Women's Soccer Preview Part 5: UW-Milwaukee
Aug. 17, 2005
With league championships in each of the last five seasons, the pressure to repeat continues to mount for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team. Returning all but three starters, UWM appears poised for a return trip to the NCAA Tournament, its first since 2002.
Falling one game short of the tourney in 2004, head coach Michael Moynihan has juggled his lineup and looks to veteran leadership, a solid recruiting class and key players returning from injury to get the Panthers over the hurdle in 2005.
"Our success will depend on the ability of this group to come together and play as a unit," Moynihan said. "We have the talent to stay on top in the conference and certainly return to the NCAA Tournament, but it will take awhile to see how it comes together."
With seven seniors and six juniors on the roster, Milwaukee is loaded with experience, and Moynihan points out it will be the seniors, in particular, that will be called upon to lead the team.
FORWARDS
The Panthers appeared poised for one of their best offensive seasons in recent years, returning over 70 percent of their scoring from a season ago. UWM will initially have to adjust to the transition of leading scorer Elizabeth Chudy to a defensive role, though Chudy is expected to continue her impact on the offense through free kicks, corner kicks and runs out of the back. But, senior Andrea Kramer and juniors Taylor Powell and Elicia Scaife are poised to increase the offensive output.
"Up front we will be looking for the emergence of a dependable goal-scorer," Moynihan said. "Andrea, Taylor and Sarah (Freidel) all return as players capable of making that jump."
Kramer had a breakout junior campaign, playing her first season at the forward position. The former midfielder finished second on the team with 12 points, while tying for the team lead with five goals.
Meanwhile, Powell has been an offensive catalyst in her first two seasons with Milwaukee, scoring three goals each year. Scaife has used speed to wreak havoc on opposing defenses, scoring three goals last season. Sophomore Sarah Freidel has thrown her hat into the ring up top after a solid spring season and a goal and assist as a freshman.
"All our returning forwards have shown the ability to score," Moynihan said. "We hope that one will emerge this season as a consistent, game-to-game threat."
Freshmen Bailey Briggs and Jodi Klagos bring youth and goal-scoring reputations with them to Milwaukee for their rookie season. Bailey is the all-time leading scorer for both her high school and club teams, while Klagos is coming off an first-team all-state senior season for Madison Memorial High School.
"Bailey and Jodi are proven goal scorers at the club and high school level," Moynihan said. "As freshmen, both could have an impact at the collegiate level as well."
MIDFIELDERS
Depth at every position is a strength for this year's Panthers, and it is no more evident than in the midfield. Losing just one starter, UWM returns upperclassmen Katie Campion, Nicole Motl, Stacey Faude and Brenda Neigbauer to the middle, while Pam Shipway and Joanna Severson are coming off solid freshman seasons.
"We have our best depth in the midfield," Moynihan said. "Three of our four starters from last season return, giving us a group of experienced veterans."
Campion made the most starts of the returners last season, getting the nod in 20 games and appearing in one more. She finished the season with a goal and three assists for five points. The other senior of the group, Motl made one start and saw action in 19 games. She led the team with six assists as a free-kick specialist.
Faude appeared in 18 games in 2004 and Neigbauer played in 16, but the junior duo combined for just nine starts. Faude provided timely offense, as she scored two goals and picked up four assists on the season, including scoring or assisting on four game-winning goals in seven league games.
As freshmen both Shipway and Severson appeared in 21 games, with Shipway making 16 starts and Severson 12. A league all-newcomer selection, Shipway brings a physical element to the UWM midfield, while also contributing offensively with two goals and four assists. Severson, known more for her composure, tallied four points (1g, 2a) as a rookie.
Senior transfer Kitty Montgomery is among a talented batch of newcomers in the Panther midfield. Kate Megna, an NSCAA All-American last season, and all-state honorees Sarah Teegarden and Beth Steuer each have shown the potential to contribute as freshman in 2005.
"In addition to our returning experience, we also add several players that are capable of making an immediate impact," Moynihan said. "Kitty, Kate, Sarah and Beth are all quite capable of starting for us in their first year with the team."
Montgomery comes to Milwaukee after using three years of eligibility at the University of Iowa, starting 54-of-56 games played for the Hawkeyes. She played in three games last season before suffering a season-ending injury. Montgomery, sister of Panther assistant Crystalin, received another year of eligibility via a medical redshirt.
