Marquette University Athletics
Women's Soccer Set to Open Regular Season
8/27/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 27, 2003
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Upcoming Matches
Aug. 29 Vanderbilt, Valley Fields, 8:15 p.m.
Aug. 31 vs. Dayton, Engelmann Field, 2:30 p.m.
Marquette kicks of its regular season on Friday, Aug. 29 as it hosts the 2003 Milwaukee Cup. This is the fourth straight season that MU has hosted the first day of the tournament with WIs.-Milwaukee's Engelmann Field hosting the second day.
On Aug. 29, the tournament kicks off with Wis.-Milwaukee playing Dayton at 6 p.m. Marquette and Vanderbilt kick off later that evening. The venue shifts for the matches of Aug. 31. Vanderbilt and Wis.-Milwaukee kick off at noon, while MU and Dayton meet at 2:30 p.m.
Scouting Vanderbilt
A soccer powerhouse in the early 1990s, Vanderbilt is not as dominant as it once was. The Commodores were 5-9-2 last year, beating Marquette in their final match of the season.
Vanderbilt played one exhibition match this season, beating 20th-ranked Clemson, 3-0. Senior Jennifer Lewis scored just after kickoff and senior Laura Hershenow added another strike in the first half. Senior Esther Thompson returns in goal for VU. She had a 1.42 goals against average last year. Senior Jen Talavera is the Commodores leading returning scorer from a year ago.
Scouting Dayton
Dayton made it to its second straight NCAA Tournament appearance last year, but suffered a similar fate to Marquette, losing 3-2 in the first round (to Virginia). The Flyers should be a talented side in 2003, returning nine starters from its 17-4 team a year ago.
Dayton returns several scoring threats. Junior Tesia Kozlowski scored eight times a year ago and had nine assists. She's joined by senior Shannon Kuhl, who had seven strikes and sophomore Reba Sedlacek who notched six goals. Dayton, champions of the Atlantic 10 last season, is coming off a 3-1 exhibition win over Wright State last week.
In The Polls
Marquette opens the year out of the national rankings by both the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and Soccer Buzz. The Golden Eagles weren't ranked in the first edition of Soccer Buzz's Great Lakes regional rankings. The first NSCAA regional rankings come out following the first week of play.
Tough Schedule
Marquette's 2003 slate proves that its not afraid to face anyone. A year removed from playing a no. 1 team, Marquette three teams on its schedule that are ranked or receiving votes in the NSCAA poll - California (18), Southern California (19) and Charlotte (ARV). In the Soccer Buzz poll, Marquette takes on four teams that are ranked - Charlotte (18), California (22), Cincinnati (23) and Southern California (ARV).
The Milwaukee Cup
This is the fourth season that Marquette and Wis.-Milwaukee have combined to host the Milwaukee Cup. Marquette won the event in 2000, sweeping both Tennessee and Wisconsin. The other two years contested, Marquette has split both years. MU lost to Oakland each of the last two years and has defeated Iowa and Ohio in the event.
Marquette at Home
Last season, Marquette won its first six matches at home, continuing on its dominance at Valley Fields. For the year, MU was 7-2-1 at home in 2002. The last time Marquette won fewer than seven matches at home in a year was the 1998 season. This year, Marquette has only eight matches at home.
Tops in the League
Despite where it finishes in league play, Marquette has been to the Conference USA championship match each of the last seven years. Marquette is 2-5 all-time in C-USA Championship matches.
C-USA Predictions
Marquette was predicted to finish third in the league by the 14 Conference USA coaches. Cincinnati was predicted to be the league's preseason favorite. Charlotte was picked ahead of MU. Saint Louis and East Carolina round out the top five.
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.
Roeders Wins 100th
Head coach Markus Roeders won two matches in the Dayton Marriot Flyer Classic in 2002 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.
MU Loses in Exhibition Contest
Marquette fell to Illinois, 4-0, in overtime in its one exhibition match. Marquette used a number of different player combinations and everyone on the roster contributed. The match came at the end of Marquette's gruelling preseason practice schedule.
