Arizona soccer’s 30th anniversary season and first Big 12 campaign has been a memorable one so far.
The Wildcats (9-4-2, 4-3-1 Big 12) look to remain undefeated at home in their final two home matches this week, with Kansas and Kansas state coming to Tucson Thursday and Sunday for a pair of conference tilts.
Arizona, which is 5-0-1 at Mulcahy Stadium this season, starts the weekend with the Jayhawks Thursday night at 7 p.m.
“We've been growing to this year since I got here," UA head coach Becca Moros said. "It just happens to be that we also changed conferences, so kind of gives us a fresh start and there's an excitement to that, for sure.
“I think each team we've played has been a different challenge than the games we've played in the Pac-12 over the last few years so I think that's what is exciting," she added. "I like a challenge. I like the opportunity to grow and learn and we definitely had that opportunity.”
Arizona defender Zoe Mendiola (4) skips past New Mexico State midfielder Janae Shaklee (16) in the second half of their early-season matchup on Sept. 5 in Tucson.
With three matches plus potential postseason games to go, Arizona is on the cusp of double digit wins for the first time since 2019 and for the eighth time in the program’s 30 year history.
Arizona head coach Becca Moros takes a run through the fan victory tunnel after the Wildcats beat visiting New Mexico State 1-0 on Sept. 5 in Tucson.
The top 12 teams make the Sprouts Farmers Market Big 12 Soccer Championship, which is three or four matches single elimination from Oct. 30 to Nov. 9. The top four seeds get byes, UA is two points behind fourth place Colorado (10-2-3, 4-1-3), which has 15 points.
Arizona last made the NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament in 2019 and hasn’t yet under Moros.
“We've been working for this. The players have done an incredible job from their work during season, off season, spring season. I think we are who we are now and our style of place is fairly clear,” Moros said. “We can have some ups and downs, but we stay pretty true to that. There's a consistency there and I think those are things that we've worked really hard to establish and those are things that kind of earn you a bit at the end of the year when you put together a really consistent year with a good amount of wins and some competitive matches and results.
“I think we're in a great spot to make the tournament, but these next three games are huge for that,” she added.
Arizona forward Nicole Dallin (23) bodies the ball off the foot of New Mexico State defender Milana Eyrich (26) in the second half of their early-season matchup on Sept. 5 in Tucson.
The Wildcats went 5-13 overall and 2-9 in the Pac-12 in Moros’ first season, then 8-7-3 overall and 5-5-1 in conference play in 2022. The UA posted an overall mark of 6-8-5 and final Pac-12 record of 3-6-2 last season.
Christiansen
As of Wednesday morning, UA senior midfielder Gianna Christiansen and grad student forward Nicole Dallin were tied for fifth in the Big 12 in scoring with 7 goals each. Christiansen was first in the league in game winning goals with 4. She was named Wednesday as the Big 12's Offensive Player of the Week.
In net, junior Olivia Ramey was second in the Big 12 in goals against average (.692), fourth in save percentage (.836), seventh in shutouts per game (.357) and ninth in saves per game with 3.29.
“It's all new home fields and different kind of experiences on the road as well, which is exciting and I think we've enjoyed it a lot as a program and I think the players have really embraced all of that newness and found an opportunity to grow and come together with it,” Moros said.
The Wildcats enter the penultimate weekend of conference play in seventh place in the Big 12. Through Monday’s matches, Arizona was No. 47 in the NCAA’s RPI. As .500 or worse teams so far, the UA's last three opponents — Kansas (6-5-4, 3-4-1), K-State (3-9-3, 0-6-2) and ASU (7-5-3, 2-5-1) —could hurt the Wildcats' NCAA tourney résumé, though.
Arizona forward Kennedy Fletcher (8) stands up New Mexico State midfielder Loma McNeese (14) to win a header in the second half of their early-season matchup on Sept. 5 in Tucson.
Arizona’s four-match unbeaten streak ended Sunday at Houston with a 1-0 to the Cougars who are 4-9-1, 1-7-0.
“These are these are like tournament games already,” Moros said. “We need results in these games to make the postseason as far as the NCAA tournament and I think making sure we kind of rebound from what might be a disappointing result, but overall not a bad performance and putting our best foot forward in our very next match.
“All that matters starts right now is Thursday (against) Kansas," Moros said. "That's it."
