Bulldogs get stuck in the Storm

Women's soccer battles to a stalemate versus minor league soccer team with former Bulldogs

By Kim Anderson

A quick bathroom break was all it took to miss the scoring excitement of Saturday’s soccer match.

The Fresno State women’s soccer team tied the Sacremento Storm 1-1 in an exhibition game Saturday at Bulldog Stadium.

Junior forward Lisa Esteves scored the early goal for the Bulldogs off of a pass by sophomore forward Katri Nokso-Koivisto in the sixth minute.

“ They were good,” Esteves said. “It was a good game.”

The Storm goal, also scored in the sixth minute, came unassisted off the head of forward Val Williams 12 seconds later.

Barbara Davis took a shot with less than five minutes remaining that was blocked by the Storm goaltender giving the Bulldogs one of their six total corner kicks.

At the end of the first half, the Bulldogs had 6 shots on goal and allowed the Storm only two shots.

To start off the second half, sophomore forward Kortney Lewis, who head coach Stacy Welp feels is a player to look for this season, took a shot from the right side of the net that tipped the goaltender’s fingers.

The attempt was later followed by a lifted shot from the right side by senior forward/midfielder Erin Sayegusa as well as a shot that was just wide of the net by freshman forward Cortney Sobrero.

Freshman goalkeeper Jean-nette Paine saw 75 minutes of playing time in her second start of the season.

The Bulldogs edged the storm with shots on goal 19-3 but were unable to put more points on the board.

Coach Welp said that her team “has a ton of potential” and looks toward post season action in the NCAA tournament.

Other players Welp feels to look for this season include Nokso-Koivisto, sophomore midfielder Eriko Yoshiki, as well as sophomore forward/midfielder Barbara Davis.

Lewis’ hopes for this season are “to win WAC and try to get to the NCAA tournament.”

The Bulldogs will travel to North Carolina next week where they will open their season against UNC Charlotte on Friday at 4pm.