Women's Soccer Opens Four-Match Road Trip
10/2/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 2, 2008
MILWAUKEE -
The Marquette women's soccer team will put its four-match unbeaten streak on the line when it hits the road for a season-long four-match tilt beginning Friday, Oct. 3. The Golden Eagles will first travel down I-94 to Chicago to play DePaul on Friday, at 3 p.m., before heading to No. 1 Notre Dame on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. CT. Both DePaul and Notre Dame will offer free live video streaming on their respective websites.
"Our team is going into the weekend with a lot of confidence," said head coach Markus Roeders. "We are 2-0-2 over our last four games and have allowed only one goal. Our shot selection is better and we keep generating opportunities. We are putting ourselves in situation to win games and took another step forward against UConn. Scoring in the first half give us extra security that we can build on. This is another important weekend and we have a lot to play for."
The Golden Eagles (6-3-2, 2-0-1) will look to extend their unbeaten streak after defeating USF and Connecticut 1-0 and tying Pepperdine (0-0) and Providence (1-1). Sophomores Julia Victor and Kristi Laurenzi each scored for Marquette last weekend. Laurenzi's goal in the 27th minute against UConn marked MU's first first-half goal of the season, and the seventh Golden Eagle to score. In net, redshirt freshman Natalie Kulla has started the last five matches in net, has allowed just one goal in conference play and owns a 0.40 goals against average, which ranks fourth in the BIG EAST and 13th in the nation.
The Blue Demons enter the MU game with a 2-9-0 overall record ands are still without a win in BIG EAST play. Sophomore Tara Strickland leads the team with seven points (2g, 3a). Sophomore Jenna Fagerman and freshman Michelle Scandora have each tallied two goals this season, while sophomore goalkeeper Kelsey Hoinkes has seen just over 700 minutes in nine games, tallying a 2.17 goals against average. The team's only two wins of the season have come with Hoinkes in net.
"People may not like to hear this, but it is 'one game' at a time for our squad," said Roeders. "DePaul hasn't won a lot of games, but everything points to them being a very good. They are a young squad that is learning to win in the BIG EAST. We haven't played them at their place in a number of years, but our team has prepared well for the match and our focus is to keep building on our success in league play."
The Golden Eagles boast a 8-3 overall record against DePaul, and a 3-2 mark in Chicago against the Blue Demons. The two teams last met on Oct. 2, 2005 with MU claiming a 1-0 victory at Valley Fields. DePaul returned nine starters from last season, when they finished last in the BIG EAST's National Division. The Blue Demons roster also features 20 underclassmen.
The top-ranked Fighting Irish are the only undefeated and untied team in the nation at 10-0-0 (3-0-0 BIG EAST). Notre Dame will host USF on Friday, before its match-up with the Golden Eagles.
"Notre Dame will always be a tough opponent," said Roeders. "Playing the No. 1 ranked team in the country at any time is a challenge, but we are glad it is a conference rival. They play tremendous soccer and have several exceptional players. Their front line is as powerful as any forward line in the country. Notre Dame plays with urgency and brings strength in numbers. Our squad will be prepared. Anything can happen on any given day, so we just have to stick to our game plan and work hard to earn a result."
Marquette will have its hands full with Notre Dame as its scoring offense ranks third in the nation and boasts three players who each have scored more than 10 points this season. Defensively, Notre Dame boasts a .958 save percentage, allowing just three goals on the season.
Senior All-American forward and MAC Hermann Trophy candidate Kerri Hanks leads the team with 10 goals and two assists, and tops the BIG EAST in goals and points. Freshman Melissa Henderson is second in the BIG EAST with eight goals and third in the league with 16 points. Junior Kelsey Lysander has seen the vast majority of minutes in net, allowing three goals in 802:33. The Notre Dame defense has stifled teams this season, allowing just 23 shots on goal.
Sunday's match will be the fifth all-time meeting between the two schools. Notre Dame has had the upper hand over the Golden Eagles, leading the all-time series 3-1.
In both schools first meeting since 1996 on Sept. 30, 2005, the Golden Eagles upset the Fighting Irish, 4-1, at Valley Fields. Notre Dame avenged that loss with a 3-0 win over Marquette in the 2005 BIG EAST semifinals, and knocked MU out of the 2006 BIG EAST Tournament with a 2-0 win in the tournament semifinals.
