Women's Soccer to Host Wisconsin in Exhibition Play Saturday

Aug. 13, 2010

MILWAUKEE - A week of preseason training camp is in the books for the Marquette women's soccer team, as the Golden Eagles prepare for their 18th season of competition, 15th in head coach Markus Roeders' tenure. The Golden Eagles will host Wisconsin on Saturday, Aug. 14 at 7:30 p.m. at Valley Fields. The game will take place in the midst of Marquette's preseason training camp at Camp Whitcomb.

Marquette and Wisconsin played two a 2-2 draw last season in the teams' exhibition contest. Ashley Bares and Rosie Malone-Povolny each tallied goals in last season's come-from-behind effort.

Following the conclusion of its preseason training camp, Marquette will split its opening weekend of the season against Idaho State at Valley Fields on Friday, Aug. 20, and at NCAA Tournament participant Ohio State on Sunday, Aug. 22. MU's fourth annual Fan Fest will be held prior to the game against Idaho State beginning at 5 p.m. This FREE event will feature interactive skill stations, player autographs and photo opportunities, and food courtesy of Qdoba.

Picked as the BIG EAST American Division favorites, the Golden Eagles welcome back 23 letter winners and five starters from a season ago that captured MU's first-ever BIG EAST American Division Championship and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament with a 15-5-3 overall record, 7-2-2 in BIG EAST play.

Junior forward and preseason All-BIG EAST selection Rachael Sloan is the team's top returning scorer after leading Marquette with 19 points on seven goals and five assists followed by senior Lauren Thut and junior Lindsey Page who registered eight and five points, respectively in 2009. Overall, the Golden Eagles return 10 players who tallied at least a point in 2009.

Junior goalkeeper Natalie Kulla, who was selected as the BIG EAST Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year, also returns in net after a stellar sophomore season in which she registered a program-record 16 shutouts and a 0.50 goals against average.

The Badgers return 21 letterwinners, including 10 starters from the 2009 NCAA Sweet 16 lineup. The Badgers are led by junior Laurie Nosbusch who was a second team All-Big Ten selection and paced Wisconsin with six goals and six assists last season.