DePaul Hosts Cincinnati, Travels to Louisville
9/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S SOCCER
CHICAGO - The DePaul women’s soccer program takes on the Bearcats and Cardinals this weekend as BIG EAST competition continues. The Blue Demons finalize the month of September when they welcome Cincinnati on Friday and travel to Louisville on Sunday. Kickoff with the Bearcats is set for 1 p.m. at Wish Field.
DePaul returns to Chicago next week as the month of October begins with action in the Windy City. The Blue Demons invite the Golden Eagles and USF on Oct. 3 and Oct. 5.
Noting the Blue Demons: Nine different players have tallied a goal for DePaul this season... the eight goals in games against Western Illinois, Miami (Ohio) and Northwestern are the highest three-game total since 11 in Oct. 2004... with two goals in each of those matches, it also marks the first time the Blue Demons have had three consecutive games with two or more goals (last, Oct. 2004)... the 0-5 start to begin the 2008 slate marks the first time the program has opened a season with five straight defeats since the first two seasons of DePaul women’s soccer (1996, 1997)... the Blue Demons return 16 players and add 12 newcomers for the 2008 regular season... senior Shannon Williams returns as the top scorer, having 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 a goal against Northwestern, Williams moved into a tie for eighth all-time with nine goals and a tie for ninth all-time with 21 points (9G/3A)... her third assist came in the season opener... Strickland leads the Blue Demons with six points on two goals and two assists... goalkeeper Kelsey Hoinkes has recorded 10 saves in four occassions throughout her career (twice this season)... since 2002 the Blue Demons are 26-26-3 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 Cincinnati: The Bearcats have an even record at 4-4-0, but are 0-1-0 in conference play... Cincinnati opened the league slate with a 3-0 loss to Louisville on Sept. 19... freshman Julie Morrissey leads the team with eight points and three goals... Cincinnati was picked to finish seventh in the National Division of the BIG EAST preseason poll... Michelle Salmon is in her first season as head coach of the Bearcats, having spent the last two seasons at Ball State. The Series: Friday is the 13th meeting between both programs... DePaul holds a 1-10-1 record against the Bearcats... the Blue Demons won the last contest in double-overtime fashion, 2-1, at Cincinnati on Sept. 28, 2007.
Examining Louisville: The Cardinals stand at 3-3-1 but are 1-0-0 in the BIG EAST after shutting out Cincinnati, 3-0... they concluded last weekend with a 2-1 decision to Ohio State, 2-1... junior Lindsay Boling leads the team with eight points and four goals... the Cardinals were picked to finish second in the National Division BIG EAST preseason poll... head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes is in her ninth season with the Louisville women’s soccer program. The Series: Friday will be the 13th all-time meeting with the series split at 6-6-0... Louisville has won the last three, including a 1-0 victory over the Blue Demons on Sept. 30, 2007 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.