.

Fairleigh Dickinson (Sam Roff)

This week: defeated Long Island 2-0; lost 2-0 to West Virginia

Sam Roff started both games for Fairleigh Dickinson this week, registering two shots in 70 minutes against Long Island, before playing the full 90 minutes and tallying another shot in the loss to West Virginia.

Grand Canyon (Sandra Hill)

This week: lost 2-0 to CSU Northridge

Sandra Hill played the full 90 minutes for Grand Canyon in their loss to CSU Northridge.

Hawaii (Eliza Ammendolia, Kiri Dale)

This week: lost 1-0 to Washington State; lost 4-0 to UCLA

Eliza Ammendolia started both games for Hawaii this week, playing 62 minutes against Washington State before tallying 2 shots in 56 minutes of action against UCLA. Kiri Dale did not feature against Washington State, but came off the bench to play 10 minutes against UCLA.

Hofstra (Monique Iannella, Grace Watson Carr)

This week: defeated Penn 2-1

Neither Monique Iannella nor Grace Watson Carr featured for Hofstra in their win over Penn.

Illinois (Ashleigh Lefevre)

This week: defeated Northwestern 3-1

Ashleigh Lefevre came off the bench to play 33 minutes in Illinois’ win over Northwestern.

La Salle (Claudia Jenkins, Alyssa Van Heurck)

This week: lost 3-1 to George Washington

Claudia Jenkins played the full 90 minutes between the sticks in La Salle’s loss to George Washington, making four saves. Alyssa Van Heurck also started, playing 44 minutes and tallying an assist on La Salle’s goal, as well as a shot on target.

LSU (Caitlin Cantrill)

This week: lost 3-0 to Florida; lost 1-0 to James Madison

Caitlin Cantrill did not feature for LSU in either game this week.

Marshall (Laura Farrelly)

This week: lost 4-0 to Florida Atlantic; lost 2-0 to Florida Gulf Coast

Laura Farrelly did not feature for Marshall in either game this week.

Mississippi (Aimee Medwin)

This week: drew 1-1 with Missouri

Aimee Medwin did not feature in Mississippi’s draw with Missouri.

Nicholls State (Tessa Calabria, Kristy Helmers, Shauni Reid)

This week: lost 6-0 to Lamar

Tessa Calabria started for Nicholls State in their loss to Lamar, registering a pair of shots in 58 minutes. Kristy Helmers also started, tallying a shot on target in her 76 minutes on the pitch. Shauni Reid did not feature for the Colonels this week.

North Dakota State (Eden Taylor-Wineera)

This week: defeated Eastern Washington 4-2

Eden Taylor-Wineera did not feature for North Dakota State in their win over Eastern Washington.

Old Dominion (Gaby Bentley)

This week: lost 1-0 to North Texas

Gaby Bentley did not feature for Old Dominion in their loss to North Texas.

Rhode Island (Teresa Morrissey)

This week: lost 2-0 to Dartmouth; lost 4-1 to Saint Louis

Teresa Morrissey started both games this week, playing a complete game and making two saves against Dartmouth, before playing 65 minutes and making 3 saves whilst conceding four goals in the loss to Saint Louis.

Southeast Missouri State (Siena Senatore)

This week: defeated Belmont 2-1; defeated Eastern Illinois 1-0

Siena Senatore came off the bench in both games this week, playing 15 minutes against Belmont and 10 minutes in the win over Eastern Illinois.

Stanford (Beattie Goad)

This week: defeated Santa Clara 4-2

Beattie Goad came off the bench for Stanford in their win over Santa Clara, playing 15 minutes.

Texas Tech (Demi Koulizakis)

This week: defeated South Florida 2-1


Demi Koulizakis started for Texas Tech in their win over South Florida, playing 67 minutes.

UCLA (Rachel Lowe, Teagan Micah)

This week: drew 2-2 with Pepperdine; @ Hawaii – 11:30am, Monday September 23

Teagan Micah started both games this week, making 1 save in 110 minutes against Pepperdine before going untested in 45 minutes of action against Hawaii. Rachel Lowe came off the bench in both games, tallying a shot on target in 14 minutes against Pepperdine, before testing the goalkeeper twice more and also tallying an assist in 48 minutes against Hawaii.

UMBC (Abi Jordan, Teal Kilbride)

This week: lost 4-1 to George Washington; lost 2-0 to New Hampshire

Neither Abi Jordan nor Teal Kilbride featured for UMBC in either game this week.

