By
Audrey DeAnda
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Wildcats to open Pac-10 home season against Washington
The UA soccer team will take on the Washington schools this weekend in its first Pacific 10 Conference home games of the season.
The Wildcats (3-7-2 overall, 0-1-1 Pac-10) are trying to bounce back after coming off of a winless trip to Oregon last weekend. In the series, UA played Oregon State to a 1-1 double overtime tie and lost to Oregon, 2-0.
"I think Oregon and Oregon State prepared us for this weekend," head coach Cathy Klein said. "Certainly (Washington and Washington State) are the favorites in this game - we're going to have our "A" game in order to compete and get it done."
UA freshman forward Liz Bartlett has been the lone offensive force lately, scoring Arizona's only goal last weekend.
Bartlett's goal was her fourth of the season and pushed her to the head of Arizona's scoring leaders, tying her with junior forward Kristi Lorona.
Bartlett also led UA with three shots in the Oregon State game - two of which were on goal.
Klein said she's expecting leadership from all over the field and offensive production from the whole team this weekend.
"Sierra (Cristiano) will be up front - we'll look to her for good things," Klein said. "We'll also need Liz (Bartlett) to continue to thrive. We're looking for Erin Nelson and Twila Kaufman to do as fine a job as they did against Oregon and we're looking for our backs to be as rock solid as they have been."
UA will take on Washington State (8-4-0, 0-2-0) on Friday night at 7 at Murphey Stadium.
The Cougars are winless in conference play after back-to-back losses last weekend to California and Stanford.
WSU senior forward Deka DeWitt leads the Cougars in scoring with eight goals and two assists. Junior midfielder Natalie Kehl, another of WSU's top scorers has five goals and two assists this season.
Cristiano said opening up conference play on the road against the Oregon schools prepared the team for Pac-10 play.
"Last weekend was a turning point because we finally know what we're up against," Cristiano said. "I think we'll be better prepared this weekend-especially with the big group of freshman, we weren't sure, we just had to go by what people had said about these other teams."
The Wildcats will have their hands full when they take on No. 4 Washington, Sunday at 1 p.m.
UA junior goalkeeper Shannon Monti said she is excited to take on the Huskies (11-1-0, 2-0-0).
"We always step up to the level of play," Monti said. "To play a team that's ranked fourth is a great challenge for yourself and the team overall."
Washington is on a five-game winning streak after sweeping California and Stanford at home last weekend.
Husky freshman forward Crystal David leads Washington in scoring with 11 goals and four assists on the season.
WSU leads the series with Arizona, 3-1-1. While Washington is undefeated against the Wildcats, 5-0-0.
Arizona was swept by the Washington schools last year.
