Nov. 2, 2010
SAN DIEGO -
San Diego State Women's Soccer Head Coach Mike Friesen
On their upcoming rematch against Wyoming:
"I think one of the things we did well last time we played them was moving the ball well. I anticipate that they will be a bit tougher of a match up this time because it's always more difficult to beat a team twice the second time around. They're going to be a little bit more prepared for us. We scored both our goals on set pieces against them so they're going to have a chance to look at that video and make sure that doesn't happen again. So we're going to have to be more creative and get some goals and run some plays. I think we're ready for the game and the first step in the tournament."
On the difference of playing the Mountain West Conference tournament at SDSU rather than on the road:
"It's always nice to be at home. I think we've done a good job, especially in conference play, of being a tough team to beat here. For us, in the Mountain West, it's always been about elevation. So that's been something we've had to deal with in past years, last year included, when we went to BYU. It makes the game that much more difficult ... We're looking forward to playing at sea level and playing at home. There are always some chances of distractions at home. They've got their regular schedules and they're going to class. It's a little bit more in the team's hands than my hands. That makes you nervous as a coach."
On the progression of the season:
"Just to begin the year, we played one of the most difficult schedules in the country. We were in every game; we lost every game by just one goal. We've missed someone who you can rely on to step up and just score goals (Cat Walker). We've had to play a lot of freshmen this year. They're very good players, but it's taken time for them to understand what we want them to do. They've gained some confidence playing top teams. Playing teams like North Carolina. So I think going into conference we wiped to slate clean. We've done a real nice job of getting back to where we were last year in conference play. We're still struggling to score goals, but we're defending well and we're confident. We like our chances at home."
On goalkeeper Aubree Southwick:
"Everybody's excited, especially Aubree. When you're a senior going into your last conference tournament, having won last year, they all got that taste of what it feels like to win a championship. They're really excited about playing at home in front of all their fans. She was disappointed she didn't get to play last week, but she handled it really well. She's fired up and ready to play."
On looking ahead:
"We've really concentrated on one game at a time. They've done a good job of understanding that any team could beat you at any time. It's always in the back of my mind to keep them focused on the task at hand."