Marquette University Athletics
Golden Eagles Open Five-Game Road Trip at Pittsburgh Sunday
9/25/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 25, 2010
MILWAUKEE -
The Marquette University women's soccer team opens a five-game road trip Sunday, Sept. 26 at Pittsburgh. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT at Founders Field.
"We will have our work cut out for us at Pitt. It was tough to play them last year at home and now being on the road, we have to elevate our play," said head coach Markus Roeders. "If we can build on the positives from the wins against USF and West Virginia, our game will improve and should lead to even more success. We are 2-0 in the league but there many games ahead of us. Any BIG EAST road game is a tremendous challenge. It starts on Sunday at Pitt and continues next weekend. This five-game road trip will tell us much about who we are as a team and test us mentally and physically. The ladies are confident and that is step one to take on any challenge."
During its season-long road trip, the Golden Eagles (5-3-2, 2-0-0 BIG EAST) will face three American Division foes, Pittsburgh, Connecticut and Providence, as well as two National Division opponents, Georgetown and Villanova.
In its last time out, Marquette rallied from an early one-goal deficit to defeat West Virginia, 2-1, at Valley Fields to remain undefeated in BIG EAST play. Ashley Bares scored the equalizer in the 22nd minute, while Maegan Kelly put away the game-winner in the 41st minute. The win over the Mountaineers was the first in regular season play for the Golden Eagles.
Pittsburgh (3-5-1, 0-1-0) enters the game with Marquette following a 2-0 loss at USF Thursday. Ashley Cuba, an All-BIG EAST Rookie Team selection last season, leads the Panthers' attack with four goals. Pitt owns a 142-84 shots advantage and has 10 goals on the season. Morie Kephart has pitched in two shutouts and a 1.52 goals against average in 830 minutes in net.
The Panthers were selected to finish sixth in th BIG?EAST American Division after a sixth-place finish (3-3-5) in 2009.
Marquette owns a five-game unbeaten streak (4-0-1) over the Panthers. The Golden Eagles won four straight games before the two teams played to a scoreless draw last season at Valley Fields.
