SOCCER FORMAT ? The WAC will continue its regular-season play as a single round-robin format for a total of seven conference matches. The points system allows each team to receive three points for a win and one point for a tie. The six teams with the most points at the end of the regular season will advance to the WAC Tournament which will be held Nov. 8-9, 11 in Boise, Idaho.
2007 WAC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
November 8 (Quarterfinals)
Match 1 ? No. 4 vs. No. 5
Match 2 ? No. 3 vs. No. 6
November 9 (Semifinals)
Match 3 ? No. 1 vs. Winner Match 1
Match 4 ? No. 2 vs. Winner Match 2
November 11 (Championship)
Match 5 ? Winner Match 3 vs. Winner Match 4
TOP STAT LEADERS ? Following are the returning statistical leaders in the WAC for 2007. Topping the scoring list for the WAC this season are several veterans coming back with the top point totals. Nevada’s Karen Zmirak led the WAC with 26 points and 11 goals, averaging 3.38 shots per match and 1.24 points per match. Hawai’i’s Taryn Fukuroku led the WAC with 71 shots and six assists, while tallying 22 points and eight goals last season. Rainbow Wahine teammate Kelli-Anne Chang and 2006 Offensive Player of the Year Nicole Irwin of San Jose State also netted eight goals each to tie Fukuroku for second. Irwin also registered 20 points and led the WAC with a game-winning-goals average of 0.20. Utah State’s Ali Griffin leads all returning goalkeepers in shutouts (8) and save percentage (0.838). Louisiana Tech’s Jill Medigovich is the top returning goalkeeper in saves, recording 90 to average 5.62 saves per game last season. Nevada’s Jen Mavis rounds out the top returning goalkeepers, posting a 0.70 goals-against-average in 2006.
RETURNING ALL-WAC PLAYERS ? The WAC returns 16 all-conference players for the 2007 season. Nevada leads the way for the second-straight year with five returning all-WAC members. Returning for the Wolf Pack are forwards Samantha Miller and Karen Zmirak, midfielder Miranda Montejo and defenders Jessica Wilcox and Randee Robinson. Hawai’i and San Jose State return three all-WAC selections each. For the Rainbow Wahine, first-team honoree Taryn Fukuroku and second-team honorees Jessica Domingo and Koren Takeyama return. San Jose State returns 2006 Offensive Player of the Year Nicole Irwin and second-team selections Jessica Scott and Marissa Dayton. Fresno State and Utah State both return two all-WAC selections. For the Bulldogs, first-team selection Alison Sill and second-team honoree Nicole Gutierrez return. Utah State returns two Aggies, including Dana Peart and 2006 Freshman of the Year Lindsey Smart, both second-team selections. Allison Tsuchida, a first-team honoree, returns for Boise State.
NCAA OPPONENTS ? Of the 83 non-conference matchups, 18 are against teams that played in the NCAA Tournament last year and seven are hosted at WAC home sites. Three teams in the WAC (Hawai’i, San Jose State and Utah State) play at least three non-conference opponents that competed in the NCAA Tournament in 2006.
BOISE STATE TO HOST WAC VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT ? The WAC Soccer Tournament heads to the Boas Soccer Complex in Boise, Idaho after playing the 2006 Championship in Reno. The six-team tournament will be held November 8-11.
The 2007 Soccer Tournament is the first of four WAC Championships to be hosted this year on the campus of Boise State University. In March, the Broncos will host the Indoor Track and Field Championship at Jacksons Track, and later in the month will also hold the Gynmastics Championship. The Outdoor Track and Field Championship will also be hosted by Boise State in mid-May.
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