Battle With Marquette Kicks Off Weekly ActionComplete Release in PDF Format
Sept. 23, 2003 MILWAUKEE - Local Battle Highlights Week Ahead With a win firmly entrenched in their back pocket, the University of Wisconsin-MIlwaukee women's soccer team returns home for a pair of contests this week. UWM, 1-5-1 on the season, will host crosstown rival Marquette University on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. before returning to Horizon League play on Sunday when Wright State University comes to town for a 2:30 p.m. match. The Panthers will look to create their first winning streak of the season after defeating Butler University on Sunday. Best of Both Worlds UWM head coach Michael Moynihan couldn't have asked for much more last Sunday (Sept. 21). Not only did his team score its first goal of the season, but it also got a victory, but it was a Horizon League victory that improved the squad's regular season league unbeaten streak to 18 games. Taylor Powell's goal in the 84th minute proved to be the only scoring in the match, while Kerri St. Aubin and Molly Schneider combined to keep the Bulldogs out of the net. Sunday's win helped extend UWM's dominance over Butler, winning for the eighth consecutive time, which includes three straight elimination games in the Horizon League Tournament. First Half Supremecy With a shutout of Butler on Sunday, UWM continued its recent first half defensive dominance. Including Sunday's contest, Milwaukee has not allowed a first-half goal in four straight games, dating back to the Kansas contest on Sept. 5. On the season, UWM has allowed only three first half goals in seven games, or 585 minutes played. Furthermore, UWM has taken more corner kicks 14 to the opposition's 13 in the first half of games in 2003. Battle For Milwaukee Wednesday's showdown with Marquette will be the 11th installment of the evenly matched series that began in 1988. The school on Wisconsin Avenue holds a slight 4-3-3 edge in the all-time series after the two squads played to a 1-1 tie last year at Valley Fields. MU has controlled the series of late, posting a 2-0-2 mark in the last four games. The last UWM victory came on Sept. 22, 1998, when the Panthers posted a 1-0 result at Marquette. Under current head man Michael Moynihan, UWM is 1-3-2 versus the Golden Eagles. And The Young Shall Lead Them No one needs to tell Taylor Powell and Ginny Gracyzk how important Horizon League games are. The talented freshman duo combined to defeat perennial nemesis Butler 1-0 on Sunday, combining with senior Lisa Bengtsson on the game's lone goal. Graczyk served a corner kick into the box in the 84th minute where Bengtsson touched it to Powell who tapped it home for the game-winner and her first career goal. The two newcomers have been a mainstay in the Panther lineup from day one, and are two of just four players to start in every game thus far in 2003. Panther M*A*S*H Report While bumps and bruises are a part of everyday collegiate soccer, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's team appears to have more than their share of injuries to key players. Junior midfielder Amber Jelinek is likely out for the year after injuring her knee versus Butler. Meanwhile, sophomore midfielder Stacey Faude will more than likely redshirt this season after developing a stress fracture in her leg. Other minor injuries of note, sophomore forward Kristen Baluta is likely out for the week after injuring her leg while, on the positive side, sophomore forward Maria Iaizzo is ready to return to the lineup after missing two weeks with an injured ankle. Defense Still the Name of the Game Despite owning just a 1-5-1 record thus far in 2003, the mainstay of the UWM women's soccer program, defense, remains strong. Milwaukee has allowed just ten goals in seven games this season, with seven of those coming in two games. Only two schools, Detroit (5) and Butler (8), have allowed less goals than the Panthers this season. UWM Expected To Wear Crown Again In 2003 The Milwaukee women's soccer team will look to make it four in a row in 2003 as the three-time defending regular season champions were once again picked to win the Horizon League title. The Panthers were the unanimous choice to claim the league title in a vote of head coaches. Following is a breakdown of the preseason voting by the league coaches (first place votes in parentheses): School 2002 Record Points 1 Milwaukee (6) 11-6-5 36 2 Butler (1) 15-6 30 3 Detroit 7-8-5 23 4 Loyola 7-9-3 22 5 Wright State 6-10-4 22 6 UW-Green Bay 4-11-2 19 7 Youngstown State 1-19 6 Moynihan Prepares A Tough Slate
Under coach Michael Moynihan, UWM has traditionally played against some of the top teams in the Midwest and in the country, and the 2003 season will be no different. Seven of UWM's 11 non-league matches will come against NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago. The Panthers who already opened the season with 2003 participants Dayton, No. 4 UCLA, and Loyola Marymount, will host Marquette on Sept. 24 before facing Oakland, Cincinnati and Wisconsin, all on the road. The Panthers played six NCAA Tournament teams last year, going 1-4-1 in those six matches.
|
