Marquette University Athletics
Markus Roeders' Coaching Diary
10/27/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Once a week for the remainder of the season, Marquette head women's soccer coach Markus Roeders will share his thoughts on his Golden Eagles squad.
(Note: Assistant Coach Frank Pelaez fills in for Coach Roeders in the Oct. 27 entry)
October 27, 1999
Q: Your team is coming off a productive weekend, defeating Tulane (4-0) and Southern Miss (3-1). That has to give the squad some added momentum heading into the final weekend of the regular season.
A: I think that anytime that we are in the situation of being at home, it's a comfortable feeling. We had been on the road the three previous weekends and I know our players were looking forward to getting back to our field and familiar surroundings. The two wins will help for this weekend. They are our last home games of the year and with Friday evening being Senior Night, I think our kids will perform well.
The wins against Tulane and Southern Miss were similar because they showed that our team is maturing. In the Tulane game, it was 0-0 at halftime and in the Southern Miss game, we were trailing, 1-0, at halftime. Where in the past the players may have panicked, our team is more experienced. Our upperclassmen, along with our younger players who are coming off the bench, are realizing what it takes to win. Coming back to score four goals against Tulane in the second half and three against Southern Miss shows patience. The players are believing in what you are saying. It's great to see a team mature and grow and hopefully we'll continue to do well in that area.
Q: The team's offense has really picked up the pace the last three games, scoring a total of 12 goals.
A: At the beginning of the year we were scoring some goals, but also having a number scored on us. That being the case, we focused more on keeping shape in the backfield and plugging in different people to find the right nucleus. When that settles in, then you can work more on offense. We have switched around a couple of players here and there so we can get the ball into Kelly Roethe. Kelly is our playmaker. She's the one who is going to find the forwards and get the ball to them.
We have six explosive forwards. Erin Morgan, is a senior with a lot of experience. Katherine Ward, a junior, is now coming along and really feeling confident in her play. She is such a dominant force, she's 5-11, while Erin Morgan is about 5-0. To cover those two players for 15 or 20 minutes is difficult enough because they are so versatile. Then switching those two off and bringing in Kate Gordon, who is exceptionally fast, and Ashley Spakowitz, who is a hard worker with good speed, that's four different type of players that two defenders have to adjust to.
Our other two forwards are Lecia Schuetz, who adds a different type of explosiveness to the game, and Rebecca Myers.
We're playing an attractive style of soccer right now. We're playing a possession style yet not slowing down the game. We try to bait the other team to come after us and then we attack them.
Q: What about the upcoming DePaul game?
A: Anytime we play DePaul, it's a rivalry game -- the schools are only 90 minutes apart. Right now, DePaul, I believe, will go to the Conference USA Tournament, so I think that their spirits are high. It's going to be one of those games where if we come out thinking we're better than what we are, they can take it to us.
It's hard to score against them, they don't score many goals but they prevent a lot of goals. The good thing about the game is that it's here and that plays into our favor. Our field suits our type of play -- spreading very wide and letting the ball do the work.
Q: After playing DePaul, your team's last regular-season game is Sunday at home against Purdue (1:00 p.m.).
A: Purdue is a young program but they are making great steps. I know their coaches are determined to make a big showing in the Big Ten Conference. Whatever happened last year (a 10-1 Marquette win), is not going to happen this season. I know their coaching staff is not going to let that happen again. They have more experience and have beaten some teams in the Big Ten which is a strong conference.
On the other hand, I know our seniors will want to go out with a bang, so I think that it is going to be a great game.
