Women's Soccer Looks to Avenge NCAA Loss to Wisconsin

Sept. 8, 2003

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Upcoming Matches
Sept. 9 at Wisconsin, 7:30 p.m.

Still stinging from a 3-2 loss to end the season in the NCAA tournament, Marquette is looking for some revenge as it plays just one match during the week. Intrastate rival Wisconsin is on tap for Marquette on Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m. in Madison.

Both teams are playing strong. Marquette is fresh of a draw against 15th-ranked USC and a win over regional power Oakland. The 2-1-1 Golden Eagles have not allowed a goal in regular action this season. Wisconsin is 3-1 and is riding a three-match winning streak into the contest.

Scouting Wisconsin

Wisconsin is riding a wave of emotion after putting three straight wins together. After a season-opening loss to nationally-ranked California, Wisconsin has put on a goal barrage, scoring three times in each of its subsequent matches.

Wisconsin's strength is its offense. The Badgers know how to score goals and Marquette is aware of that fact. Wisconsin put up three goals on MU in last year's NCAA tournament first round match. Jenny Kundert leads the badgers with three goals and two assists on the year. Eight different players have scored this year for Wisconsin.

Series History
Series tied, 4-4-1. Wisconsin and MU split matches last season.

Marquette Pair Named Players-of-the-Week

Senior forward Carolyn Klopp (Glendale, Wis.) and junior goalkeeper Katie Bissen (Maple Grove, Minn.) were named Conference USA players-of-the-week for the week ending September 8. Klopp scored the game-winning goal in a 2-0 win over Oakland to give Marquette the championship of the Michigan Nike Challenge title. It was Klopp's second game winner of the year, as she connected on her only shot of the contest. Klopp owns two of the Golden Eagles' three goals this season.

Bissen helped Marquette win the 2003 Michigan Nike Challenge by recording a pair of shutouts. In the tournament opener, she held No. 15 USC scoreless through 110 minutes in goal for a 0-0 tie with nine saves. In the championship match against Oakland, Bissen led Marquette to its third shutout of the year, making two saves.

In The Polls

Marquette makes its first appearance in regional polls this season. MU is ranked sixth in the Great Lakes poll by the NSCAA. According to Soccer Buzz, MU is the no. 6 team in the region. Notre Dame leads the region in both polls. Marquette has yet to be mentioned in the national rankings in either poll this season.

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.

No Missin' Bissen

Junior goalkeeper Katie Bissen (Maple Grove, Minn.) has proven her worth in the first four matches of the season. Bissen has yet to allow a goal in regular action. Her only score against was a PK in a 1-0 loss to Dayton. Bissen has made 16 saves and owns a 0.21 goals against average.

Solid on the Defense

A question mark heading into the year with so many newcomers, the Marquette defense has made its presence felt. So far this season, Marquette has allowed just one goal through four matches. This is the fewest goals allowed in program history this late in the year. Marquette allowed two goals through four matches in the 2000 season.

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.

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.

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 and is already 1-0 at the Valley.

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.

2003 Statistical Leaders

Goals Carolyn Klopp 2 Michelle Martin 1

Assists Laura Culhane 1 Kristen Jensen 1 Clarie Weber 1

Points Carolyn Klopp 4 Michelle Martin 2 Three players 1

Shots Kristen Jensen 7 Kristie Matola 5

Shots on Goal Kristen Jensen 4 Kristie Matola 3 Carolyn Klopp 3

Match Winning Goals Carolyn Klopp 2

Saves Katie Bissen 16