Marquette University Athletics
Biggest Tests of the Season Await MU Women's Soccer
9/18/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 18, 2002
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Upcoming Matches:
Fri., Sept. 20; vs. North Carolina; Durham, N.C.; 5 p.m. EST
Sun., Sept. 22; at Duke; Durham, N.C.; 2:30 p.m. EST
Coming off four consecutive shutouts, Marquette will need all the momentum it has heading into the Duke adidas Classic in Durham, N.C. The Golden Eagles will square off with the nation's top ranked team, North Carolina on Friday, Sept. 20 at 5 p.m. (EST). MU will then play tournament hosts, 15th-ranked Duke, at 2:30 p.m. (EST) on Sunday, Sept. 22.
The ACC is steeped in women's soccer tradition, with the head of the class being North Carolina. The Tar Heels have won 16 women's soccer national championships in school history.
Scouting North Carolina
In 23 years of soccer, North Carolina has just 23 losses. Head coach Anson Dorrance owns a 517-23-12 record in 23 years. When UNC loses - or ties for that matter - it is a big deal. The Tar Heels were tied in their first match of the season by 10th ranked Nebraska, 1-1. In the five matches to follow, UNC has outscored its opponents 23-4, including wins over fourth-ranked Texas, 3-2, and eighth-ranked Texas A&M, 4-1.
Anyone can be a playmaker for North Carolina, but they are sparked by junior forward Alyssa Ramsey (six goals) and freshman forward Lindsay Tarpley (five goals). Ally Winget and Jenny Branham have split time in goal with Winget playing the duration against Texas and Texas A&M.
Scouting Duke
A team on the rise, Duke has bounced in and out of the national rankings, but will be ranked 15th at its meeting with Marquette. The 4-2 Blue Devils have played a tough schedule, including four nationally ranked teams. Duke has wins over Tennessee and Florida.
Like North Carolina, Duke features a high powered offense, outscoring its opponents 13-8 and outshooting 96-55. Sophomore midfielder Casey McCluskey leads the team with four goals, including two game winners. Her most recent victorious goal came in overtime against 24th ranked Florida. Duke also has a freshman forward who can score. Carolyn Riggs has netted three marks. In goal, sophomore Katie Straka has faced 44 shots and has made 23 saves. She has a 1.41 goals against average.
In The Polls
The Golden Eagles are currently ranked eighth in the Great Lakes Region poll by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, moving up one spot. Notre Dame returned to the top spot after a week's absence. Marquette is ninth in the Soccer Buzz regional rankings while Michigan holds the top spot in that poll.
Two MU opponents are in the top 25 this week. North Carolina is the nation's top ranked team - MU plays the Tar Heels on Sept. 20. Marquette will also meet up with Duke, ranked 15th in both national rankings, on Sept. 22
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 11 scores to tie all-time MU goal scoring leader Kelly Roethe. Roethe netted 49 goals from 1996-99. Gordon trails Roethe by 32 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.
A String of Shutouts
Marquette has blanked four opponents in a row - Ohio State, Dayton, Rhode Island and Wisconsin - the longest shutout streak since MU shut out three in a row early in the 1997 season. In all, Marquette has had 16 occasions in which it has not allowed a goal in two or more consecutive matches. Later in 1997, MU went five matches in a row without surrendering a goal. MU has not allowed a goal in 397 minutes. The school record is 579 minutes without a goal.
Koenig Named Player of the Week
Conference USA named senior goalkeeper Ashleigh Koenig (Naperville, Ill.) Co-Defensive Player-of-the-Week, for the week ending September 15. Koenig joined UAB defender Suzanna LaMotte as Co-Defensive Player of the Week. UAB's Jenny Rynders was the Offensive Player-of-the-Week.
Koenig made two saves and directed the Marquette defense to a 3-0 shutout of previously undefeated Rhode Island. The Rams had nine goals in three matches prior to MU's shutout. She has 17 career shutouts.
Golden Eagles Win Tournament Title
With wins over Ohio State and Dayton - teams ranked in the Great Lakes regional ranking - Marquette claimed the Dayton Marriott Flyer Classic championship. The win by Marquette also ended Dayton's 17-match home win streak, the 16th longest in the nation.
Three Golden Eagles Named All-Tournament
Three Marquette players were named to the all-tournament team of the 2002 Verizon Wireless Cup. The all-tournament team included Kate Gordon (Offensive MVP), Anne Ioder and Stephanie Welch from Marquette. Gordon scored two goals and an assist during the tournament. Ioder and Welch were active on both offensive and defensive ends during the tournament to earn the honor.
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.
