Marquette University Athletics
Women's Soccer Prepares for Next Matchup against Harvard
10/2/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 2, 2001
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Marquette, ranked 17th in the nation, plays a non-conference match for the first time in four matches when it travels to take on Harvard, out of the Ivy League. Prior to the season, both teams were ranked, however, Harvard has slipped from its top-25 position despite a 3-1 start. The Golden Eagles are taking on an Ivy League school for the first time in its history.
The Golden Eagles come into its matchup with the Crimson riding an eight match winning streak and have won all three contests on the road this year. Marquette has won five straight regular season road contests, having last lost in the regular season on the road at UCLA on Oct. 6, 2000. Marquette last lost on the road in the NCAA Tournament last season at Texas A&M, 4-0.
Scouting Harvard
Harvard has played but four times this seasons, owning a 3-1 record. The Crimson add a fifth match, Massachusetts at home, before meeting Marquette.
The Crimson started the season ranked 23rd, just one spot ahead of Marquette, in the preseason top 25 rankings, however the Crimson's opening match loss to Colorado College, 5-4, cost them a spot in the rankings. Harvard has rebounded with wins over Central Connecticut State, Brown and Yale.
It took Harvard 20 extra minutes to down Ivy foe Yale. on Sept. 29 Beth Totman scored her second of the season. The Crimson was fresh off a 4-0 drubbing of Ivy Conference opponent Brown. Caitlin Costello scored two of her team-leading four goals in the win. Cheryl Gunther has played the lions share of time in net for the Crimson. She has made 22 saves, while allowing just five goals on the year.
Winning Streaks
After a season-opening loss to Oakland, Marquette has won eight-straight contests. The Golden Eagles have won eight or more in a row three other times in the nine year history of the program. Marquette won eight in a row last season. In 1999, Marquette won nine straight. That string was ended by no. 8 Clemson in the NCAA Tournament. The school record is 10, set in the 1997 season. Evansville ended that streak with a tie. Marquette was undefeated in 13 straight that year, including the tie to the Purple Aces.
In The Polls
Marquette jumps four spots in the NSCAA national rankings this week to no. 17. The Golden Eagles mark their highest point in the polls since a no. 17 at the end of the regular season last year. Marquette debuts in the Soccer Buzz top 25 this week in 21st. North Carolina holds the top spot in both the NSCAA and Soccer Buzz polls.
In the NSCAA Great Lakes Regional poll, Marquette moves all the way up to second in the region, behind Notre Dame. Kentucky, ahead in the national poll, follows MU.
C-USA Unbeaten Streak
With a 4-0 record in 2001 and a 10-0-1 record in 2000, Marquette has not lost a Conference USA match in over two seasons. Marquette has won five straight C-USA matches and has not lost in 15 conference tilts. The last time Marquette lost a C-USA contest was in 1999 when it lost to Charlotte, 1-0, on Oct. 15.
In the Record Books
Marquette set an NCAA record in fastest time to retaliate to an opponent's goal. Against Illinois, Hollie Schurr scored for the Fighting Illini at 85:14. Six seconds later at 85:20, junior forward Kate Gordon (Sioux City, Iowa) scored off the kickoff from sophomore midfielder Laura Culhane (Brookfield, Wis.). The previous record was 10 seconds each by Ida Hakansson of Eastern Illinois and Holly Toth of Dayton, both in 1999.
Gordon Rising in MU Career Categories
Despite being held scoreless in the first two matches of the season, junior Kate Gordon (Sioux City, Iowa) has found the scoring touch in 2001 and has risen in the record book. With four goals and two assists on the year, Gordon has 70 points and has moved into second all time in career points at Marquette. Kelly Roethe, the career leader, is at a distant 123 points. With the three goals this season, Gordon also has upped her career total to 30, moving her into second. Roethe is the career leader at 49 goals.
Vendetti Named C-USA Offensive Player-of-the-Week
Senior forward Jill Vendetti (Franklin, Mass.) was named Co-Offensive Player-of-the-Week for the week ending Sept. 30, the Conference USA Office announced. Vendetti scored a goal each against TCU and Houston to bring her season total to three.
Vendetti is the first Marquette women's soccer player to win the award this season. She shares this week's honor with Jenny Leeder of Charlotte who also scored two goals during the week of action.
Marquette Pair Named Preseason All-Conference
Receiving preseason accolades for Marquette are junior forward Kate Gordon (Sioux City, Iowa) and sophomore midfielder Kristen Jensen (Shorewood, Ill.). Both were named to the preseason All-Conference USA squad.
Gordon, a first team All-Conference and second team All-American in 2000, set a school record for points (40) and goals (17) a year ago as she earned several postseason honors. Jensen scored 12 points on three goals and six assists as she earned first team All-Conference honors in her first collegiate season.
Golden Eagles Tabbed as Preseason Favorites
Marquette has been chosen to repeat as the Conference USA regular season champion in a vote by the league's head coaches. Marquette is predicted to win its third straight C-USA crown.
Marquette ran through the C-USA schedule undefeated in 2000 going 10-0-1, finishing the year at 20-3-1. The Golden Eagles also won the C-USA Tournament for the second straight time to advance to the NCAAs.
Rounding out the top five are Saint Louis, Charlotte, Cincinnati and Houston. C-USA newcomers TCU and East Carolina are picked sixth and seventh respectively.
