Sept. 1, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Northern Colorado Bears (1-2-0) vs. Air Force Falcons (1-2-1)
Friday, Sept. 4, 6 p.m. @ Cadet Soccer Stadium - USAFA, Colo.
New Mexico State Aggies (0-3-0) vs. Air Force Falcons
Sunday, Sept. 6, 11 a.m. @ Cadet Soccer Stadium - USAFA, Colo.
Air Force Hosts Northern Colorado and New Mexico State
The Air Force women's soccer team plays host to Northern Colorado and New Mexico State this weekend, Sept. 4-6. The Falcons take on the Bears of UNC on Friday, Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. and the Aggies of NMSU on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 11 a.m.
Last Week
Air Force split its two matches last weekend at the Razorback Adidas Classic in Fayetteville, Ark. The Falcons dropped a 4-2 match Friday to Arkansas and rebounded with a 2-1 win over Austin Peay on Sunday. Senior Kelsey Yip and sophomore Kelly Bieber scored in the Arkansas game and freshmen Kim Koppen and Anna Lowe scored in the Austin Peay game.
Most Goals On The Road Since 2001
Air Force's four total goals scored vs. Arkansas and Austin Peay were the most on a two-game road trip since AFA scored five goals during a weekend in 2001. It is also the first road trip since 2000 that saw the Falcons score multiple goals in back-to-back road games in the same weekend.
Falcon Leaders
Six Falcons are tied for the team-lead with two points. Five Falcons have scored goals and freshman Stephanie Patterson has two assists. Freshman Charity Blanton has played all 380 minutes in front of the net for the Falcons, and has 11 saves on the season to go with a 1.66 goals-allowed average.
Team Captains
Seniors Susan Finch and Kelsey Yip are team captains for the 2009 season. Both are three-year letterwinners.
Scouting The Opponents
Northern Colorado enters the weekend with a 1-2 record after defeating Western Michigan and falling to Hartford last weekend. Freshman midfielder Danielle Birdsall has UNC's lone goal on the year. Sophomore Kristen Salminen has logged all 270 minutes in front of the net for the Bears and has a 1.33 GAA.
New Mexico State enters the weekend with a 0-3 record after falling at North Texas. The Aggies are in their inaugural year as a soccer program. Freshman forward Crystal Burns has NMSU's lone goal of the season. Senior Katie Graul has logged all 292 minutes at goalkeeper for the Aggies and has a 1.23 GAA.
The Coaches
Larry Friend is in his first year as the head coach at Air Force. The 1985 USAFA grad. has 12 years of assistant coaching experience at the Academy. He is just the second women's soccer head coach at Air Force.
Tim Barrera is 94-9409 in his 11th year as head coach at Northern Colorado. The 1986 Virginia Tech grad is 153-131-12 in 17 years as a head coach.
Michael Needham is in his first year as a collegiate head coach. Needham is a 1996 grad. of Rhode Island.
Opponent Connections
- Air Force senior Kelsey Yip and Northern Colorado senior Sydney VanderVelde are both graduates of Dakota Ridge high school in Littleton.
- Air Force sophomore Kelly Bieber and Northern Colorado sophomore Laura Wayland and freshman Kelly Tynan are graduates of Fossil Ridge high school in Fort Collins.
Series History vs. Opponents
- Northern Colorado leads the all-time series 6-4.
- Air Force takes on NMSU for the first time ever.
Up Next
Air Force travels to St. Louis, Mo., to take on Saint Louis at the Toys for Tots Invitational, Sunday, Sept. 13.