Megna was the most notable of UWM's recruiting class, which was ranked seventh in the region by Soccer Buzz Magazine. One of just three players in Wisconsin named All-American by the NSCAA, Megna has found success, leading the Madison 56ers to three state championships. Another Madison product, Steuer ended her prep career with numerous honors over her last two seasons. Meanwhile Teegarden is coming of an all-state honor as a senior and has teamed with fellow newcomer Bailey Briggs to lead her club team to four state cup championships.
DEFENDERS
Four players with a season of starting experience return to lead the Milwaukee defense. Seniors Janice McGann and Rebecca Englund will anchor UWM's back line together for the third-straight season, while sophomore Ginny Graczyk brings depth and experience when she returns to the lineup after missing 2004 with a knee injury.
"On defense we again return three of four starters from last season," Moynihan said. "We should be able to put a very experienced group on the field at all times. With Ginny and Amanda Winn returning from injuries, we are returning two of our more experienced players, which will give the defense a huge boost."
McGann, an all-league first team honoree and the team captain, has started the last 45 games for the Panthers. Englund battled some late-season injuries to play in 20 matches and start 19 times. Graczyk played every minute of her freshman season in 2003 on her way to Horizon League Newcomer of the Year. An off-season knee injury sidelined her last season, while sophomore Amanda Winn returned from a knee injury of her own late in 2004 after missing all of 2003.
One big change to the back will be the addition of Elizabeth Chudy. Chudy, the team's leading scorer in her first three seasons, will provide the Panthers with an attacking option out of the back after moving from forward. She tallied 15 points on a team-high five goals and five assists last season and has 45 career points.
Juniors Val Cooper and Molly Duffy, sophomore Claire Pignet and freshman Libby Shern will shore up the Milwaukee defense in 2005. Cooper is the most experienced of the group, as she played in all but one game last season, starting 18 times. Duffy made 12 appearances, while Pignet saw action in 17 matches as a rookie, starting six. Shern will look to contribute as a rookie, utilizing her height (5-10) and skill that helped her earn all-conference honors as a junior and senior.
GOALKEEPER
A pair of freshmen have the daunting task of following departed goalkeeper Kerri St. Aubin. St. Aubin graduated as the school's all-time leader in career goals against average (0.84), wins (36) and shutouts (19). The Michigan native also went a perfect 18-0 with a 0.35 GAA in league play over four seasons.
"Our strength is that we return depth at every position and the only exception is goalkeeper," Moynihan said. "S.A. graduated last season after a great career and we don't return anyone with college experience. We do like the talent we've added, and feel very comfortable with our goalkeeping situation."
One reason for that comfort is the addition of all-state keeper Erin Kane. In four seasons as a starter at St. Charles North High School in Illinois, Kane posted a 66-19-14 record to go along with 57 shutouts and over 500 saves. Her shutout total is eighth-best in state history.
"We will look to Erin to step in and be our number one keeper," Moynihan said. "She's a great athlete with good size and good hands. Goalkeeper can be a difficult position for a freshman to step in and play right away, but we really think she can do it."
Freshman Maria Boyd will also be looking for her time in goal for UWM. A Janesville product, Boyd brings athleticism, size and raw ability to the Panthers in hopes of challenging Kane for playing time. After beginning high school as a midfielder, Boyd stepped in between the pipes and was third in the conference with 10 shutouts in her first season as keeper.
"Maria is another good athlete with a very strong leg," Moynihan said. "We expect good things from her as she gains valuable experience."
SCHEDULE
As has become standard practice at UWM, Moynihan has compiled a tough non-conference slate to prepare the team for another league title defense, get the team to another NCAA Tournament and to advance in the national tournament. The Panthers open the season as co-hosts of the sixth-annual Milwaukee Cup with Marquette. The season opener features a match with Big Ten team Northwestern at MU's Valley Fields, before opening the home slate with Illinois, an NCAA Elite Eight team in 2004.
The schedule does not relent, as Milwaukee opens the season with eight-straight games against teams that won 10-or-more games in 2004, including five NCAA Tournament teams and four that made it into the second round.
"Good players want to play the best competition," Moynihan said. "We try to provide that every year. It is the goal of this program to elevate itself into the top 20 in the country and we (annually) take on a schedule that allows us to work our way there."
Story Provided by Kevin Conway, UW-Milwaukee Sports Information
