Women's Soccer Plays Two on the Road
9/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S SOCCER
CHICAGO - The DePaul women’s soccer team hits the road for a pair of non-conference games this weekend. The Blue Demons play at Miami (Ohio) on Friday afternoon before taking the short trip to Evanston for a Sunday contest at Northwestern.
This weekend’s action marks the end of the non-conference schedule for DePaul as the Blue Demons begin BIG EAST play on Friday, Sept. 19 against Notre Dame.
Noting the Blue Demons: DePaul’s three goals against Western Illinois marked the highest total since a 5-2 win over IPFW on Sept. 23, 2007... the Blue Demons return 16 players and add 12 newcomers for the 2008 regular season... senior Shannon Williams returns as the top scorer... she led the team with 16 points, seven goals and two assists in 2007... sophomores Callie Hemming and Tara Strickland combined for five goals and three assists last season... with an assist against Loyola-Chicago on Aug. 22, Williams moved into a tie for 10th all-time with 19 points (8G/3A)... Strickland leads the Blue Demons through six games with six points on two goals and two assists... five different players have tallied at least one goal this season... the 0-5 start to begin the 2008 season marks the third time in team history with a season-opening five straight defeats (1996, 1997)... since 2002 the Blue Demons are 26-25-3 in matches at Wish Field... head coach Erin Chastain is in her second season at DePaul... 2008 is the 13th season of women’s soccer at DePaul University.
Scouting Miami: The RedHawks stand at 1-2-0... Miami dropped a 3-2 decision in overtime to Cincinnati on Sept. 5... they defeated Morehead State, 3-1, to open the season before a 1-0 loss to Michigan... Sara Lund has scored four of Miami’s five goals this season... Miami was picked to finish fourth in the Mid-American Conference preseason poll... head coach Bobby Kramig is in his 25th season as head coach of the RedHawks. The Series: Friday is the first meeting between the two programs.
Checking on Northwestern: The Wildcats enter this weekend’s action at 3-2-0... they play at Loyola-Chicago on Friday evening before hosting DePaul on Sunday... Northwestern split a pair of matches with identical 3-2 finals last weekend at the Pepperdine Nike Challenge... the Wildcats lost to San Diego before defeating Pepperdine... Jenny Dunn leads the team with six points on two goals and two assists... head coach Stephanie Erickson is in her third season at Northwestern. The Series: Sunday is the fifth contest between the two teams... Northwestern has claimed the previous four games... Sunday is the first regular-season meeting since a 2-1 Wildcat win on Aug. 25, 2006.
Looking Ahead: The Blue Demons play the first of 11 BIG EAST games next Friday. DePaul takes on Notre Dame at Wish Field on Sept. 19 before hosting Cincinnati on Sept. 26. The Blue Demons are scheduled to play six of their 11 conference games at Wish Field.
Preseason Picks: The Blue Demons were picked to finish eighth in the National Division of the BIG EAST preseason poll. Notre Dame was selected to finish first in the National Division while West Virginia received the top spot in the American Division. Notre Dame’s Brittany Bock was the selection for Preseason Offensive Player of the Year while Villanova’s Kelly Eagan was named the Defensive Player of the Year. The Goalkeeper of the Year was Stephanie Labbe of Connecticut.
2008 BIG EAST Championship: The semifinals and championship of the 2008 BIG EAST Women’s Soccer Championship will be Nov. 7 and 9 at Notre Dame’s Alumni Field. The first round and quarterfinal matches will be hosted by the higher-seeded team on Oct. 30 and Nov. 2. The champion receives the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship. CBS College Sports Network will broadcast the semifinal and championship matches.