Women's Soccer Weekly Report #1
Aug. 27, 2007
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News From Around the League -- Team Capsules
Milwaukee Panthers (2006: 16-4-2 overall, 7-0-0 Horizon League) Milwaukee captured its seventh consecutive regular-season League title, running through the circuit undefeated (7-0-0) and outscoring its foes 16-2 in those seven matches. The Panthers fell to Detroit 1-0 in the semifinals of the Leauge Championship, but earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Championship, where they outlasted Michigan in a penalty-kick shootout to advance to the second round for the second year in a row.
This year's squad features eight returning starters for coach Michael Moynihan, led by goalkeeper Erin Kane. The junior has already set a League record with 26 career shutouts (13 in each of her first two seasons) and boasts a 0.54 career goals-against average.
Up front, sophomore Louise Vraney earned Second-Team All-League notice as a freshman, hitting the net six times with two assists for a team-high 14 points in 2006. Junior midfielder Sarah Teegarden netted five match-winning goals to join Kane on the First-Team All-League unit for the second year in a row, with sophomore Erin Kreuser adding five goals last year.
The Panthers open the schedule versus Indiana in the Milwaukee Cup on Friday, then face Washington on Sunday. Milwaukee's chase for an eighth consecutive League regular-season crown starts Sept. 28 at Butler.
Loyola Ramblers(2006: 14-7-3 overall, 5-1-1 Horizon League)Loyola defeated Detroit 2-1 in the final of the League Championship to win its first loop title since 2003. Loyola finished 14-7-3 overall after a 2-0 loss to Florida in the NCAA Tournament.
The Ramblers have nine starters back to defend that crown, including the reigning League Newcomer of the Year in sophomore forward Cynthia Morote-Ariza. The First-Team All-League pick netted nine goals and added a League-high nine assists for a 27-point total, which eclipsed the LU single-season record and leads all returning League players.
Fellow sophomore Jackie Vera contributed six goals and five assists in 2006 joining senior midfielder Heather Lau to give Loyola three players on the All-League First Team. Lau posted three goals and five helpers as a junior.
Rambler sideline boss Frank Mateus was the League's Coach of the Year in 2006 but must replace departed goalkeeper Emily Peick, who compiled a 0.99 goals-against average with eight shutouts last fall. She played every minute between the pipes for the Ramblers.
Loyola begins the 2007 slate at West Lafayette, Ind., in Purdue's Boilermaker Challenge Cup. The Ramblers take on Louisville on Friday night and conclude the weekend with Sunday's match versus Kentucky. LU opens the League schedule Sept. 21 at Green Bay.
Wright State Raiders(2006: 12-3-4 overall, 4-2-1 Horizon League)Wright State tied a school record with 12 victories last season, finishing 11th in the final NSCAA and Soccer Buzz Great Lake Region rankings. The Raiders' only losses came at Loyola, at Milwaukee and at Ohio State.
Junior defender/midfielder Jess Rooma won her second consecutive First-Team All-League certificate in 2006, collecting three goals and four assists while also bolstering the defense for WSU. Senior defender Megan Mattioda added two goals and a team-high six assists to garner Second-Team All-League honors.
Junior forward Amy Miller was also a Second-Team All-League pick in 2006. She led the Raiders with nine goals and 23 points, finishing third on the League goals chart and fourth in points. Senior midfielder Desire Morris added five goals and three helpers last season.
Veteran goalkeeper Steph Comisar is one of five starters gone from the 2006 squad. Comisar recorded eigh shutouts and 1.01 goals-against mark, but her graduation leaves three freshmen competing for the starting role in net for coach Pat Ferguson.
The Raiders host Jacksonville State on Friday and Austin Peay on Sunday as part of the Wright State Classic. WSU then begins a four-game road swing at Ohio State on Sept. 4 and starts League play Oct. 5 versus Butler.
Detroit Titans(10-11-0 overall, 4-3-0 Horizon League)Detroit overcame a slow (3-8-0) start, winning seven of its last nine matches in 2006. UDM's run included victories over Green Bay and Milwaukee in the League Championship, putting the Titans in the final match for the fourth consecutive year under coach Mike Lupenec.
This year's group takes on a different look, however, with the loss of two-time League Player of the Year Mary Parker, who led the League in goals (17) and points (40) last fall. She also had six assists, playing a role in 79 percent of the team's markers. Senior midfielder Megan Canty notched six assists in 2006, but no returner scored more than one goal last season.
