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 LADY KNIGHT'S SOCCER 2007

(Above) Early season Lady Knight soccer team picture
Savannah Named GVC MVP
LORI DENDAS NAMED COACH OF THE YEAR
(Shasta College-12/4/07) Shasta College women's soccer coach Lori Dendas was named the Golden Valley Conference Coach of the Year and Savannah Harter was named conference MVP. Harter, the freshman midfielder, was named first-team All-Conference, along with defenders Skye McNeil and Shari Stouffer and goalie Krysta Jenkins. Harter finished with 18 goals and six assists for the Knights. Stouffer had three goals and four assists and McNeil added two goals. Jenkins made 207 saves on the season. Forward Sarah Powell and midfielder Sarah Wilkerson were selected to the GVC second team. Aside from those two Stouffer, the rest are freshmen. Powell was second on the team with 12 goals, while Wilkerson added a goal and four assists. Shasta improved to 6-6 in the Golden Valley Conference and 8-12 in 2007.
Knights Roll Lassen
HARTER SCORES TWICE
(10/9/07-Susanville) Shasta 8, Lassen 4:Cassie Bickley had four goals and an assist as the Knights doubled up on the Cougars for the win. Savannah Harter had two goals and Kayla Coenen and Deana Walton each added one. Shasta (3-2 Golden Valley Conference, 5-8) hosts Butte College on Tuesday.
Knights Rout COR
HARTER HAT TRICK LEADS
(10/2/07-Shasta College - Jeffrey Jen) The Knights women's soccer team has worked more on finishing in recent practices. It paid off in a game setting as Shasta College blanked the visiting College of the Redwoods 6-0 on Tuesday. Savannah Harter posted a hat trick, Sarah Powell added two goals, and Kayla Coenen had a goal and an assist for the Knights (2-1 Golden Valley Conference, 4-7). Since its early season struggles, Shasta has gotten better at finding the back of the net. In fact, the goals are coming in bunches. Harter got the Knights started with goals in 25th and 28th minute before Coenen made it 3-0 in the 31st minute. "We were looking for an opportunity early," said Harter, who also added an assist. "Once we settled down and saw what the opponent was doing, we were ready to attack." Harter's first goal came off a Redwoods goal kick which went straight to the freshman central midfielder from Enterprise High School. Harter one-timed it. Powell would add second-half goals in the 49th and 65th minute, sandwiched around Harter's third goal in the 52nd minute off a Shasta free kick. The Knights had more scoring chances, but coach Lori Dendas was content to sub in and tinker with her lineup. The outcome was far different than the Sept. 18 4-1 loss to Sacramento City. In that game, the Knights missed a slew of scoring chances and watched the Panthers take advantage of theirs. Now, finishing scores has become a Shasta priority. As a team, the Knights have controlled the ball well, but the difference is those touches are turning into goals. "We have some very skilled players on the team," Harter said. "It's been a matter of trying to have those pieces come together." With league underway, getting the team together has been another mantra for the Knights. "We've focused more on team-building as of late," Dendas said. "The players are more comfortable now and are playing harder for each other." With a five-team league, Shasta faces all of its foes three times in conference. The victory over the Corsairs moved the Knights into third. Shasta hosts Feather River at 2 p.m. Friday in a key game. Dendas considers the Golden Eagles the conference favorite, though Butte is leading at 4-0. Reporter Jeffrey Jen can be
reached at 225-8228 or jjen@Redding.com.
Knights Fall in Nevada
BIG IMPROVEMENT
(9/22-Nevasa-Coach Dendas) The Lady Knight's lost 2-0 on the road in their last Non-conference game.  "We saw Western Nevada a few weeks ago in our tournament and they beat us 8-0.  The girls had a new determination and focus in this game.  This was our last chance to play a solid team before conference play so we pushed our defense hard on Nevada.  Our Keeper, Krysta Jenkins, had an almost flawless game saving 32 out of 36 shots.  Savannah Harter, Skye McNeil, and Shari Stouffer led the defense in their outstanding performance.  Western Nevada has a really solid offense and hit us hard with run after run and shot after shot...every player that stepped on the field today gave 100% it was a great game, although a loss, they battled the entire way.