Western Carolina (Kate Swartwout)

This week: defeated UNC Asheville 2-0; v lost 3-1 to North Florida

Kate Swartwout started for Western Carolina in the loss to UNC Asheville, playing 45 minutes before coming off the bench in the loss to North Florida, playing 13 minutes.

Wyoming (Indianna Asimus)

This week: lost 3-2 to South Dakota (OT)

Indianna Asimus scored her fourth goal of the season in Wyoming’s loss to South Dakota, whilst tallying four shots including two on target in an 87-minute outing.

2019 Week 4 Wrap

It would be fair to say that this wasn’t the most electrifying week in College Matildas history. However, there were still a few solid performances, particularly from the goalkeepers, whilst Indianna Asimus’ goal for Wyoming was simply a delight to watch.

(Image Credit: Rand Bleimeister/UCLA)

Having fallen to a surprise defeat to Santa Clara last week, UCLA were looking to bounce back at home against Wisconsin. However, giving up five shots on target to the Badgers meant the Bruins would need a big performance from Teagan Micah to get the win, and that is exactly what the senior goalkeeper produced. The Matildas World Cup squad member came up with five saves to keep a clean sheet, and with a 51st minute Kennedy Faulknor goal the only tally of the game for either side, those five saves proved crucial to UCLA’s win. This match also saw the return of Rachel Lowe to the pitch for the Bruins, with the freshman making brief cameos in each half to total 25 minutes of playing time for the game as UCLA moved to 5-1.

Claudia Jenkins was spectacular last week in posting a career-high 10 saves, and carried that form into La Salle’s game against Delaware. Although the junior conceded two goals, Jenkins came up with another 7 saves to play a crucial role in the Explorers’ 3-2 win to move to 4-2-1. Unfortunately, the Philadelphia-based side were on the wrong side of the same scoreline in their second game of the weekend, falling 3-2 to Navy as a solid non-conference slate ended with a loss, but also with the team scoring five goals across the weekend as Jenkins begins to receive a bit more help from her side’s attackers. Alyssa Van Heurck also featured in both games, playing 46 minutes against Delaware and 18 against Navy.

Wyoming outshot Southern Utah 24-6 in their home game to open the weekend, and it was sophomore Indianna Asimus that got the Cowgirls off to a flyer with an early goal that set their opponents on the back foot. A 15th minute finish from an incredibly tight angle from the Dubbo-born striker put Wyoming up 1-0, and with Southern Utah hardly looking threatening with just two shots on target all afternoon, a second goal for Wyoming in the 86th minute closed out the victory. The Cowgirls would close out their weekend with an 1-1 overtime draw against Montana, equalising with a last-second penalty in a game that saw Asimus play 94 of the 110 minutes.

It was a mixed week for Nicholls State, who picked up win and a loss this weekend, but Tessa Calabria continues to make progress in her return from significant injury troubles. In a 3-2 victory over Alcorn State that saw all five goals come before the 25-minute mark, Calabria helped get Nicholls State off to a flying start, teeing up teammate Blaire Laiche for the opener, whilst also testing the goalkeeper with two on-target shots of her own. Meanwhile, Kristy Helmers maintained her position as an integral member of the Colonels’ lineup, playing the full 90 minutes in both games this weekend.

Player of the Year Points:

3: Teagan Micah (UCLA)
2: Indianna Asimus (Wyoming)
1: Claudia Jenkins (La Salle)

Full Schedule

Alabama State (Sophie Bui)

This week: lost 5-0 to Samford; lost 3-1 to Charleston Southern

Sophie Bui did not feature for Alabama State in either game this week.

Chicago State (Sarah Clark)

This week: lost 3-1 to SIU-Edwardsville; lost 3-1 to Eastern Illinois

Sarah Clark started both games for Chicago State this week, playing the full 90 minutes against SIU-Edwardsville and 81 minutes against Eastern Illinois.

East Tennessee State (D’arne Boato)

This week: lost 2-0 to Radford; lost 1-0 to Winthrop

D’arne Boato did not feature for East Tennessee State in either game this week.

Fairleigh Dickinson (Sam Roff)

This week: lost 2-1 to Hofstra; lost 2-1 to Binghamton

Sam Roff started both games for Fairleigh Dickinson this week, tallying a shot in 77 minutes against Hofstra and playing 38 minutes in the loss to Binghamton.

Grand Canyon (Sandra Hill)

This week: drew 1-1 with UC Santa Barbara; lost 2-0 to North Dakota

Sandra Hill came off the bench to play 95 minutes in Grand Canyon’s draw with UC Santa Barbara, before playing a complete game in the loss to North Dakota.

