Trojans head west for matchups at UTEP and New Mexico State

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) --

UALR Trojans (3-3) at UTEP Miners (3-2) Friday, September 9, 2011 - 7:00 PM El Paso, Texas (University Field) -- at New Mexico State Aggies (4-2) Sunday, September 11, 2011 - 1:00 PM Las Cruces, N.M. (Soccer Athletic Facility) THE WEEKEND THAT WAS

For the third straight weekend, the UALR Trojans (3-3) split a pair of matches to keep their record at the .500 mark for the season. The Trojans kicked off the third weekend of 2011 with 2-0 shutout win over UAPB (0-2) at home on Friday before traveling to No. 4 Oklahoma State (7-0) on Sunday, where they took a 0-7 loss at the hands of the undefeated Cowgirls.

In UALR's 2-0 win over UAPB, seniors Kristen Semko and Christina Veasley buried a pair of goals just four minutes apart in a match that saw the Trojans outshoot the Golden Lions 20-2 overall, including 10-0 in shots on goal. Both of those numbers were season highs for the Trojans, while junior goalkeeper Michelle Pittman needed to make just two stops to earn the first shutout victory of her career.

The Trojans were unable to slow down the No. 4-ranked Cowgirls on Sunday, as Oklahoma State stormed out of the gate by scoring three goals in the first 15 minutes en route to a 5-0 lead at the half. Senior Krista Lopez accounted for four of the Cowgirls' seven goals in the match, as OSU outshot UALR 26-9 overall and 14-4 in shots on goal.

TROJANS TRAVEL TO EL PASO TO TAKE ON UTEP UALR hits the road Thursday en route to El Paso, Texas, where the Trojans will take on the UTEP Miners (3-2) at University Field on Friday night. This will be just the second matchup all-time between the two teams, as the Miners topped the Trojans by a 2-0 final way back on September 26, 1999 in El Paso.

The Miners will enter the Friday night contest having scored 10 goals in just five matches thus far in 2011. Amanda Pak, Tess Hall and Lauren Katada lead the UTEP offense with two goals apiece. In goal, Sarah Dilling has started all five games, made 19 saves and allowed just two goals for a .905 save percentage. Last weekend, the Miners pulled out a pair of 1-0 victories over in-state foes Stephen F. Austin and Texas State.

UALR CAPS THREE-MATCH ROAD SWING WITH NEW MEXICO STATE Following Friday's match at UTEP, the Trojans will make the 45-mile trek up Interstate 10 to Las Cruces, N.M., for the program's first ever matchup with New Mexico State (4-2). The Aggies come into the weekend having won four straight matches after dropping two in their opening weekend to UTEP and Texas Tech.

On offense, the Aggies are led by Yolanda McMillion (one goal and two assists) and Katie Smith (two goals). In goal, Erin Wosick has played every minute for the Aggies between the pipes and compiled 26 saves and a .867 save percentage.

HOMECOMING This weekend's matches in El Paso, Texas, and Las Cruces, N.M. will serve as a homecoming of sorts for several players on the UALR roster.

Friday's match against UTEP will allow Kristen Semko to make a return to her hometown. An El Paso native and Franlkin HS grad, Semko scored her eighth career goal in the Trojans' win over UAPB last weekend. In addition to Semko, senior Taylor Gabbert and freshmen Kailie Holloway and Lexus VanPelt also hail from The Lone Star State.

On Sunday, the Trojans will have seven players on the field representing the state of New Mexico.



Senior Jacquelyn Paz hails from Las Cruces, while four others - Michelle Pittman (Albuquerque), Aubrey Tafoya (Albuquerque), Olivia Carrasco (Los Lunas) and Christina Veasley (Alamogordo) - came to Little Rock from various areas of the state.

A RETURN TO FORM Rachael Maina, returning to the forward position after playing the 2010 season at defender, leads UALR with three three goals through the first three weeks of the 2011 season. The Searcy, Ark., native buried two goals in the season-opener against Missouri State before netting the game-winner in overtime at McNeese State on August 28. Her three goals tie her for sixth in the Sun Belt Conference heading into the weekend.

BETWEEN THE PIPES Through her first six career starts, junior Michelle Pittman has compiled 29 saves to lead the Sun Belt Conference in that category. Pittman's saves-per-game average of 4.83 is good enough for third in the conference.

TROJAN QUEEN Sophomore Adrianna Queen scored the game-winner for the Trojans in their 3-1 win over Missouri State on August 19, giving her a total of four game-winners in just 26 career contests. That number is already good enough to tie her with Margo Andrews (1992-95), Leslie Hawkins (1996-99) and Jessica Beaver (2005-08) for sixth place all-time at UALR.

RECORD WATCH Christina Veasley scored her 22nd career goal - and second of 2011 - last Friday in UALR's 2-0 win over UAPB. Veasley's 22 goals put her one back from Grace Rich (2006-08) and Kari Pratt (1988-91) for fifth place all-time at UALR, and 11 back from tying Stacy Johnson (1988-91) for the all-time record. The Alamogordo, N.M., native is also within striking distance of four other UALR career marks. Her eight career assists put her in a tie for ninth place, while her 52 career points place her seventh all-time. With 134 career shots, she has sole possession of fourth place all-time and is just seven shy of tying Kari Pratt (1988-91) for third. Finally, with seven game-winners in her career, Veasley is just two away from tying Rich for the school mark.

Rachael Maina currently sits in a tie for 12th place all-time with seven assists. Maina also has nine career goals, placing her in a tie for 14th with Leanne Mihelich (2007), Tammie Brown (1988-89), Atim Robin-Tolbert (1996) and Jana Sexton (1999-00) on the all-time list at UALR.

On the career shots list, senior Kristen Semko (97) is in 10th, while senior Taylor Gabbert (82) sits in 14th place.

INCOMING HELP Freshman Betsy Blackwood picked up her first career point in UALR's 2-0 win over UAPB last Friday. The freshman assisted on Christina Veasley's goal in the 60th minute to help give the Trojans a two-goal cushion.

All three of UALR's assists on the year have come via newcomers, as freshman Alyson Rohane and junior college transfer Jenna Brady have accounted for the other two UALR assists in 2011.

(Source: University of Arkansas at Little Rock Athletics)