MU Women's Soccer Hosts Oakland in Season Opener

Aug. 30, 2001

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The Marquette Golden Eagles begin their ninth season of women's soccer action on Friday, Aug. 31, with a scheduled 8:15 p.m. kickoff against Oakland. The match takes place after Wis.-Milwaukee meets Iowa in the first match of the four-team Verizon Wireless Cup at 6 p.m.

After a day of rest, all four teams return to action in the tournament with Marquette taking on Iowa at noon at Engelmann Field on the UWM campus. Oakland and Wis.-Milwaukee take the field following the Iowa-MU match.

Marquette heads into the season coming off its most successful year in the history of the program. MU was one of five teams to win 20 matches a season ago, finishing the year at 20-3-1. The Golden Eagles also were the first team in Conference USA history to win the regular season title outright and then capture the tournament championship. The successful season was concluded with a first-round win in the NCAA Tournament over Wright State at Valley Fields.

Scouting Oakland

The Golden Grizzlies and Marquette meet for the first time ever. Last season, Oakland was 12-5-1 and returns a key element missing from the 2000 squad. Midfielder Anita Rapp was not on the team a year ago as she spent her time playing on the Norwegian Olympic Team which won the gold medal in Sydney in September of last year.

Joining Rapp as a key returning element is Ashley McGhee. The senior midfielder scored 13 goals a year ago to lead her team. Sophomore Sarah Buckland was solid in goal a season ago, with a 1.19 goals against average and 79 saves on the year.

Scouting Iowa

Marquette will also meet Iowa for the first time in school history as a part of the Verizon Wireless Cup. The Hawkeyes recorded an 11-9 record a season ago in the always difficult Big Ten Conference.

The Hawkeyes are led by returnees Sarah Lynch and Linzy Wolman. Lynch, a junior this season, scored 11 goals in 2000. A senior this season, Wolman scored nine goals and nine assists last year. Liz Hendel returns in goal after stopping 146 shots in 2000.

In The Polls

For the first time in school history, Marquette begins the season nationally ranked. The Golden Eagles finished the 2000 season ranked for the first time in school history, concluding the year at 24th. Marquette reached as high as 17th in the final regular season poll and the poll prior to that.

The Golden Eagles are set to meet two nationally ranked teams in the 2001 season. Currently, MU's Sept. 15 opponent, Brigham Young, is ranked 13th. Marquette's Oct. 5 foe, Harvard, sits one spot above the Golden Eagles at 23rd.

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.

Gordon Rising in MU Career Categories

Junior Kate Gordon (Sioux City, Iowa) needs one point to move into a tie for fourth place in Marquette's all-time leading scorers. Gordon, with 60 career points, trails Lanette Rossini and Katherine Ward, who have 61. Gordon should move into second by the end of the year. Jessica Peterson is in third with 65 points and Erin Morgan sits in second with 66 points. Kelly Roethe, the career leader, is at a distant 123 points.

Gordon is one goal out from second on the all time list. With a school record 17 goals last year, Gordon upped her career total to 26. Peterson scored 27 career goals. Roethe is the career leader at 49 goals.

Golden Eagles Fall in Exhibition Match, 4-3, to Purdue

Purdue scored three consecutive goals and added a penalty kick goal to defeat Marquette 4-3 in an women's soccer scrimmage at Valley Fields. The match was played in three 40 minute periods, as opposed to two 45 minute halves.

MU took an early lead in the first period on a Kristen Jensen penalty kick. Kate Gordon extended the lead to 2-0 on a one-on-one goal after receiving a feed from Jensen.

Purdue matched MU's first period scoring with a 28-yard free kick into the right corner by Jenna Silverman. Courtney Coppiger tied the match in the 30th minute on a header from seven yards out.

Erin Yarc put the Boilermakers up for the first time late in the second period. She found a loose ball in front of the goal mouth after a save by MU reserve keeper Katie Cook and blasted home a six yard shot.

Laura Culhane tied the score in the 96th minute, taking a misplayed ball and heading in the goal from six yards.

Coppiger scored her second of the contest on a penalty kick passed MU's third keeper, Katie Bissen, in the 97th minute.