UDM welcomes back two players who missed all of 2006 due to injury. Sophomore midfielder Lauren Moss netted four goals and four assists to gain Second-Team All-League recognition in 2005, with sophomore forward Emily Kiely adding two goals and three assists that year.
Junior goalkeeper Katie Fortenberry played all 1,901 minutes in goal last fall, recording seven shutouts and a 0.99 goals-against average. She could become UDM's all-time shutouts leader this fall by matching those numbers.
Detroit hosts instate rival Eastern Michigan on Friday before heading to Toledo to face the Rockets on Sunday. Detroit's League opener comes Sept. 28 at home versus Green Bay.
Green Bay Phoenix(2006: 8-7-2 overall, 3-3-1 Horizon League)Green Bay brings back six starters from last season's 8-7-2 squad but must replace the production of First-Team All-League performer Stephanie Gross, whose 13 goals and 32 points ranked second in the League last year. Gross scored or set up nearly 68 percent of the team's 28 goals in 2006.
Senior forward Jennie Gorwitz takes over as the top scoring threat for the Phoenix. Gorwitz netted eight goals with two assists (18 points) last season, tying for fifth place on the League goal charts. Fellow seniors Lotte Rasmussen and Amanda Brown each hit the net twice in 2006, with junior midfielder Claire Townsend setting up three strikes.
Veteran Green Bay coach Quinn Ross boasts perhaps the League's top goalkeeping tandem in senior netminder Brooke Wikgren and junior Charla Buxbaum. The duo combined for five shutouts and a 1.31 goals-against average last fall, with four of those clean sheets coming in 1-0 victories.
Green Bay travels to Illinois State for its 2007 debut on Friday and continues through the Prairie State with Sunday's match at Western Illinois. The Phoenix has five consecutive road matches before its home debut versus Marquette on Sept. 12, with Loyola venturing north to open Green Bay's League schedule on Sept. 21.
Butler Bulldogs(2006: 5-11-3 overall, 2-4-1 Horizon League)Second-year head coach Tari St. John has eight returning starters from last year's 5-11-3 squad. The Bulldogs' 2-4-1 League ledger included three one-goal defeats.
Junior midfielder Angie Muir leads the Bulldog attack, posting six goals and five assists in each of her first two seasons. Two of Muir's strikes in 2006 were match-winners.
Junior forward Jenny Southard and sophomore forward Carrie Twyman provide support for the Butler offense, with each player hitting the net four times last fall and Southard also setting up three markers.
Senior midfielder Ashley Twehues earned Second-Team All-Legue status in 2006, bolstering the Bulldog defense and also contributing a goal and two assists. Twehues and Muir each started all 19 contests for Butler last season.
Sophomore defender Abbie Kaul gained a spot on the League's All-Newcomer Team and will help anchor a defensive unit that has senior Annalise Larkin and two freshmen battling for the starting nod in net.
Butler faces a daunting early-season schedule, wtih dates Friday at Ohio State and Sunday at Ball State starting a five-match road swing. BU opens the home schedule Sept. 19 versus Indiana and begins the League slate Sept. 28 in Indianapolis against Milwaukee.
Youngstown State Penguins(3-14-0 overall, 1-6-0 Horizon League)Youngstown State brings back 16 letterwinners, attempting to improve upon last season's 3-14-0 overall ledger. The Penguins suffered six one-goal defeats in 2006, including five 1-0 decisions.
Sophomore forward Jordan Gapczynski netted half of the Penguins' ten goals last season, winning a spot on the League's All-Newcomer Team. Gapczynski hit the net in all three of YSU's victories, and led the team in scoring despite starting only nine of the team's 17 contests. The five goals were the most by a Penguin since 2003.
Sophomore forward Jodi Bowlen, senior forward Christi Wililams and junior defender Keeley Rice tied for second place on the team scoring charts with three points (a goal and an assist) apiece for coach Anthony James.
In goal, sophomore Caitlin Bodzioney ranked 14th in the nation with an average of 7.82 saves per match (133 in 17 starts, playing all 1,531 minutes for YSU last fall). She recorded a 1.88 goals-against average with one shutout, blanking Canisius for a 1-0 victory on Sept. 1.
