Sept. 3, 2006

Colorado Springs, Colo. The Pacific women's soccer team improved to 4-0-0 on the season with a 3-0 victory over Air Force on Sunday, Sept. 3. The win came by way of the Tigers' fourth consecutive shutout, one shy of the program record of five straight shutout victories set in 1999.

Despite a slow start that saw the Tigers take only six shots in the first half and head into the break with a 0-0 tie, Pacific picked up the pace in the second half, using their depth and fitness to take control of the contest. Overall the Tigers took 17 shots while for the second game this season, Pacific gave up just five total shots and for the third time, relinquished just two attempts in the second half of the game.

Behind an impregnable backline, junior 'keeper Jaime Souza (Gig Harbor, Wash.) was not tested very often in the win, but when called upon, she made three saves including a leaping save to knock a shot away that was heading for the top right corner of her goal. Overall, Souza has posted four shutouts on the season to run her scoreless streak to 376:56 minutes.

Offensively, the Tigers came out firing in the second half as they posted 11 shots with six shots on goal.

Junior Mandi Van Dorn (Danville, Calif.) posted what would be the game-winner in the 58th minute as she took a ball on the left side of the 18 and guided it into the back of the net under the arms of the Falcons' goalkeeper Erin Wallace. Van Dorn was setup off of a double assist from Souza and senior Carmen Padilla (San Jose, Calif.) as Souza's dropkick found the foot of Padilla who touched a pass to Van Dorn for the score. The assist was Souza's second career assist and Padilla's second of the season, both times setting up Van Dorn.

Up one goal the Tigers put the game out of reach as they netted six minutes apart, scoring in the 81st and the 87th minutes. Senior Suzy Peterson (Granite Bay, Calif.) continued her strong start to 2006 as she netted her second goal of the season, banking a free kick just outside of the box off the wall and into the goal.

Freshman Alysse Valenzuela (Stockton, Calif.) scored the Tigers' third and final goal off of a one touch pass from Van Dorn that got by Wallace who had left her line to defend the play. The goal was Valenzuela's second goal of the weekend and of the season.

The Tigers continue their two week road trip next weekend as they travel to Tucson, Ariz. to play in the Four Points Sheraton Cats Classic. The Tigers will take on Hawai'i on Friday, Sept. 8, at 5:00 pm and Gonzaga on Sunday, Sept. 10, at 11:00 am.