Marquette University Athletics
Women's Soccer to Meet 17th-Ranked California
10/2/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 2, 2003
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Upcoming Match
Oct. 5 vs. California, Valley Fields, 1 p.m.
After a hectic two weeks of play in which the Marquette women's soccer team played six matches in 12 days, the Golden Eagles get a week-long break before an important match-up with no. 17 California. Marquette went 3-3 in its stretch and will use the time to gear up on its stretch run. After California, the Golden Eagles have six Conference USA contests in a row, leading up to a match up with league leading DePaul on Oct. 24.
The match with California is only the third match at Valley Fields for the Golden Eagles this season. Marquette finishes its last eight match-ups with five home meetings.
Scouting California
The California defense is one of its strong suits, having posted four shutouts in its eight matches. Sophomore Ashley Sulprizio and freshman Anna Key have each posted two shutouts. Sulprizio was the starter at the season's beginning, but a broken thumb has sidelined her of late. The difference has hardly been noticed. Sulprizio has a 0.45 goals against average, while Key's is 0.75. California isn't the most productive offensively. While it has only allowed five goals all year, it has only scored 10. Two players, Kassie Doubrava and Liz Eisenberg lead the team with two each. On the year, California has a 4-1-3 record heading into a Oct. 3 matchup with Missouri.
Series History
Have never met.
In The Polls
Marquette fell out of the NSCAA Great Lakes regional ranking, after a 1-2 week. MU also dropped from the Soccer Buzz regional ranking. Notre Dame tops the regional rankings in both polls. MU's next nationally ranked opponent comes Oct. 5 when it takes on 17th ranked California.
McGill Gets on the Board
Freshman forward Beth McGill (Omaha, Neb.) became Marquette's go-to player in a three-match span. In four days, McGill recorded her first two collegiate goals. She scored the match-tying goal against Wis.-Milwaukee on Sept. 24 and scored the winner against Memphis on Sept. 28.
Loughrin has Big Week
Freshman forward Alison Loughrin (Appleton, Wis.) has made her mark on Marquette women's soccer. She scored two of Marquette's three goals during a two game span. She scored tying goals against Wis.-Green Bay and Tulane to mark the first strikes of her college career.
Solid on the Defense
A question mark heading into the year with so many newcomers, the Marquette defense has made its presence felt. Through four matches, Marquette allowed just one goal. This was the fewest goals allowed in program history this late in the year. Marquette allowed two goals through four matches in the 2000 season. Currently, MU is allowing 0.96 goals per match.
Klopp Strikes Again
Senior forward Carolyn Klopp (Glendale, Wis.) became MU's first multi-goal scorer of the season when she struck the first goal against Oakland. Klopp also scored against Vanderbilt and provided the match winner in both. Klopp already has tied her second best goal scoring season when she had two last year. She's on pace to set a career season best. She had four goals in the 2000 season, her freshman year.
Tournament Title Winners
After a second place finish in the Milwaukee Cup, Marquette won the Nike Michigan Invitational, which had a strong field. MU tied with 15th-ranked USC, 0-0. and won the tournament with its 2-0 win over Oakland. MU won the tournament on goal differential. USC defeated Michigan by one goal and was also 1-0-1 in the tourney, but MU had a +2 goal differential.
Bissen Pitches Shutout in First Start
Senior goalkeeper Katie Bissen (Maple Grove, Minn.) made three saves and more importantly kept Vanderbilt off the scoreboard in a 1-0 win on Aug. 29, her first career start. Bissen became just the second keeper in Marquette women's soccer history to record such a feat. Ashleigh Koenig was the first player to do so, shutting out Charlotte on Oct. 1, 2000.
Preseason All C-USA Selections
Two Marquette players were selected among the 11 chosen to be Preseason All C-USA. Seniors Anne Ioder (Hartland, Wis.) and Kristen Jensen (Shorewood, Ill.) were picked among the league's elite players. Jensen was third team All C-USA last year and first team each of her first two-years. She is coming off a one goal, three assist year as a central midfielder. Ioder was selected second-team all-league each of the last two years. She was a C-USA all-freshman selection as well. She is coming off a two goal, two assist year.
