Pressure Builds as Regular Season Nears End

Four days are left in the Horizon League women's soccer season. By the end of Saturday, teams will have just two or three chances left to gain ground and solidify a spot among the top six teams for the Horizon League Tournament. With each match comes additional pressure as all nine teams remain in contention for a spot in the League tournament.

Saturday, October 15 - Green Bay at Youngstown State - 12 p.m. (Live Stats)
It will feel like an elimination match on Saturday afternoon when Youngstown State (3-8-2, 0-3-1 Horizon) hosts Green Bay (3-9-3, 1-3-1 Horizon). The Phoenix enter the match in a three-way tie for sixth place, with their four points matching the totals of both Wright State and Cleveland State. Meanwhile, the Penguins have one point and will be looking to use a win to jump start a playoff push.

The match will feature one of the League's top scorers, freshman Jade Flory of Youngstown State, going up against one of the top keepers in the Horizon League, Green Bay's Maddie Drusch. In her first collegiate season, Flory is second in the Horizon League in goals, finding the back of the net on seven occasions, ranking behind Milwaukee's Sarah Hagen.

Drusch became the all-time saves leader in Green Bay history earlier this season, and with 81 on the year, the senior leads the Horizon League. Her 364 career saves are fourth on the League's all-time ledger.

Saturday, October 15 - Valparaiso at Detroit - 1 p.m. (Live Stats)
Titan Field will be the site of a match that could have long-lasting seeding implications for the Horizon League Tournament when Valparaiso (7-5-1, 3-1-0 Horizon) meets Detroit (11-4-1, 4-1-0 Horizon) on Saturday. The Titans enter the match one game behind No. 12 Milwaukee for first place in the Horizon League, while Detroit's 12 points are three better than Valpo's nine.

Detroit has boasted one of the top offenses in the Horizon League, with seven goals in five League matches putting the Titans second in the scoring ledger. Having four players ranked in the League's top 10 scoring leaders is a big reason why the Titans are No. 9 in the NSCAA Great Lakes Region poll.

Still, Detroit will have to earn any goals, as Valparaiso has proven to be one of the stingiest teams in Horizon League play, allowing just two goals in its four matches. Both of those goals came at Milwaukee, and keeper Kristin Manski has already recorded two shutouts in her three League starts.

Across the field from Manski is the defending League Player of the Week in Nora Abolins. Abolins enters with a three-match shutout streak, all against League foes.

Saturday, October 15 - Loyola at Wright State - 7 p.m. (Live Stats | Horizon League Network)
Both Loyola (4-8-3, 0-2-2 Horizon) and Wright State (6-6-2, 1-2-1 Horizon) will be looking to jump start bids for the Horizon League Tournament when they meet on Saturday night. Horizon League Network will have live coverage of the match beginning at 7 p.m. ET. The contest is a rematch of the 2010 Horizon League Tournament quarterfinals, in which Wright State shutout Loyola, 1-0. The Raiders enter the night in a three-way tie for the sixth and final spot in the tournament field, while Loyola sits two points behind the bunch in eighth.

Two of the Horizon League's top underclassmen keepers will be on display, as Loyola's Monica Gonyo has recorded five shutouts in her freshman season. Opposing Gonyo for Wright State will be Brooke McCurdy who has four shutouts on the year. McCurdy's 72 saves rank second in the Horizon League.

Offensively, Wright State will turn to Brittany Persaud to lead the way. The midfielder tallied the Raiders' lone goal in a key 1-0 road win at Green Bay, and her 15 points this season are tied for fifth in the League.

Saturday, October 15 - No. 12 Milwaukee at Butler - 7 p.m. (Live Stats)
Saturday night brings another 2010 tournament rematch when Butler (7-6-2, 2-2-0 Horizon) hosts No. 12 Milwaukee (13-1-0, 5-0-0 Horizon) under the lights of the Butler Bowl. Last season, Butler knocked off Milwaukee, 1-0, in the regular season, helping the Bulldogs earn the No. 1 seed in the Horizon League Tournament. However, the Panthers had their revenge in the League championship, scoring five times in a 5-0 shutout to pick up the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Milwaukee has kept on rolling in 2011, dropping just one match (in double overtime) on the year en route to a No. 12 national ranking. Statistically, the Panthers rank at the top of the charts in both offense and defense in the Horizon League, scoring 14 goals in five conference matches while allowing just two past keeper Jamie Forbes.

As she has the last three years, Sarah Hagen continues to be the dominant player in the Horizon League. Returning from US U23 Training Camp late last week, Hagen notched her 16th goal of the season in a 3-0 win over Youngstown State last Sunday. Hagen leads the country in both goals per game (1.23) and points per game (2.85) through Oct. 9. Her 16 goals and 37 points both rank second.

Currently sitting in fourth in the League standings, Butler will turn to Katie Griswold and Elise Kotsakis for offense on Saturday night. Griswold leads the Bulldogs with five goals on the year, while Kotsakis has delivered a strong freshman campaign with 10 points, tied with Griswold for the team lead.

Non-Conference Matches:
Saturday, October 15 - Cleveland State at Longwood - 12 p.m. (Live Stats)
With an 8-5-1 mark this season, the Vikings are closing in on the school record for wins in a season, which is nine set by last year's squad. One of the main reasons for the Vikings are nearing the record is a 7-2 mark in non-conference games, setting a school record for most non-league wins in a season.

Offensively, the Vikings are scoring goals at a record pace this year with 21 tallies as 10 different players have scored at least one goal. The school record for goals in a season is 24, set last year. Just as strong is the CSU defense, which is on pace to set a school record for fewest goals allowed in a season with 18 goals against this year. Last year's squad holds the school record with 25 goals allowed.