Soccer wraps up season at home against California, Stanford

The Wildcats have never ended a season with a win and ended the 1995 season with a pair of losses to Cal and Stanford.

This weekend's matches will mark Arizona's (8-9-1 overall and 2-5 in the Pac 10) third chance at a win against the Bears and the Cardinal. Both programs hold a 2-0 advantage in their respective series against the Wildcats.

"Cal and Stanford are good teams this year," said head coach Lisa Fraser, who is one win away from recording 100 career wins in her 14 years of coaching. "It is always exciting to play good teams and this weekend gives us two tough games. This season we h ave had a much improved season."

The Wildcats field the best team ever to face Cal and Stanford. "We are playing better than ever," Senior Melissa Kessler said. "It is sad to be leaving when we are playing so well."

Arizona is currently tied with Washington State for seventh place in the Pacific 10 Conference.

Cal is coming off a pair of wins against the Oregon schools last weekend, improving their winning streak to four games. The Golden Bears are 9-7-1 overall and 4-3-0 in the Pac-10, placing them in the sixth spot in the conference.

In Arizona's last match against Cal, the Bears scored all three of their goals in the first half, notching a 3-0 shutout against the Wildcats.

"This year is different we finally see the potential to beat big teams," Kessler said. "We realize we can play with anybody."

After a rough start, Stanford has bounced back, winning its last six matches including two against Oregon State and Oregon, placing them in a four way tie for second place with Southern Cal, Arizona State, and Washington.

"In the past we have been really defensive minded," said senior Kate Mattson. "Now we are offensive minded too and our play has gotten faster. We have rose to the level of the Pac-10."

Last time the Cardinal was in town Arizona took control of the match early, scoring two goals within the first eight minutes of the match. Stanford recovered quickly to even the score at 2-2 and eventually taking the game, 3-2.

"We will have two good battles this weekend," Fraser said. "We will head into the games with a much better season behind us and build on it for next year."

Homecoming '97

UA vs. California

(8-9-1, 2-5) (9-7-1, 4-3)

When: Tonight at 7.

Where: Murphey Stadium, 15th St. and Plummer Ave.

What: The UA soccer team completes its most successful season ever with the last games of the 1997 season this weekend ... The Wildcats take on Stanford Sunday at 1 p.m ... Arizona has never won its last game of the season ... Admission is free to both ga mes.