Nov. 7, 2007

Stockton, Calif. - The Pacific field hockey team closed out the 2007 season with a 7-11 record, including six victories in their final eight contests.

The Tigers entered the 2007 season as a team in transition, looking to replace five starters from the previous season including their top two leading scorers from 2006. Despite struggled through the opening half of the year, dropping eight of their first nine contests, the Tigers showed significant improvement in each contest as the Tigers lost five of the first nine games by just one goal.

Pacific's season turned around during the Tigers' three-game trip to Farmville, Virginia. Pacific dropped the first game of the road trip, 1-0, in overtime to Radford on Oct. 4. The loss, however, ignited the Tigers on both ends of play. The following day, Pacific tied a school record for most goals in a single game as the Tigers defeated Davidson, 6-1. Junior Kedibone Leubane (Capetown, South Africa) tallied three goals in the game to spark the Tigers. Pacific also nabbed two defensive saves to prevent the Wildcats from drawing back to within striking distance.

Two days later the Tigers continued to put their best foot forward as Pacific blanked host Longwood, 3-0. Leabune was once again the offensive catalyst for the team as she notched her sixth goal of the season and delivered an assist. The victory marked the Tigers lone shutout of the season and was the first shutout for freshman goalkeeper Lauren Woods (Oceanside, Calif.).

Leubane and Wood's efforts in Virginia were rewarded as each earned their first NorPac Player of the Week honors on Wednesday, Oct. 9. Leubane earned Co-Offensive Player of the Week, while Woods received Rookie of the Week.

Upon returning to California, the Tigers faced a stern test in No. 4 Wake Forest on Oct. 14. Although the Tigers suffered a 5-1 loss, Pacific delivered a strong performance as the Tigers continued to build momentum towards the end of the season.

Pacific's best performance of the season followed as the Tigers upset California, 3-2, on Oct. 20. Down 2-0 in the waning moments of the first half, senior Katie Fixsen (Vista, Calif.) added a spark to senior day at Brookside field with an unassisted goal to pull the Tigers within one. Fixsen took a short pass from sophomore Katy McDonough (Ventura, Calif.) then slipped past a rushing California defender to lift the ball just by the post of the net with 90 seconds remaining.

Fixsen's goal swung the momentum of the game to the Tigers as Pacific came out firing in the second half. The Tigers worked the ball down into the circle on the opening position of half number two. As the California defense attempted to regroup, Leubane intercepted a pass just to the left of the top of the circle. She dribbled straight in a few feet, then one-timed a shot into the goal to tie the game at 2-2 just 31 seconds into the second half.

Midway through the period, Leubane nabbed another pass from the Golden Bears and scored her second straight unassisted goal to give Pacific a 3-2 lead with just under twenty minutes remaining in the game. The Tigers defense held off California the rest of the way as Pacific handed the Golden Bears their only loss of the NorPac season.

With three victories in four contests, the Tigers faced Appalachian State in the regular season finale. Pacific delivered a historic effort against the Mountaineers as the Tigers set a new school record with seven goals in a 7-1 win. Sophomore Kim Keyawa (Chico, Calif.) and Leubane each notched two goals in the game.

Pacific's late season run lifted the Tigers in the No. 3 seed at the NorPac Tournament in Stanford, Calif. from Nov. 1-3. Unfortunately the Tigers ran into a recent nemesis of theirs in Radford in the first round. The Highlanders continued their uncanny success against Pacific in the NorPac Tournament as Radford defeated the Tigers, 2-1. It was the third time in four meetings in the NorPac Tournament that the Highlanders had gotten the best of Pacific.

Despite the heart breaking loss to Radford, the Tigers closed their season with back-to-back victories over Appalachian State, 5-2, and Longwood, 3-2, to finish the 2007 season at 7-11. Leubane led the Tigers' offense as she finished the year with a team-high 10 goals, five assists and 25 points. Keyawa was right behind her, finishing with nine goals in her second season as a Tiger.

Prior to the NorPac Tournament, four Tigers were named to the All-NorPac Team. Leubane led the Tigers, earning a spot on the All-NorPac First Team. Senior Elle Busch (San Jose, Calif.) Fixsen, and McDonough each were named to the All-NorPac Second Team. In addition, junior Danielle Neault (San Diego, Calif.) earned the Sheryl Johnson Academic Excellence Award.

Following the NorPac Tournament, junior Erica Nestle (San Jose, Calif.) was named to the NorPac All-Tournament team.

As a team the Tigers finished the 2007 season ranked 26th in the nation in goals scored per game with a final average of 2.39 goals per game.