Marquette University Athletics
Men's Soccer Rides Win Streak into Match with Wisconsin
10/13/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 13, 2003
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Upcoming Matches
Oct. 15 at Wisconsin, Madison, Wis., 7 p.m.
Oct. 18 vs. East Carolina, Valley Fields, 7 p.m.
A pivotal week of matches exists for the Marquette men's soccer team. A contest with regional rival Wisconsin is on tap for the Golden Eagles to begin the week. MU meets the Badgers on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. Marquette is riding a two-match win streak and hasn't lost in its last four contests.
The Golden Eagles also tangle with East Carolina in Conference USA action. That match is at Valley Fields and is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. Marquette is sitting in second place in the league standings.
Scouting Wisconsin
Wisconsin will be without leading scorer Jed Hohlbein for its match with Marquette. Hohlbein, a seven goal scorer this season, will miss the match due to a red card he was given in UW's 3-0 loss to Indiana last Friday. The slack in the Badgers' lineup will be taken up by Nick Van Sicklen, who has five goals on the year.
Goalkeeper Eric Hansen has led the Badgers to a 1.14 goals against average this season. While respectable, Wisconsin owns only a 7-7 record on the year. Wisconsin has been up and down, owning just one two-game win streak on the year. However, that came against tough foes Wis.-Milwaukee and Penn State.
Series History
Wisconsin leads, 21-12-3.
Marquette won last year, 3-0, iat Valley Fields.
Scouting East Carolina
A thorn in the side of Marquette the last two seasons has been East Carolina. Near the bottom of the C-USA standings this year, Marquette has never beaten the Pirates. Last year's tie cost Marquette an outright C-USA title instead of sharing with Saint Louis.
The Pirates have lost four in a row and haven't won since a 3-1 defeat of High Point on Sept. 12. Reed Avren collected three assists in that match. Avren is a dangerous playmaker, having nine assists on the year. Matt Kowaleski is the team's biggest scoring threat with five goals on the year.
Series History
Wisconsin leads, 21-12-3.
Marquette won last year, 3-0, iat Valley Fields.
In The Polls
UCLA holds the top spot in both in the NSCAA top 25 and the Soccer America poll. The Golden Eagles are still awaiting their first mention in any regional ranking this season. Marquette has had its share of foes now ranked. Washington sits in the no. 7 spot. UAB is at no. 23 and Saint Louis is ranked fifth. Dayton holds the top spot in the NSCAA Great Lakes region.
Lee Becomes Two Goal Threat
Junior midfielder Chris Lee (Lenexa, Kan.) has a toe-hold on the lead for goals for Marquette this season. Currently with seven, that total equals what MU's leading scorer had a year ago. He has boosted by becoming a multiple goal per match scorer. He has four goals in his last two matches, scoring twice against Memphis and Wright State.
Kohlmeyer Saves Best For Last
Sophomore midfielder Blair Kohlmeyer (Newburg, Ind.) has a penchant for scoring at the right time this season. Of Marquette's six wins, Kohlmyeyer has three of the match winners. He has five tallies on the year, the second best total on the team.
Golden Eagles Open Up Offensive Flood Gates
After struggling to find the goal in the first four matches, Marquette found its offense against DePaul. Marquette tallied four strikes, including a pair by sophomore midfielder Blair Kohlmeyer (Newburgh, Ind.). Marquette scored four twice last season, with the last being on Oct. 5 against TCU. Since opening the season with three goals in four matches, Marquette scored nine in its next five outings and has only been shutout once in the eight matches since the first four.
Offense Goes Through Gutierrez ... Or Does It?
While Marquette averages a respectable 1.47 goals per match, its leading scorer from 2002 is still awaiting his first strike of the year. Derek Gutierrez, a career 17-goal scorer, has never had fewer than five goals per year in his Marquette career. Gutierrez has yet to score, 12 matches into the season. He has been a contributor to the offense, however, recording a team-best four assists.
Defense Finds its Ways As Well
Like the offense, the Marquette defense has seen a 180-degree turnaround after the season's beginning. After giving up 14 goals in a three match span, a shuffle on the back line garnered some positive results. Marquette earned a pair of shutouts, blanking DePaul, 4-0, and Evansville, 1-0. MU's last multiple shutout string came at the end of last year when it blanked East Carolina, DePaul and Wisconsin to finish the regular season. The Golden Eagles also blanked Saint Louis, then no. 7, in a 0-0 tie for the third shutout of the year.
Ubert Named Player-of-the-Week
Senior goalkeeper Adam Ubert (Heartland, Wis.) was named Conference USA Co-Defensive-Player-of-the-Week, for the week ending September 14. Ubert was crucial in Marquette's return to .500. Ubert blanked DePaul, 4-0, and Evansville, 1-0, during the week to help the Golden Eagles improve to 3-3 on the year.
Lee Back on Pace
Junior midfielder Chris Lee (Lenexa, Kan.) has become a proficient striker yet again. He has seven goals, three higher than his total a year ago. He tied his career high with seven his freshman year.