Youngstown State travels to Pittsburgh for a Friday showdown with the Panthers, then is idle until facing Jacksonville State on Sept. 7. The Penguins begin Horizon League play Oct. 5 at Green Bay.
Cleveland State Vikings(3-17-0 overall, 0-7-0 Horizon League)Cleveland State logged the first three victories in program history last fall. CSU enters its fourth season of competition with eight returning starters, trying to take the next step forward in the League standings. Six of those 17 losses came by one goal apiece, including three 1-0 setbacks.
Senior forward Shayna Back set program standards with six goals and 14 points last fall, including a pair of match-winners. She had the winner in CSU's first triumph over Delaware State on Aug. 27 and hit the net twice in 95 seconds to held defeat IPFW on Oct. 22. Senior midfielder Heather Clapacs added three assists a year ago, with senior defender Amber Rasmussen producing a goal and an assist for her three points in 2006.
Junior forward Jennifer Wieand returns to action after missing all of 2006 due to a knee injury. Wieand tallied a goal and three assists in 2005 before being sidelined last season.
CSU coach Derrek Falor has two freshmen competing for the starting role in goal after losing both Erin Withrow and Ashley Kidwell.
The Vikings open the season at home, hosting St. Bonaventure on Friday and DePaul on Sunday. CSU's seven-match League slate begins on Sept. 30 when Green Bay comes to northeast Ohio.
Valparaiso Crusaders(2006: 12-4-3 overall, 4-0-2 Mid-Continent)Valparaiso officially joins the Horizon League this fall, giving the circuit a total of nine schools sponsoring men's soccer. The Crusaders finished 12-4-3 in their final run through the Mid-Continent Conference last fall, winning that group's regular-season championship.
Head coach Stephen Anthony has ten returning starters, poised to challenge for the Horizon League title this fall. Senior goalkeeper Erin Murray owns the school record with 14 career shutouts, posting a 0.87 goals-against average with 65 saves last fall.
Sophomore forward Sarah Jewell was the Mid-Con's Newcomer of the Year in 2006, leading the Crusaders with ten goals and 22 points. Junior forwards Lori Johnson and Kendall Brown added fie goals apiece as Valpo hit the net 40 times (Loyola led the Horizon League with 42 goals) in 2006.
Junior defender Laura Murphy tied a school single-season record with six assists, adding three goals for a 12-point total.
Valpo begins Horizon League competition Sept. 30 at home versus instate rival Butler. Before that, however, the Crusaders start the 2007 campaign hosting Murray State on Friday and Illinois State on Sunday in a run of seven consecutive matches within the state of Indiana.
Horizon League tries to continue successFor the first time ever, the Horizon League had two entrants in the NCAA Championship last fall as Milwaukee joined League titlist Loyola in the 64-team field. Milwaukee eliminated Michigan in penalty kicks---marking the third consecutive year a Horizon League team has ousted a Big Ten Conference foe---before falling at top seed Notre Dame, while Loyola dropped a 2-0 decision to third seed Florida in the opening round.
Milwaukee has won the last seven regular-season League titles, with only Penn State (nine consecutive years atop the Big Ten standings) boasting a longer run atop its circuit's leader board. The Panthers ranked fourth in the nation with a 0.44 goals-against average last fall, with Erin Kane (0.49) eighth individually.
The Panthers finished the year ranked 29th in the Soccer Buzz national poll, with a No. 4 status in the publication's Great Lakes Region canvass, with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America installing Milwaukee sixth in its final Great Lakes Region balloting prior to the NCAA Tournament. Wright State and Loyola were tabbed 11th and 13th, respectively, in the region by Soccer Buzz.
Valparaiso could add to that list of accomplishments in 2007. The Crusaders won the Mid-Continent Conference Tournament in 2005 and that league's regular-season title last fall.
2007 Coaches' Preseason PollTeam (first-place votes) - Points 1. Milwaukee (7) - 562. Loyola (1) - 493. Wright State - 424. Butler - 345. Detroit - 326. Valparaiso - 307. Green Bay - 238. Youngstown State - 149. Cleveland State - 8
NOTE: The League's nine head coaches vote in this poll. Teams received eight points for a first-place vote, seven points for a second-place vote, etc. The head coaches were not allowed to vote for their own squads. One coach abstained from the voting.