Hofstra (Monique Iannella, Grace Watson Carr)

This week: defeated Fairleigh Dickinson 2-1; lost 1-0 to Columbia

Neither Grace Watson Carr nor Monique Iannella featured for Hofstra in either game this week.

Illinois (Ashleigh Lefevre)

This week: defeated Butler 2-1; defeated Colorado College 2-0

Ashleigh Lefevre started both matches for Illinois this week, playing 59 minutes against Butler and 53 minutes in the win over Colorado College.

La Salle (Claudia Jenkins, Alyssa Van Heurck)

This week: defeated Delaware 3-2; lost 3-2 to Navy

Claudia Jenkins played all 180 minutes between the sticks for La Salle this week, coming up with 7 saves in the win over Delaware and another 3 in the loss to Navy.  Alyssa Van Heurck started in the win over Delaware and played 46 minutes before coming off the bench to register a shot in 18 minutes against Navy.

LSU (Caitlin Cantrill)

This week: lost 1-0 to Arizona State

Caitlin Cantrill did not feature for LSU in their loss to Arizona State.

Marshall (Laura Farrelly)

This week: defeated High Point 3-1

Laura Farrelly did not feature for Marshall in their win over High Point.

Mississippi (Aimee Medwin)

This week: defeated Long Beach State 3-0; lost 2-1 to South Alabama

Aimee Medwin came off the bench to play four minutes in Mississippi’s win over Long Beach State, but did not feature in the loss to South Alabama.

Nicholls State (Tessa Calabria, Kristy Helmers, Shauni Reid)

This week: defeated Alcorn State 3-2; lost 2-1 to Southern

Tessa Calabria started in Nicholls State’s win over Alcorn State, tallying an assist and a pair of shots on target in 49 minutes of action. The senior then came off the bench in the loss to Southern, playing 18 minutes. Kristy Helmers started both games for Nicholls State this week, playing the full 90 minutes on each occasion. Shauni Reid did not feature in either game this week.

North Dakota State (Eden Taylor-Wineera)

This week: lost 2-1 to Drake; lost 3-0 to Northern Iowa

Eden Taylor-Wineera did not feature in North Dakota State’s loss to Drake, but returned to play 33 minutes off the bench against Northern Iowa, tallying a shot on target in the process.

Old Dominion (Gaby Bentley)

This week: defeated East Carolina 2-1; defeated William & Mary 5-0

Gaby Bentley did not feature in the win over East Carolina, but came off the bench to play 15 minutes in Old Dominion’s 5-0 drubbing of William & Mary.

Rhode Island (Teresa Morrissey)

This week: drew 1-1 with Holy Cross; lost 1-0 to Boston University

Teresa Morrissey played every minute for Rhode Island this week, coming up with 4 saves in the overtime draw with Holy Cross and another 2 saves in the loss to Boston University.

Southeast Missouri State (Siena Senatore)

This week: lost 1-0 to Arkansas State

Siena Senatore made her return to the pitch for Southeast Missouri State with an 11-minute cameo off the bench in the Redhawks’ loss to Arkansas State.

Stanford (Beattie Goad)

This week: lost 1-0 to Pepperdine; defeated UC Santa Barbara 1-0

Beattie Goad came off the bench in Stanford’s surprise loss to Pepperdine, tallying a pair of shots with one on target in 60 minutes of playing time. The senior then started in the Cardinal’s win over UC Santa Barbara, playing 42 minutes.

Texas Tech (Demi Koulizakis)

This week: defeated Loyola Marymount 3-1; defeated UC Irvine 4-2

Demi Koulizakis started both games this week, playing 56 minutes against Loyola Marymount and 41 minutes against UC Irvine. The striker registered two shots in each game, with one on target in either contest.

UCLA (Rachel Lowe, Teagan Micah)

This week: defeated Wisconsin 1-0

Teagan Micah played the full 90 minutes in UCLA’s win over Wisconsin, earning a clean sheet with five saves, whilst Rachel Lowe came off the bench to play 25 minutes.

UMBC (Abi Jordan, Teal Kilbride)

This week: lost 2-0 to Lehigh; lost 2-1 to Longwood

Teal Kilbride did not feature in UMBC’s loss to Lehigh, but started and played 26 minutes in the loss to Longwood. Abi Jordan did not feature in either game this week.

Western Carolina (Kate Swartwout)

This week: defeated High Point 2-1; defeated Radford 1-0

Kate Swartwout came off the bench in Western Carolina’s win over High Point, rattling off a pair of shots on target in her 21 minutes, before seeing another 19 minutes off the bench in the win over Radford.

