ROCHESTER, Mich. -- Oakland brings their eight-game winning streak to their home field for a pivotal game against Milwaukee on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 4 p.m.
Oakland and Milwaukee are the only undefeated teams in the league and are fighting for the number one tournament seed.
"This fixture has been an important game for us for the last three years, and we have come close with two ties in four very competitive matches. Unlike the past, this year's regular-season game has championship implications for both teams, so it should be a great match for fans to come out and watch," Head Coach JuanPa Favero said.
"Two very different and contrasting styles, two undefeated teams in league play, two teams vying for a #1 seed. It should be fun! Come out in numbers Oakland nation. We need your positive energy to help propel us to a win!"
Following this game, Oakland will host a senior night to honor the ten women's soccer players who will graduate this year.
IMPRESSIVE OFFENSIVE SHOWING
Oakland's six goals against Green Bay is the most scored in a game since 2013 when the Golden Grizzlies defeated Youngstown State, 6-2.
Sabbagh became the first Golden Grizzly to score three goals in a game since Sydney Gagner in 2016 when she netted four in a 5-0 win against Chicago State.
GOAL GETTERS
The Golden Grizzlies boast 12 goal scorers this season, led by Sami Lopez with eight and Alexa Sabbagh with six. Karabo Dhlamini has three, while Macey Wierenga, Ashley Postma, Sophie Wilsey, and Jayna Fraser, have each recorded two goals. Vera Asare, Jackie Reilly, Sharon Sampson, Jessica Sheers, and Brooke Honeycutt each have a goal.
HORIZON LEAGUE LEADERS
Lopez and Sabbagh have spots on many of the leaderboards this week. Lopez is ranked second in goals (8), second in points (22), fourth in assists (6), and eighth in shots on goal (18). Sabbagh is ranked fourth in shots on goal (22) and seventh in goals (6)
Wilsey is ranked sixth in game-winning goals (2), while Ashley Postma is ranked ninth in Assists (4).
Goalkeeper, Noëmi Stadelmann is ranked third in shutouts per game (4) and fifth in goals-against average (21).
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior, Alexa Sabbagh, earned Nike #HLWSOC Offensive Player of the Week honors after netting four goals and two assists over two games in the first week of League competition. (9/20)
Sabbagh led the Golden Grizzlies offensively in a pair of games scoring four goals and tallying 10 points to open up Horizon League play. Sabbagh recorded her first goal of the season in the 88th minute to force double overtime as Oakland opened Horizon League play with a 1-1 draw to Youngstown State on the road. Sabbagh picked up where she left off against Green Bay, netting three goals on the afternoon and two assists to guide the Golden Grizzlies to a 6-0 win over the Phoenix. Sabbagh became the first Golden Grizzly since 2016 to score three goals in a game.
Senior, Sami Lopez, earned Nike #HLWSOC Offensive Player of the Week honors after she led her team with an assist and netted one goal during a 2-1 win over IUPUI.
Lopez continued to be a force for the Golden Grizzlies' offense, tallying a goal and an assist to extend Oakland's win streak to four. Lopez struck first, giving Oakland an early 1-0 lead in the first half. With only five minutes remaining in regulation, the Sterling Heights, Mich. native was responsible for setting up the game-winner for the Golden Grizzlies, off a perfectly placed corner kick leading to the go-ahead goal. Lopez now boasts 12 points on the year, with seven coming in league play, tied for third-best in the Horizon League.
SEASON HIGHS
The Golden Grizzlies recorded 27 shots against CSU (10/7), a season-high by four shots.
PRESEASON POLL
Oakland was picked to finish third in the 2021 Horizon League women's soccer preseason poll, announced by the league office on Wednesday and voted on by the league's 12 head coaches.
SENIOR LEADERSHIP
The Golden Grizzlies welcome back 10 seniors to the squad this season, bringing a wealth of knowledge and leadership to the roster, including graduate student, Ashley Postma, who returns for her fifth season.
A LOOK AT LAST YEAR
After a canceled 2020 fall season, Oakland competed in a 10-game, conference-only schedule beginning in February. The Golden Grizzlies posted a 5-3-2 record which included a four-game winning streak in the month of March. Oakland was just two of 12 Horizon League teams to play in all 10 games.
The Golden Grizzlies tallied 16 goals on the year, tied for second-most among the Horizon League. Oakland's 1.6 goals per game ties the Golden Grizzlies mark in 2013, and is the best since the 2010 season.
The Golden Grizzlies boasted an impressive eight goal scorers, tied for second-best among league foes.
Oakland racked up an impressive 26 assists, a league-best, with 12 Golden Grizzlies tallying one or more. Sami Lopez led with a season-best seven assists, second-most in the Horizon League.
Oakland allowed just .90 goals/game, the fewest in 12-plus seasons. Opponents were only able to find the back of the net nine times, the fourth-fewest in conference play.
ALL LEAGUE HONORS
The Oakland women's soccer team had three student-athletes garner All-Horizon League honors as voted on the by league's head coaches. Sami Lopez and Kendra Zak earned first team honors while Emily Penney was a Horizon League All-Freshman Team selection, marking the first time since the 2016 season Oakland has had a student-athlete represented on the first team, and the first time since 2015 two student-athletes have been recognized as first team honorees.
UNITED SOCCER COACHES HONORS
Zak earned 2020-21 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women's All-Region second team honors, while Lopez and Postma earned third-team honors announced by the national office in May.
Zak earned 2020-21 United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America Third Team honors, becoming the first to accomplish this feat in program history. Zak was also named to the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Scholar All-Region team in addition to All-North Region Second Team honoree.
