SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State soccer team plays host to Fort Lewis College and Colorado Mesa this weekend at the ASU Soccer Field in a pair of home games which will lead into six consecutive games on the road.

ASU (1-1-1) is coming off a 3-0 win over Wayland Baptist last Sunday and will battle Fort Lewis College (2-0) starting at 5 p.m. on Friday and then take on Colorado Mesa (0-2) at noon on Sunday. The Rambelles, who have outscored their opponents 5-3 and outshot them 37-23 this season, will have their next home game after this weekend on Friday, Oct. 11 against West Texas A&M.
 

COACH QUOTES

Head coach Travis McCorkle (Sixth year at ASU, 51-40-15 record)

On the matchups against Fort Lewis and Colorado Mesa:
"Fort Lewis is usually in a 4-4-2 and are always a very technical team. They like to possess the ball and are fit and active. They are going to be one of the best quality teams that we are going to see this season. Mesa is a similar team. They will probably be in a 4-3-3 and are a talented team. We'll have to deal with three forwards and will force us defensively as a team to get the job done. In order to get the result we want, we have to play great defense and minimize shots and breakaways and set pieces. When there is a slight breakdown, we have to fight back and win the ball and make the save."

On playing at home this weekend leading into a six-game road trip:
"Hopefully these home games are a motivation for our players. These games could really help us in regional rankings down the road, but more importantly right now it is a chance to get back to the quality of play that we expect out of our team. We didn't show our fans that last weekend and it is important to get the results this weekend. We have to concentrate on these two games and have the attitude that this is our field and it isn't going to be an easy place for someone to come win at."
 

PLAYER PRODUCTION

Kathleen Keoughan and Jenny Kotowych had strong starts to their collegiate careers during the first week of the season as both players scored two goals for the Rambelles. Keoughan, a midfielder from Fort Worth, scored the first goal of the season just three minutes into the season opener against New Mexico Highlands and then the final goal in ASU's 3-0 win over Wayland Baptist. Keoughan was named the Lone Star Conference's Offensive Player of the Week for her production. Kotowych, a forward from Humble, scored both of her goals in the first half against WBU. Her first goal came on a cross from sophomore Sierra Anderson and her second goal was unassisted.

Selena Alvarez scored the Rambelles' goal against Ouachita Baptist last Saturday for her first goal of the season and the second of her career. A sophomore from Austin, Alvarez is typically seen a punishing defender but she has also proved herself capable of providing offensive production.

Maggie Schaffer, who entered the season as the top goal scorer on the team, leads the Rambelles with nine shots but has not found the back of the nets after three games. The senior from New Braunfels has 10 goals and has taken 70 shots in her career. Her three goals against Texas-Permian Basin on Sept. 6, 2011 remains the last time an ASU player recorded a hat trick. Katie Squires, a senior who scored three goals last season, has taken six shots this season.

Defensively, the Rambelles continue to get strong play from Caitlyn Conaway, Jordan Benfield, Trisha Killen and Kara Edwards. Conaway, the LSC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, is also finding help defensively from junior Brittany Martinez who played the entire game against Wayland Baptist at defender – a shift from her typical midfield position. Benfield, a senior, was selected team captain along with goalkeeper Dani Edwards. In goal, the Rambelles have used Edwards and sophomore Shantel Wittke equally in the first three games of the season. Edwards, who was last season's LSC Goalkeeper of the Year, has six saves and has allowed one goal, while Wittke has five saves.

Kotowych, Keoughan, Cynthia Andrews, Lauren Perry, Caityln Buselli, Kelli Regan, Haley Mendel and Chloe Contreras are freshmen who have played in each of the first three games for the Rambelles. Andrews and Kotowych have taken three shots each, while Keoughan has taken six shots.


WEEKEND MATCHUPS
 
Angelo State vs. Fort Lewis Sky Hawks (5 p.m. on Friday, ASU Soccer Field)
The Rambelles will host Fort Lewis in the ninth all-time meeting between the two programs. ASU trails the all-time series 2-4-2, including dropping a 3-0 game last season in Durango, Colo. The Sky Hawks are coming off a 13-4-3 season and a semifinals appearance in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament. Fort Lewis is coming off a pair of wins over Texas A&M-Commerce and Midwestern State. Therese Romero was the hero against A&M-Commerce, scoring a goal in the 101st minute of play to give FLC a 1-0 double-overtime win. Romero, a senior midfielder, also scored a goal in the 2-0 win over Midwestern State. Jordan Hix enters this weekend with two assists for Fort Lewis College, while sophomore goalkeeper Caitlyn Espinoza has six saves in the first two games of the season. The Sky Hawks are coached by Damian Clarke who will be in his seventh season.
 
Angelo State vs. Colorado Mesa Mavericks (Noon on Sunday, ASU Soccer Field)
ASU completes a four-game home stand with a Sunday afternoon match against Colorado Mesa on Sunday at the ASU Soccer Field. CMU enters the game following a 0-1 loss to Midwestern State and a 1-3 defeat to A&M-Commerce. Julia Kranstover scored the Mavericks' goal against the Lions, while Sarah Pope and Sam Burneo lead the team with four shots each. Goalkeeper Sarah Schnetzler, a 5-foot-7 junior, has 11 saves in 180 minutes. The Rambelles fell to the Mavericks 0-2 last season at Dirks Field in Durango, Colo. CMU holds a 6-1-0 all-time advantage over the Rambelles. Angelo State head coach Travis McCorkle earned his master's degree from the Grand Junction, Colo. university. Erin Sharpe is entering her sixth season at the helm of the Mavericks. She led CMU to a 9-7-3 overall record and a 6-6-2 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference mark last season. 
 
Up next: The Angelo State soccer team resumes its season after this weekend with six straight road contests. The Rambelles will travel to play at Dallas Baptist and St. Mary's next weekend before also playing at Midwestern State, Oklahoma Christian, A&M-Commerce and Texas Woman's before playing on their home field again.