Nov. 7, 2002
Stanford, Calif. - Pacific's Nicolette Wiegand (Encinitas, Calif.) scored a pair of goals and Gina Sadler (Morgan Hill, Calif.) made 12 saves to help the Tigers upset Southwest Missouri State, 3-0 in Game One of the NorPac Championships at Stanford's Varsity Field Hockey Turf Field.
Wiegand got the third seed out of the west going early when she found the back of the net just 6:03 in the match. She took a pass from Ashley Murin (Susanville, Calif.) and poked it past Bears' keeper Jessie Lininger (Hummelstown, Pa.) for the early lead. Wiegand found the net again at 26:24 when she put home a rebound off after a save by Lininger. SMS would have a couple of opportunities to score in the first half but UOP's Cameron Kato made a pair of defensive saves to keep the Bears scoreless.
The Bears came out of firing in the second half, registering 13 shots and eight corners, but Sadler stood her ground, making nine of her 12 saves. Kato closed out the scoring with a penalty stroke with no time remaining.
SMS outshot UOP 20-13 and held the advantage in corners, 9-4. Lininger made five saves for the Bears.
Pacific (4-12) moves on to the semifinal round and will play the winner of game two between California and Appalachian State at 11 a.m. tomorrow. The Bears will play in the consolation bracket and take on the loser of game two at 9 a.m. tomorrow