Golden Eagles Enjoy Success at Sixth Annual Tournament of Friends

Feb. 25, 2009

MILWAUKEE - The Marquette women's soccer team opened up the 2009 Spring Season with its sixth annual Tournament of Friends Sunday at the Marquette Gym. The Tournament of Friends featured two Marquette teams of current players: a Marquette Blue Team and Marquette Gold Team, an alumni team, Wis.-Whitewater and two teams from Loyola (Ill.). The tournament games were small-sided; four field players and a goalkeeper.

"It was another great day for our program," said head coach Markus Roeders. "It was the most competitive tournament in the history of this event and we accomplished our goal of a Marquette Gold and Marquette Blue championship match. Gathering the alumni any time is special and watching them compete brings back fond memories. Marquette soccer is about family, and it doesn't get much better than bring current and former players together. Also, a big thanks goes to Loyola (Ill.) and UW-Whitewater for their participation and making the day a huge success."

Marquette Gold captured the championship with a 3-2 win over Marquette Blue in overtime. Sophomore Ashley Bares scored the game winner for Gold team 1:56 into overtime.

The championship match between the Marquette Blue and Marquette Gold Teams marked the sixth consecutive year the two teams met in the final. It was also a rematch of the first game of the day that finished in a 3-3 draw.

In the title game, junior Michelle Compty netted the first goal for Marquette Blue to give it the early advantage. Junior Becky Ryan tied the game for Gold, 1-1, but Compty converted an opportunity to put Blue ahead 2-1. Freshman Rachel Sloan scored the game-tying goal for Gold, which left the game to be decided in overtime.

Marquette Gold finished first in round robin play with a record of 4-0-1 scoring 21 goals while allowing 11. Marquette Blue finished second with a record of 3-0-2 netting 24 goals while allowing 10.

Alumni that participated included Laura Culhane (2000-03), Shannon Cusick (2006-08), Annie Dalecky (1999-2002), Kelli DeBarge (2006-08), Jaime Erickson (1999-2001), Heather Goranson (2002-05), Kristen Jensen (2000-03), Ashley Koenig (1999-2002), Becky LaBarge (2001-03), Michelle Martin (2003-07), Kristie Matola (2002-05), Katie Michuda (2000-04), Lindsay Michuda (2002-05), Melissa Moffatt (1997-2000), Erin Morgan (1996-1999), Jessica Peterson (1995-1998), Lindsay Smale (2000-03), Ashley Spakowitz (1999-2002), Jenny Strachota (1998-2001), Sarah Uyenishi (2001-05) and Christy Zwolski (2004-07).