Wyoming (Indianna Asimus)

This week: defeated Southern Utah 2-0; drew 1-1 with Montana

Indianna Asimus started both games for Wyoming this week, tallying the opening goal in a 66-minute outing against Southern Utah, before playing 94 minutes in the draw with Montana.

2019 Week 1 Wrap

A week of outstanding performances saw a pair of freshmen enjoy outstanding debuts, a sophomore pick up a first career goal, and a senior make a stunning comeback from injury with a goal as a number of Aussies got on the scoresheet during the opening weekend of the season.

Debuts don’t get much better than the one that Teresa Morrissey produced for Rhode Island as they faced New Hampshire in the season opener. Thrown in at the deep end as starting goalkeeper, Morrissey stood tall for the Rams, making five saves and keeping a clean sheet as Rhode Island clinched an overtime winner in the 93rd minute to ensure that the freshman’s outstanding performance was not in vain.

However, Morrissey was not the only freshman to enjoy a dream debut. Starting on the bench for UCLA, Rachel Lowe entered the game against Iowa State as a halftime substitute, and took less than 13 minutes to tally a debut goal that put the Bruins 2-0 up on their way to a 3-0 victory. Lowe would then play another 22 minutes off the bench in Sunday’s win over Long Beach State. Fellow Australian, Teagan Micah played every minute of the weekend between the sticks for UCLA, making one save in each game to keep two clean sheets.

Speaking of goalkeepers, La Salle custodian Claudia Jenkins had a far busier weekend than Micah, doing everything in her power to keep the Explorers in the contest against national contenders Duke. The junior came up with six saves as the Blue Devils piled on the pressure, with Jenkins keeping the opposition attack at bay until the 68th minute before the sheer weight of shots told as La Salle fell to a 2-0 defeat. However, five more saves from Jenkins would prove crucial for the Explorers as they secured a 1-1 draw with North Florida in their second game of the week. Fellow Australian, Alyssa Van Heurck proved an integral part of the La Salle side, playing 80 minutes and tallying a shot against Duke before following up with a 78-minute outing against North Florida two days later.

Having done everything but manage to score a goal in her freshman season, Wyoming sophomore Indianna Asimus appears hellbent on making up for lost time, taking the early lead on the Australian goalscoring charts. With her team level at 1-1 with UTEP heading into the final 15 minutes, Asimus stepped up to take a free kick, bending it around the wall and past the outstretched goalkeeper for a 2-1 lead before the game finished 2-2 as UTEP picked up a late equaliser, with overtime unable to split the teams. Asimus would then follow up with a goal just five minutes into the Cowgirls’ second game of the week against New Mexico State, but a 70th minute equaliser saw Wyoming once again forced to split the points.

Demi Koulizakis finished 2018 strongly and picked right up where she left off as Texas Tech put San Diego State to the sword. Koulizakis played just 28 minutes off the bench as the Red Raiders dominated in a 6-1 victory, but that was all the time the senior need to tally her first goal of the campaign, nodding home a corner late in the first half to put Texas Tech 5-0 up before halftime, whilst also adding an assists in the dominant victory. Unfortunately, the Red Raiders’ road trip didn’t end as well as it started as they fell 1-0 to New Mexico in Albuquerque later in the week, with Koulizakis tallying one of the team’s 7 shots on target as they outshot the Lobos, but couldn’t find an equaliser.

Nicholls State already look better than they did in 2018, and they have Aussie duo Tessa Calabria and Kristy Helmers to thank. The Colonels played Mississippi Valley State in a pair of back-to-back games at home, with Calabria tallying a goal from the spot and Helmers adding a goal and an assist late in the piece as Nicholls State rolled to a 5-0 victory in the first game. The 34-4 shot count of the second game suggested that the result should have been the same again, but somehow Mississippi Valley State stood firm in a 1-1 draw, with Helmers teeing up a teammate for a 65th minute equaliser after Nicholls State had conceded the opener via a penalty in the first half.

Beattie Goad also started the season in fine form. Now a senior in a Stanford squad looking to replace a number of stars, Goad earned a start in the Cardinal’s season opener, going close to scoring on one occasion in a 2-1 win over Penn State. However, despite coming off the bench against West Virginia two days later, Goad was able to have more of an impact, tallying an assist on her team’s final goal in a 3-1 win as Stanford started the season 2-0.

Player of the Year Points:

3: Teresa Morrissey (Rhode Island)
2: Indianna Asimus (Wyoming)
1: Kristy Helmers (Nicholls State)

Full Schedule

Alabama State (Sophie Bui)

This week: lost 6-1 to Fairleigh Dickinson; lost 6-0 to UTRGV

Sophie Bui did not feature for Alabama State in either game this week.

