WEEK 7 WSOC GAME NOTES
 

Storm kick off 2-game homestand: The Dixie State women's soccer team returns home after a four-match string in Hawaii when it hosts Notre Dame de Namur on Thursday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. and Holy Names on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. at Hansen Stadium. Both matches will be streamed live on the Dixie State homepage via SouthernUtahLive.com and live stat links for both matches are available on DixieAthletics.com.

Last week in Storm soccer: Dixie State split a pair of PacWest matches last week to end their four-game stretch on the islands with a solid 3-1 record. Against Hawaii Pacific, Jen Mason continued her stellar play with her fourth goal of the trip on a penalty kick. Jasmine Arollo (Glendale, AZ/Apollo) also netted a goal in DSU's 4-2 loss to the Sharks. Hawaii Pacific outshot the Storm 22-9 for the match. The Storm then bounced back on Saturday with a 2-0 shutout of Hawaii Hilo – then ranked No. 10 in the West Region by the NSCAA. Erica Gonzalez (Avondale, AZ/Westview) broke a scoreless tie in the 81st minute and an own goal in the 85th minute padded the DSU lead. Danica Nusink (Springville, UT/Springville) posted her first solo shutout of the year making four saves. 

Mason named PacWest's best: Jen Mason earned her second weekly honor of the season with another outstanding offensive output in three games in Hawaii. She scored four goals in three games, bringing her PacWest-leading total up to seven on the year. She recorded a hat trick against Chaminade, scoring three times in less than 40 minutes. She added another goal against HPU. Mason is 59th in the country in points per game (1.55).

A look at the NDNU, Holy Names: Notre Dame de Namur broke an eight-match losing skid with a 4-0 shutout over Holy Names last week to improve to 3-8 on the year. Jessica Santos posted a hat trick, netting three goals on five shots over the Hawks. Massiel Castellanos leads the Argos with six goals scored and three assists. Notre Dame de Namur is fifth in the PacWest averaging 1.27 goals per game. Dixie State is 4-4-2 all-time against NDNU. The Storm lost 3-0 in Belmont last year after posting a pair of scoreless draws in the last two matches in the series played in St. George (2011). Holy Names has not posted a win in 2014, limping to an 0-8 overall record. The Hawks have been shut out in each of the eight matches and have allowed at least two goals to their opponents in the same period. In two matches against the Hawks in the all-time series, Dixie State has outscored HNU 8-1. 

Looking ahead to California: Five of the last seven DSU matches are scheduled at home. The last road trip of the 2014 season will take the Storm to Southern California next week to face Azusa Pacific and Point Loma.

Year two: Kacey Bingham is in her second season as head coach. Prior to DSU, she led Paradise Valley (Ariz.) Community College to the NJCAA National Championship in 2012.