Knights Top Lassen
GREAT START TO GVC PLAY
(9/21/07-Susanville-Coach Dendas) Shasta opens up conference play with a win over Lassen College. The Lady Knight's defeated Lassen college 7-2 in their opening conference match.  Sarah Powell started off the scoring for the Knights in the 13th minute with a shot from the outside.  Savannah Harter scored two goals, one off a pass from teammate Brittny O'Dell, the other off a one v. one beating the keeper.  Freshman striker, Kayla Syvertson, dribbled one in on her own and had 2 assists.  Krysta Jenkins, Sarah Wilkerson, and Skye McNeil also added to the scoring squad.  "We started the game flat on our heels allowing Lassen to score in the first minute of the game. The girls quickly recovered and began working the ball around well.  Finishing has been the focus of our practices recently and this was a great indicator of their improvement."
Fail to Finish
FALL TO SCC
(9/18/07-Shasta College-Jeffrey Jen-Searchlight Article) Possessing the ball in soccer is one thing. Putting it in the net is a another. Even though the Shasta College women's soccer team had the ball at its feet most of the day, it was Sacramento City which came away with a 4-1 road victory Tuesday over the Knights. The Panthers scored three first-half goals, all on breakaways after prying the ball from a Shasta player before quickly transitioning into a counterattack. Sac City sophomore forward Jenna Richardson had two of those goals. "She's real quick," Knights coach Lori Dendas said. "One of our defenders (Skye McNeil) could stay with here, but no one else." Isela Alvarado also added a first-half goal for the Panthers. Knights sophomore forward Sarah Powell made it 3-1 when she made a run down right sideline before hitting a 25-yard shot that went over the outstretched arms of Sac City goalkeeper Jenna Piciullo into the upper right corner five minutes into the second half. Ten minutes later, Guadalupe Zuniga did her own version of the right-side run before beating Shasta goalkeeper Kayla Syvertson far side for another Sac City (3-4-1) goal. While Shasta controlled the ball for much of the first half, the Panthers made more of a commitment in the final half. "I told the girls to try to play the ball more," Panthers coach Jang-Ha Oh said. "All our goals were coming on breakaways." The Knights (2-5) had familiar problems in not getting back on defense and not being able to finish, Powell's goal aside. "We had a lot of opportunities again," Dendas said. "We were playing a 4-4-2 in the second half, so we had two forwards ahead, but they weren't getting any support. We were moving the ball around real well, but we need to do a better job of finishing." Shasta travels to Lassen on Friday to start Golden Valley Conference play. Dendas figures Feather River is the team to beat with everyone else likely batting for second. The Knights play their next three on the road before returning home Oct. 2 to face College of the Redwoods. Reporter Jeffrey Jen can be reached at 225-8228 or jjen@Redding.com.