Chicago State (Sarah Clark)

This week: lost 5-0 to Northern Iowa; lost 2-0 to Wisconsin-Green Bay

Sarah Clark did not feature for Chicago State against Northern Iowa, whilst there are no stats available for the game against Wisconsin-Green Bay.

East Tennessee State (D’arne Boato)

This week: defeated King 4-0; lost 1-0 to UNC Asheville

D’arne Boato did not feature for East Tennessee State in either game this week.

Fairleigh Dickinson (Sam Roff)

This week: defeated Alabama State 6-1; lost 4-1 to Miami (FL)

Sam Roff started both games for Fairleigh Dickinson, playing 68 minutes in the win over Alabama State and 58 minutes in the loss to Miami.

Grand Canyon (Sandra Hill)

This week: defeated Stetson 1-0; lost 7-1 to Florida Atlantic

Sandra Hill did not feature for Grand Canyon in either game this week.

Hawaii (Eliza Ammendolia, Kiri Dale)

This week: lost 3-0 to USC; lost 3-2 to South Florida

Kiri Dale came off the bench to play 14 minutes in the loss to USC, but did not feature in the game against South Florida. Eliza Ammendolia did not feature against USC, but came off the bench to make her debut against South Florida, playing 31 minutes.

Hofstra (Monique Iannella, Grace Watson Carr)

This week: defeated Monmouth 1-0; lost 6-0 to Penn State

Monique Iannella played the full 90 minutes for Hofstra in both games to start the season. Grace Watson Carr did not feature for Hofstra in either game this week.

Illinois (Ashleigh Lefevre)

This week: defeated Loyola Chicago 3-1; defeated Dayton 3-2

Ashleigh Lefevre started in the win over Loyola Chicago, playing 47 minutes before coming off the bench to play 59 minutes in the win over Dayton.

La Salle (Claudia Jenkins, Alyssa Van Heurck)

This week: lost 2-0 to Duke; drew 1-1 with North Florida

Claudia Jenkins played all 200 minutes of the weekend, making 6 saves in the loss to Duke and another 5 in the draw with North Florida. Alyssa Van Heurck started both games, registering a single shot on target in 80 minutes against Duke before playing 78 minutes against North Florida.

LSU (Caitlin Cantrill)

This week: lost 1-0 to Villanova; drew 1-1 with Navy

Caitlin Cantrill did not feature for LSU in either game this week.

Marshall (Laura Farrelly)

This week: lost 5-0 to Michigan; lost 5-1 to Michigan State

Laura Farrelly did not feature for LSU in either game this week.

Mississippi (Aimee Medwin)

This week: defeated North Alabama 2-0; lost 3-1 to Memphis

Aimee Medwin did not feature for Mississippi in either game this week.

Nicholls State (Tessa Calabria, Kristy Helmers, Shauni Reid)

This week: defeated Mississippi Valley State 5-0; drew 1-1 with Mississippi Valley State

Tessa Calabria started for Nicholls State in the first game against Mississippi Valley State, netting a penalty during her 39 minutes on the pitch before coming off the bench in the second meeting of the week to tally 5 shots, including 2 on target, in a 60-minute outing. Kristy Helmers started both games, playing 79 minutes whilst tallying an assist and a shot on target in the first outing. The senior tallied another assist in the drawn second meeting as well as another shot on target during a 74-minute stint. Shauni Reid did not feature in either game this week.

North Dakota State (Eden Taylor-Wineera)

This week: defeated Saint Mary’s 1-0; drew 1-1 with Montana

Eden Taylor-Wineera did not feature against Saint Mary’s, but came off the bench against Montana, making her debut with a brief 5-minute cameo.

Old Dominion (Gaby Bentley)

This week: defeated Towson 4-1; defeated George Mason 3-1

Gaby Bentley did not feature for Old Dominion in either game this week.

Rhode Island (Teresa Morrissey)

This week: defeated New Hampshire 1-0 (OT)

Teresa Morrissey enjoyed an outstanding debut, playing all 92 minutes and making five crucial saves as Rhode Island secured a 1-0 overtime win against New Hampshire to open the season.

Southeast Missouri State (Siena Senatore)

This week: defeated Southern Miss 3-2

In her first competitive fixture since 2016, Siena Senatore played the full 90 minutes for Southeast Missouri State in their win over Southern Miss.

