Four Conference Matches on Docket in Women's Soccer

The Horizon League ladder could be changed by the end of Saturday night, as four conference matches give teams a chance to separate themselves.

Loyola at Cleveland State - Fri., Sept. 30 - 7 p.m.
Both off to disappointing starts in Horizon League play, Loyola (3-7-1, 0-1-0 Horizon) heads to Cleveland State (7-4-0, 0-2-0 Horizon) with both squads in search of their first conference win.

The Ramblers are coming off a 1-0 setback to Valparaiso, giving up the game-winning goal in the 83rd minute. The loss was the sixth straight for Loyola, who have not scored in nearly a month; the last goal came in a 4-0 blanking of Northern Illinois on Sept. 2.

The Vikings began Horizon League play with a 4-0 loss to No. 14 Milwaukee before heading to Green Bay and falling, 2-1, last weekend. Still, Cleveland State is in position to set program records for both wins and goals. Through 11 matches, CSU has scored 19 goals, five short of the school record of 24. Two more victories would tie the mark set in 2010.

Green Bay at Detroit - Sat., Oct. 1 - 1 p.m.
Green Bay (3-7-2, 1-1-0 Horizon) will look to continue its wininng ways when meeting one of the Horizon League's most explosive offensive teams at Detroit (8-4-1, 1-1-0 Horizon) on Saturday.

The Titans will have to beat Phoenix keeper Maddie Drusch, who set a new Green Bay record for career saves in last weekend's victory over Cleveland State. One of the stingiest defenses in the Horizon League, the Phoenix have surrendered just 11 goals in 12 matches this season, while the Titans have knocked in a league-best 38 goals in 13 games.

Rising to No. 9 in the NSCAA Great Lakes regional rankings, Detroit has spread its offense around this year with 12 players scoring at least one goal and 15 of 20 field players registering at least one point. Abby McCollum's eight total assists lead the team and the NCAA heading into the week, while her 20 points place her 27th in the country.

Butler at Youngstown State - Sat., Oct. 1 -  3 p.m., HLN
Both looking to climb the League standings, Butler (6-5-1, 1-1-0 Horizon) heads to Youngstown State (3-5-2, 0-0-1 Horizon) for a Saturday afternoon match. Fans not able to make it to the match can live on the Horizon League Network.

The Bulldogs are coming off a 2-2 tie against Xavier on Thursday night. In its last League match, Butler knocked off Wright State, 1-0, at the Butler Bowl to collect its first League win of the season. Elise Kotsakis leads a formidable Butler attack, leading the Bulldogs in scoring with 10 points (4 goals, 2 assists). Right behind Kotsakis on the scoring ledger is Jackie Hagele (3 goals, 3 assists, 9 points), while Katie Griswold is tied with Kotsakis for the team lead in goals.

Butler will have to beat Ali Viola, who is emerging as one of the League's top keepers. Despite a goals-against average of 1.53, leads the Horizon League with 6.00 saves per game and ranks third with 54 saves. Like Butler, a freshman leads the Penguins in scoring. Jade Flory has made a significant impact on the 'Guins, pacing the team with six goals and 15 points. She has scored at least one goal in five of nine matches.

#14 Milwaukee at Wright State - Sat., Oct. 1 - 5 p.m., HLN
Off to its best start in program history, No. 14 Milwaukee (10-1-0, 2-0-0 Horizon) looks to avenge one of its regular-season losses from 2010 when it heads to Wright State (5-4-2, 0-1-1 Horizon). The match will be carried live on HLN beginning at 5 p.m. ET.

The match will be the last for Milwaukee forward Sarah Hagen before she departs for US National Team training camp Oct. 2-7. Already the Horizon League career record-holder for goals and points, Hagen is stalking her single-season record for goals (24 - 2009) and is looking to break the League record for points in season (55 - Cynthia Morote-Ariza, 2008). Just 11 matches into the year, Hagen has 13 goals and 30 points.

The Raiders are led by Bekah Bonny's four goals and nine points on offense, while she shares the team lead in points with Brittany Persaud (2 goals, 5 aassists). WSU has had 10 different players score goals, while six have found the back of the net at least twice. In goal, Brooke McCurdy has started all 11 games and has a 1.06 goals against average to go with three shutouts.

Non-Conference
Loyola will wrap up the weekend on Sunday, returning home to Loyola Soccer Park to host Indiana State. The match begins at 2 p.m. ET.