Marquette University Athletics
Golden Eagles Resume BIG EAST Play
9/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 24, 2008
MILWAUKEE -
The Marquette women's soccer team jumps back into BIG EAST play this week for a Thursday-Sunday tilt on the road and at home. The Golden Eagles travel to Providence Thursday, Sept. 25, at 3 p.m. CT, and return to host Connecticut on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 1 p.m.
"Our sole focus is on BIG EAST play," said head coach Markus Roeders. "We learned from having a split weekend this past week at USF and then at home versus Pepperdine, which should help prepare for our matches on Thursday and Sunday. Considering our non-conference schedule, our squad should be well prepared for the upcoming games. We keep improving and defensively this group is doing a fantastic job. The offense is creating chances, but we have to understand we have played very high quality opponents. We are confident that the goals will come in our upcoming games."
The Golden Eagles are coming off an undefeated weekend where it won at USF in overtime, 1-0, and tied Pepperdine, 0-0. Sophomore Ashley Bares scored her first goal of the season and the Golden Eagles' lone goal of the weekend in the 99th minute at USF. She is the sixth Golden Eagle to score thus far. Following those back-to-back shutouts, Marquette's defense was rewarded for its stellar play as redshirt freshman goalkeeper Natalie Kulla was tabbed the conference's goalkeeper of the week and senior defender Shannon Cusick was named to the honor roll.
Providence has found early success in non-conference play with a 5-2-0 overall mark, but dropped its conference opener to Connecticut, 1-0. Junior Tara Ricciardi, freshman Courtney Collins, and junior Jill Camburn have each totaled six points on three goals apiece. Netminder Jill Schott has started six of the team's seven games in goal, posting two shutouts while boasting a .893 save percentage and 0.51 goals against average. Marquette is 3-0-0 all-time against Friars, including a 2-0 mark at Glay Field.
"Providence is off to a great start and it will be difficult to play them at home. They are improved and their results have shown it," said Roeders.
The Huskies (3-5-1), who began the season ranked as high as No. 11 in the nation, are struggling to find the back of the net as they have scored just five goals heading into this weekend's matches. Connecticut has been outscored by its opponents, 12-5, and has been held scoreless four times. The Huskies' three wins of the season came against Hofstra (1-0), Yale (2-1) and Providence (1-0), while three of their five losses were to top-11 teams.
Annie Yi leads the team with four points off two goals. Elise Fugowski has three points on a goal and an assist, and Erin Clark and Cory Bildstein have two points apiece. Preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year Stephanie Labbe has seen nearly 650 minutes in net, limiting opponents to a 1.39 goals against average and holding a save percentage of .773. Connecticut hosts USF prior to coming to Milwaukee.
"UConn's record is deceiving considering they have played excellent competition. We will expect a tough opponent," said Roeders.
Marquette is 1-2-0 all-time against Connecticut. Last season the Huskies snapped MU's school record 10-game unbeaten streak in Storrs, sending the Golden Eagles back to Milwaukee with a 5-0 defeat. Marquette last defeated Connecticut, 1-0, during the 2006 season in the two teams' last meeting at Valley Fields.