Stanford (Beattie Goad)

This week: defeated Penn State 2-1; defeated West Virginia 3-1

Beattie Goad started against Penn State, playing 79 minutes and registering three shots, of which one was on target. The senior came off the bench against West Virginia, tallying an assist on Stanford’s third goal during her 41 minutes on the pitch.

Texas Tech (Demi Koulizakis)

This week: defeated San Diego State 6-1; lost 1-0 to New Mexico

Demi Koulizakis came off the bench to score one of Texas Tech’s six goals against San Diego State during a 28-minute cameo, before playing 49 minutes off the bench in the loss to New Mexico, registering two shots with one on target.

UCLA (Teagan Micah)

This week: defeated Iowa State 3-0; defeated Long Beach State 1-0

Teagan Micah played all 180 minutes in UCLA’s pair of victories, making a single save in each game. Rachel Lowe came off the bench in both games, scoring on debut in a 45-minute effort against Iowa State before playing 22 minutes in the win over Long Beach State.

UMBC (Abi Jordan, Teal Kilbride)

This week: drew 0-0 with NJIT; drew 2-2 with Saint Francis (PA)

Teal Kilbride played the full 90 minutes in the draw with NJIT, but did not feature in the draw with Saint Francis. Abi Jordan did not feature in either game this week.

Western Carolina (Kate Swartwout)

This week: defeated Gardner-Webb 2-1

Kate Swartwout played the full 90 minutes for Western Carolina as the Catamounts secured a 2-1 victory despite conceding the opener.

Wyoming (Indianna Asimus)

This week: drew 2-2 with UTEP; drew 1-1 with New Mexico State

Indianna Asimus started the season on fire, finishing with a goal and three shots on target in an 89-minute performance against UTEP, before scoring Wyoming’s only goal in a 76-minute performance in the draw with New Mexico State.

2019 Forward Previews

A seven-player group of forwards light on goalscoring returns but full of potential lines up in 2019, with Nicholls State’s senior trio of Tessa Calabria, Kristy Helmers, and Shauni Reid looking to improve the Colonels’ attack. Meanwhile, Demi Koulizakis will look to make an impact in her senior year after winning Texas Tech’s Most Improved Player in 2018.

Indianna Asimus (Sophomore, Wyoming, Newcastle)

A starter in 9 of her 20 appearances in her freshman year, Asimus comes into the 2019 season looking to help fill the void left by fellow Australians, Caitlin Pickett, Annika Clayton and Jessie Gentle in the Wyoming attack. Wyoming may have finished as regular season champions in the Mountain West Conference in 2018, but several players from that team have now graduated and departed the program. With multiple forwards returning, how many additional starts Asimus picks up this year remains to be seen, but there will certainly be extra minutes available for the sophomore from Newcastle. Asimus also spent her offseason playing in the Northern NSW Premier League for Merewether United, which should provide her with a leg-up in terms of match fitness upon her return to Laramie for the upcoming season.

Sophie Bui (Freshman, Alabama State, Canberra)

Shelbi Vienna-Hallam may have left Alabama State after the 2017 season after stints as both a player and coach, but the Australian presence in Montgomery has returned with the signing of Tuggeranong United forward Sophie Bui. A club teammate of Nicholls State senior Kristy Helmers, Bui has made 29 NPL Capital Football appearances over the past two seasons, having banged in goals for fun at the youth level. Bui secured the Golden Boot at both Under 16 and Under 17 level in the Capital Football Women’s Premier League, and whilst goals haven’t been quite as forthcoming at the senior level, Bui clearly has pedigree and the Alabama State faithful will be hoping the freshman can bolster an attack that has lost a little bit of its bite since the graduation of a number of star forwards over the last couple of seasons, with 2018’s production of 24 goals paling in comparison to the previous year’s output of 39.

Tessa Calabria (Senior, Nicholls State, Adelaide)

A goalscoring assassin at the junior college level, injury prevented Calabria from making any real impact in her first season at Nicholls State, but the South Australian comes into her senior season with scoring pedigree in a team that is in desperate need of goals. The Colonels finished just 3-15 last season, posting a scoring average of less than a goal per game for the second consecutive season. Although Calabria tallied just a single goal in six injury-plagued appearances, the senior averaged a goal per game in her final season of junior college soccer whilst also tallying nine assists, and it may turn out that her ability to tee up teammates proves as valuable as her goalscoring prowess as the Colonels look to atone for a fairly dismal 2018.

