Marquette University Athletics
MU Looks to Rebound against Cincinnati, Louisville
10/17/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 16, 2002
Marquette is facing yet another difficult challenge, hosting Cincinnati, ranked 24th by Soccer Buzz, on Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. at Valley Fields. The defending Conference USA champions face Marquette in a pivotal C-USA contest. Cincinnati has not lost in its last five matches. Marquette then hosts Louisville at noon on Sunday, Oct. 20.
MU is coming off a difficult and disappointing weekend of play in conference. The Golden Eagles were defeated at Charlotte, 4-1 and tied Saint Louis, 0-0. MU is now at 3-1-2 in C-USA play.
Scouting Cincinnati
Cincinnati currently has a seven-game unbeaten streak and are 9-2-2 on the season with a 3-0-2 record in C-USA. Amy Simonson leads the team in scoring with 12 points on six goals. Tasha Wagner is second on the team with seven points including five assists.
Senior Heather Herweh, a preseason all-C-USA selection anchors a defense that returns three starters from the 2001 season and has held opponents to eight goals in 13 games. Sophomore Tracy Hale is the starter in goal for the Bearcats, posting a 0.59 goals against average and has posted shutouts in five game.
Marquette lost to Cincinnati twice last season and is looking for revenge in the series.
Scouting Louisville
At 5-7-1 and 1-3-1 in C-USA play, Louisville will be the first sub .500 team that Marquette has played in five matches. The Cardinals are a solid team, but lack the depth that other C-USA teams have. The Cardinals played only 15 players in each of their last two matches.
Louisville is coming off a 2-0 loss to East Caroilna and a 3-1 blemish to Ohio. The Cardinals have been able to create enough offense to get shots off, trailing opponents by a 187-176 shot tally and tying with 89 shots on goal each. However, UofL hasn't been able to produce as much offense, being outscored 22-16. The Cards are not a second half team, trailing 13-9 in the second half. Lisa Martin and Melissa Wark lead the team with four goals each. Lindsay Seibert has taken over in goal recently and has a 1.47 goals against average.
In The Polls
After its 0-1-1 weekend, Marquette fell out of both the NSCAA and Soccer Buzz national rankings. The Golden Eagles are on the cusp of entering back into the polls as they are receiving votes in both. A win over Cincinnati, ranked 24th by Soccer Buzz, might get MU back into the top 25.
The Golden Eagles fell to fourth in both regional rankings. Purdue, Michigan and Cincinnati top MU in Soccer Buzz's poll, while Michigan, Notre Dame and Purdue lead MU in the NSCAA poll.
Gordon Rising in MU Career Categories
Senior Kate Gordon (Sioux City, Iowa) has her eye set on some MU career records. Currently, MU's second most prolific goal scorer needs nine scores to tie all-time MU goal scoring leader Kelly Roethe. Roethe netted 49 goals from 1996-99. Gordon trails Roethe by 27 in the career points category. Roethe's total of 123 came on 49 goals and 25 assists. If Gordon were to tie Roethe for career goals at 49, she'd need 13 assists on the season to tie for points. Gordon is also five match-winning goals behind Roethe who won 17 matches.
Counting on the Masses
In Marquette's nine victories, nine different players have scored the match winning goal. In all, 12 players in all have netted scores. Senior midfielder Anna Frisk (Rochester, N.Y.) and junior midfielder Laura Culhane (Brookfield, Wis.) each netted their first against UAB. Culhane's match winner made her the ninth different player to score match winners. In MU's last seven goals over the last four matches, seven different players have accounted for them.
Short Time Between Ties
MU's 0-0 draw at Saint Louis on Oct. 13 came just two matches after a 1-1 tie at South Florida on Oct. 4. In 1997 and 1994, MU tied back-to-back matches. Prior to the tie at USF, MU had a 44 match string without a tie. The last time MU drew before South Florida in a match was Oct. 15, 2000 in a 0-0 standstill at home against Saint Louis.
Freshmen Fit In
Against Tulane and Southern Miss, Marquette had three goals on the weekend, two scored by freshman. Midfielder Julie Thompson (Naperville, Ill.) and midfielder Heather Goranson (Germantown, Wis.) each scored, both scoring match winners, to continue the MU freshman class' strong contribution. MU freshmen have four goals on the season, with Goranson having two, Thompson and forward Kristie Matola (Brookfield, Wis.) each have one.
Doomesday Defense
While Marquette has been successful on the offensive end this season, the defense has been equally deserving in Marquette's success. With a veteran back line led by seniors Anne Dalecky (Wauwatosa, Wis.), Diana Detrie (Green Bay, Wis.) and Ashley Koenig (Naperville, Ill.), Marquette has kept its opponents from getting off quality shots. MU has outshot its opponents 233-133 and holds a 115-70 shot on goal advantage this season.
Difficult Schedule
Head coach Markus Roeders has loaded his slate with challenging foes. On the schedule are six teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament last year, including three which advanced as far as the third round. Currently, the nation's no. 1 ranked team, North Carolina, is on the Marquette schedule.
Roeders Wins 100th
Head coach Markus Roeders won two matches in the Dayton Marriot Flyer Classic to become the first women's soccer coach to win 100 games. He joined nine other MU coaches to reach 100 wins in any sport.
