Marquette University Athletics
Golden Eagles Co-Host MKE Cup
8/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 27, 2009
MILWAUKEE -
MKE Cup Game Notes in PDF Format 
The Marquette women's soccer team will kickoff the home portion of its schedule at Valley Fields this weekend with a pair of matches. The Golden Eagles host Rice Friday, Aug. 28, at 7:30 p.m., and Michigan on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 1 p.m. Both matches are part of the 10th annual MKE Cup co-hosted by Marquette and UW-Milwaukee.
Marquette is eager to return to the friendly confines of Valley Fields after dropping its season opener at Pepperdine in overtime, 2-1, Aug. 23. Sophomore Lindsey Page scored MU's lone goal, while sophomore keeper Natalie Kulla made six saves in 98 minutes of action. Despite the loss, head coach Markus Roeders said the team had a great week of training and is looking forward to playing for the tournament title.
"Our team is highly motivated for the weekend. It will be great to play at Valley Fields and start a new season at home," said Roeders. "Our goal is to play attractive and exciting soccer that leads to goals and wins. Our game at Pepperdine was not only uncharacteristic of our play but also our standards, so we have worked hard and prepared well for this weekend. Playing for the 'Cup' is an added incentive for the squad. We had success the last couple of years but missed out on claiming the trophy due to tie-breaking results. These will be difficult non-conference matches with Rice and Michigan coming to town. Both have done well over the years and we will have to play at a high level to get the results we want. Considering that our team is mostly healthy, and everyone learned and improved this week; these games can't come soon enough."
The Golden?Eagles have won three of nine MKE Cups (2000, 2005, 2006), and are 15-4 all-time in the MKE?Cup and 9-3 in games played at Valley Fields. Last season, MU defeated Ohio State (2-1) and Samford (2-0), but did not win the title due to the goals differential tie-breaker with UW-Milwaukee.
Rice, who tied Baylor, 1-1, in its season opener returns 17 letterwinners, including nine starters from the 2008 season that finished 10-9-0 overall. Erin Scott scored the lone goal for the Owls in the draw against Baylor, while Meghan Erkel made eight saves in 110 minutes in net.
Michigan earned a split in its first weekend of 2009. The Wolverines fell to Arkansas, 2-0, on Aug. 21 before winning at Valparaiso, 1-0, on Aug. 23. Kristen Goncalves scored the gamewinner against the Crusaders in the 89th minute. Kristen Keane started both games in net, making four saves in 180 minutes. Michigan returned 13 letterwinners from the 2008 team that went 4-10-5 overall.