Sarah Clark (Senior, Chicago State, Innisfail)

Having made eight appearances, including four starts, in her first Division I season in 2018, junior college transfer Clark will be hoping to put together a season with fewer interruptions in her final year of college soccer. A scorer of 8 goals in her only full season in junior college, Clark certainly has proven her ability to put the ball in the back of the net, and with Chicago State losing very few seniors from last year’s team, a bolstered roster should hopefully be able to provide Clark with the service she requires. However, a bolstered roster also means more competition for places, so the senior will have to be at the top of her game in pre-season to maintain a starting spot.

Kristy Helmers (Senior, Nicholls State, Canberra)

A tough season for Nicholls State on the whole saw Helmers tally just two goals in 2018, but the senior has proven in the past that she can bang in the goals and, with Tessa Calabria’s assistance, will be hoping to improve the Colonels’ output. Helmers registered six goals and five assists in her freshman year in 2016 whilst playing alongside fellow Aussie, Jess Coates, but goals have hardly been as forthcoming since that time as Nicholls State have struggled across the pitch. Whilst additional goals won’t be the antidote to the defensive problems that have also plagued the Colonels in recent times, Helmers is a proven goalscorer and will no doubt want to return to the form she has shown in previous years in her final season in Thibodaux.

Demi Koulizakis (Senior, Texas Tech, Sydney)

An option off the bench for most of her college career until last season, Koulizakis stepped up for Texas Tech in 2018 and now has the chance to put together a senior season that can set her up for a professional career, with a starting berth for the Red Raiders beckoning. Koulizakis enjoyed a strong spring campaign before returning to Sydney to spend her offseason playing NPLNSW for Sydney Olympic, a move that the senior believes will assist her in hitting the ground running for her final college season as she maintains her match fitness. How that preparation translates come August remains to be seen, but Koulizakis has certainly put herself in position to enjoy an outstanding senior year.

Shauni Reid (Senior, Nicholls State, Perth)

A crucial member of the Tyler Junior College side that reached the NJCAA Championship in 2016 and won the title in 2017, Reid tallied 5 goals and 4 assists in their championship-winning campaign, paving the way for the Western Australian to secure a spot on a Division I roster. Reid will be one of three Australian forwards on the Nicholls State roster this season alongside Kristy Helmers and Tessa Calabria, with the trio tasked with improving the Colonels’ lacklustre offence of recent seasons. Fortunately, Reid, like Calabria and Helmers, is adept at both teeing up teammates and scoring goals herself, providing new head coach Danny Free with plenty of options up front.

Reloading: Six Aussie attackers set for breakout seasons

Australians in NCAA Division I women’s soccer scored 22 goals and tallied 26 assists in 2018. However, 11 of those goals and 16 of those assists came via players who will not be returning to college in 2019, either due to graduation or other reasons. Despite a comparative lack of attacking output among the returning players, there are a number of players who are yet to regularly add their names to the scoresheet that could yet have breakout seasons and provide memorable moments this year. College Matildas takes a look at four players and one duo that could all make significant impacts for their teams in 2019.

(Featured Image Credit: Bill Dally/ISIPhotos.com)

Demi Koulizakis (Texas Tech)

Koulizakis came on in leaps and bounds in her junior season, and with a number of spots opening up in the Texas Tech front line, the senior from Sydney now has her best opportunity yet to cement a spot in the starting lineup. Already named Texas Tech’s Most Improved Player in 2018 by her teammates, the versatile attacking player now has the chance to show that last season wasn’t simply a one-off, with three spots in the midfield and front line up for grabs.

Koulizakis’ outstanding spring form has her in the box seat to nail down a starting berth after finishing the campaign with four goals and an assist, including a hat-trick against Lubbock Christian. Furthermore, the senior’s cause will hardly have been harmed by spending her offseason playing in the NPLNSW competition for a Sydney Olympic side featuring the likes of Matildas midfielder Teresa Polias as well as a number of players with W-League experience.

Beattie Goad (Stanford)

Three seasons at Stanford playing a supporting role behind some of the most talented players to pull on a Cardinal jersey means Goad has served an unusually long apprenticeship, but the opportunity has now presented itself for the Victorian to serve as an integral part of the starting lineup. Goad has started in 24 of her 64 appearances for Stanford, and last season tallied 2 goals and 3 assists, both career highs for a single season as the Cardinal returned to the College Cup as defending champions before falling to eventual champions Florida State in the semi-finals.

What position the senior fills remains to be seen, but there is no doubt that Goad can become a mainstay of the Stanford starting eleven in her final season, and if she does indeed fill an attacking role, the Victorian will have plenty of opportunities to both tee up teammates and score goals herself.