Knights Fall in Second Half
STELLAR DEFENSE, FOR A HALF
(9/13/07-Shasta College-Jeffrey Jen-Searchlight) Twenty forgettable minutes ruined what had been a decent Knights showing on the pitch. The Shasta College women's soccer team couldn't capitalize on any of its first-half chances -- despite having plenty. The Knights paid for those lost opportunities when Mendocino scored all of its goals in a 20-minute, second-half span for a 4-0 victory at Shasta College on Thursday. Shasta had 21 shots on goal. The Eagles had 11. The problem for the Knights was none found the back of the net thanks to 16 saves by Mendocino keeper Cristina Gomez. Worse was the Knights' defense. The Eagles scored four times in the second 45-minute half, including three goals in a span of five minutes. The goals usually came from a poor Shasta (2-4) defensive effort. "We definitely need to work on our transition defense," Knights coach Lori Dendas said. Shasta was on the attack early in the second half, when suddenly Mendocino got the ball going the other way. By the time the Eagles got into Shasta territory, there were at least four attackers and a couple of defenders back for the Knights. Mendocino forward Tabitha Olson eventually got the ball on a short breakaway and scored the first of her two goals, looping a 17-yard shot over the outstretched arms of Shasta keeper Krysta Jenkins in the 54th minute. Fifteen minutes later, Jenkins tried to charge out, but ended up taking out an Eagles player in the box. Roxanne Contreras then beat Jenkins on a penalty kick to the left side for a 2-0 lead. Dendas switched keepers and moved Kayla Syvertson back to goalie and pushed Jenkins to forward. It didn't work as a Shasta defender turned the ball over deep in Knights territory and Olson slid a shot underneath Syvertson. Two minutes later, in the 73rd minute, Whitney Vonfeldt made it 4-0 Mendocino. The Mendocino goals and a short Shasta bench began to take its toll on the Knights offense. O'Dell pushed a short shot left early in the second half. Jenkins got the ball late in the second half on a break and put the shot past Gomez. "We haven't had a game in nine days and the players struggled to get back to playing with each other," Dendas said. "We controlled much of the first half, we just couldn't get the ball in." Shasta gets a chance at redemption when the Knights host Sacramento City at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Reporter Jeffrey Jen can be reached at 225-8228 or at jjen@redding.com.
Shasta Fall to Western Nevada
KNIGHTS DOWN THREE PLAYERS
(9/1/07-Shasta College Tourney-Coach Dendas) Injured Knight's fall 8-0 to Western Nevada College in their last tournament game. The Lady Knight's played down three players due to injuries, outside commitments, and a red card. "Without our full roster we weren't able to give the ladies the rest they needed. We had several injuries throughout the tournament and lost a few players to those. We ended up playing with 8 on the field to Western's 10. A tough break after winning two games but I'd rather have something like this happen in the pre-season. This was a great team building moment for them on mental toughness. At halftime we were down 4-0 and one more player; it was a perfect opportunity for us to learn the importance of communication, support, and a refusal to lie down and give up. I commend the team's efforts to continue to battle through the final whistle."
Savannah Scores Again
TIRED KNIGHTS STILL GET WIN
(8/31/07-Shasta College Tourney-Coach Dendas) Tired, but not beaten, Shasta College wins
6-0 over Lassen College to finish out friday's games. Savannah Harter got the first goal in for the Knight's off a corner kick. Shari Stouffer put one in midway through the first half.  Keeper Krysta Jenkins came out of the box to play the field and scored two for the team; one on a breakaway beating their keeper one on one and the other off a cross from Kayla Coenen. Sarah Powell earned another goal off a cross from Krysta Jenkins. Freshman Emily Anders from Enterprise High School scored the last goal on a rebound from a shot taken by Sarah Powell.
Savannah Nets First Hat Trick
SARAH POWELL GETS OTHER TWO GOALS
(8/31/07-Shasta CollegeTourney-Coach Dendas) Shasta takes their first win 5-4 over San Jose's Evergreen Valley College. Freshman Savannah Harter gets a hat trick with 3 goals this game, her last goal the game winning penalty kick. Sarah Powell scored the other two goals for Shasta. "We spent the two practices before this game working on passing and support and it really paid off. The team really seemend to be working much better together and communicating a lot stronger." Outstanding defense from returner Gretchen Helfenstein who went out of the game early from a knee injury and also new comer
Skye McNeil.
No Offensive Spark
KNIGHTS FALL IN OPENER
(8/28/07-Sacramento-Coach Dendas) Shasta losses 8-0 in their first pre-season match against Sacramento's Consumnes River College. "Although an 8-0 loss is hard on morale, it is nice to play the tough teams in the pre-season to get the ladies thinking and reacting quicker. If you play a lot of weaker teams in the pre-season you do not have to push yourselves as much....now the girl's have a focus and an intensity at practice."

(Printable copy of the Lady Knight's soccer schedule)