SOU NOTES

ASHLAND, Ore. -- The Southern Oregon University soccer team picked up a win to start the season and now heads to California for three road matches in six days.

The Raiders visit San Diego first to take on Point Loma Nazarene at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. The Sea Lions are 2-0 this season after a pair of victories over Northwest (Wash.) and Menlo College. Point Loma has not allowed a goal this season, outscoring its opponents 5-0 and outshooting its opponents 48-7. Two-time All-American Tiffany Kracy returns for her junior year in goal, with Point Loma returning two other all-Golden State Athletic Conference honorees in defender Erica Wessel and Katie Pedlowe.

Following Wednseday's contest, SOU will travel to Fullerton to face Hope International on Sept. 3 at noon. The Raiders defeated the Royals 2-1 in overtime on Stacy Szeto (Roseville, Calif./Oakmont)'s header last season in the only meeting between the two teams. Hope International opens the 2011 season on Aug. 31, when the Royals host Chapman University. All-GSAC defender Shanell Thomas returns for the Royals, who look to bounce back under first-year head coach Andrew Paine after posting a 6-8-3 overall record last season.

Southern Oregon's final contest on the road trip should be the toughest, as the Raiders will visit No. 20 Concordia-Irvine on Sept. 5 at 11 a.m. Concordia and SOU have met in each of the past three seasons, with CU winning all three matches. Chenin Young (Upland, Calif./Upland) and Alyssa Bricker (Temecula, Calif./Temecula Valley), both returning players for SOU, scored goals for SOU in last year's match, but Concordia scored three unanswered goals to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 victory. The Eagles opened the 2011 season with three wins, defeating Northwest (Wash.), Our Lady of the Lake and Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) by a combined score of 11-2. Concordia returns three All-GSAC performers from last year's 11-6-3 squad in Tamara Chagas, Kyleen Button and Audrey McKay.