Tessa Calabria (Nicholls State)

Injury restricted the junior college transfer to just 6 appearances in 2018, but Calabria comes into her final season of collegiate soccer looking to make up for lost time in a Nicholls State side that could really use her goalscoring prowess. Having scored 25 goals and contributed 16 assists during two years at Iowa Lakes Community College, Calabria knows not only how to find the back of the net, but tee up her teammates, which in turn could help her develop a key partnership with fellow Australian Kristy Helmers, who will be itching to return to the goalscoring form that saw the senior tally 6 goals in her freshman season.

With Western Australian senior Shauni Reid also expected to spend time up front, Calabria’s return could be the catalyst for the Australian trio to return Nicholls State to a similar level that the program found itself at in the days of Australian midfielder Jess Coates, who helped the Colonels to their last winning seasons in 2013 and 2014.

Alyssa Van Heurck (La Salle)

A defender by trade, Van Heurck made the move into a wide attacking role in her first season at La Salle and took to the change like a duck to water. Although the majority of her appearances were cameos of 15-25 minutes, Van Heurck eventually six starts in her freshman season, tallying a single goal and playing in excess of 40 minutes in the final two games of the campaign.

Whilst a couple of more experienced players are returning this season after missing 2018 due to injury, there remain a number of positions open in the La Salle starting eleven, and Van Heurck is certainly in the running for a more prominent berth in the rotation. Even if the Western Australian isn’t able to nail down a starting berth, 2019 could serve as an excellent setup year as the Explorers will again need to replace a number of seniors in 2020.

Caitlin Pickett & Indianna Asimus (Wyoming) 

Pickett and Asimus both featured regularly for Wyoming in their freshman seasons in 2018, but with the loss of a couple of key pieces of the Cowgirls’ attack, the Australian duo will become even more crucial as the team from Laramie looks to turn last year’s Mountain West Conference regular season title into a conference championship and secure an NCAA Tournament berth. Both of Pickett’s goals in 2018 came in sudden death overtime, and whilst those clutch plays are always welcomed, the sophomore will be counted on to improve upon that number to keep the Cowgirls flying high in 2019.

Meanwhile, Asimus is yet to tally a goal or an assist, but having made nine starts last season and averaged 47 minutes per appearance, the Wyoming coaching staff obviously have faith in the sophomore to emerge as an offensive weapon going forward. Whether that translates into tangible returns remains to be seen, but if Asimus and Pickett both fire this season, Mountain West Conference defences are in a world of trouble.

UMBC’s Aussie connection produces two new signings

UMBC’s Australian head coach Vanessa Mann has laid the foundations for a pipeline from her homeland to Baltimore with the announcement of the signing of two Australian players as part of her first recruiting class since taking over as head coach in August 2018. New South Wales pair Abi Jordan and Teal Kilbride have each inked National Letters of Intent with the program and will link up with the team in preparation for the upcoming season.

A defender out of Wollongong, Jordan made her NPL first team debut with Illawarra Stingrays in 2015 before becoming a regular member of the side in 2016 to compile 50 appearances for a team that never finished lower than fifth in her four seasons in the squad. Jordan also travelled to the United States with an Australian Schoolgirls side that featured players with W-League experience including Eliza Ammendolia and Shadeene Evans, as well as Wyoming sophomore duo Caitlin Pickett and Indianna Asimus, with the team bringing home the SoCal Winter Cup in the process. Jordan has also tasted success on the domestic front, picking up a national School Sport championship in 2018 as well as an Futsal Premier League 2 title earlier this season with South Coast Taipans.

Like Jordan, Kilbride is also a defender with NPL experience, having made 9 appearances for the North West Sydney Koalas first team in 2018 after serving her apprenticeship in the reserves side between 2014 and 2017, playing in two reserves grand finals in 2016 and 2017. Kilbride also featured alongside fellow newcomer Jordan in the 2018 Australian Schoolgirls side that won the SoCal Cup.

The Australian duo form part of a class of ten freshmen that will be entrusted with helping UMBC return to winning ways, with the Retrievers having not won more than six games in a season since compiling a 12-4-3 record in 2014, one of just two winning seasons since the program moved to the America East conference in 2004. Ironically, that 2014 season was the last season in which an Australian featured for UMBC, with South Australian Lilly Rydon proving crucial for the Retrievers as they reached the NCAA Tournament in 2013 before producing another solid season in 2014.

Jordan and Kilbride could prove especially crucial for the Retrievers, with a roster that was slightly short on defenders sitting in the bottom 20 in the nation in 2018, shipping 2.756 goals per game. The attack will still need to produce at better than last season’s 0.88 goals per game if UMBC are to turn things around, but correcting the defensive issues looks to be the highest priority in the short-term.