UWM Plans For California WeekendComplete Release in PDF Format
Sept. 9, 2003 MILWAUKEE - Offensive Woes Continue But Results Improve The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team may have went a second straight weekend without finding the net, but the young team certainly showed improvement in the results column. On Friday, UWM dropped a 3-0 decision to high-flying Kansas before coming back to tie Illinois State 0-0 in double overtime on Sunday. The 2003 Panthers, who play arguably the toughest schedule in school history, posted a season-high 14 shots versus the Redbirds on Sunday. Hollywood Here We Come While there may not be much time for the beach, the UWM women's soccer team will enjoy a trip to sunny Los Angeles, California this weekend where it will play a pair of games against local schools. The task will be daunting, as the Panthers will open the weekend with a Friday showdown versus the No. 4 ranked Bruins of UCLA. Milwaukee will play again on Sunday, this time versus host-school Loyola Marymount. This weekend will mark the program's first-ever trip to the state of California. California Dreamin' Playing teams from California certainly isn't something new for the Milwaukee women's soccer program. While UWM has only played two career matches versus California-based schools, they both came last season as the Panthers split the two contests. UWM defeated Long Beach State University, 3-1, on Sept. 8, 2002, at the Purdue Invitational before ending the season with a 2-0 first round NCAA Tournament loss to No. 5 Pepperdine at Valley Fields. S.A. Takes The Reins In what started out as a two-person job, the UWM goalkeeping duties have been taken over by junior Kerri St. Aubin. St. Aubin, who started the year splitting time with sophomore Molly Schneider, has forced her way into the lineup on a full-time basis thanks to her impressive play. Despite missing the entire 2002 season as a redshirt, the athletic St. Aubin has returned with a vengeance in 2003. On the year, "S.A." has allowed just one goal in 257:49, good for a 0.35 goals against average. That mark, and her .938 save percentage, is currently good for second in the Horizon League this season. Baluta Makng Her Mark UWM head coach Michael Moynihan knew he might have something special when Kristen Baluta came to campus. And now, it appears as if that just might happen as the Cincinnati transfer has played a major role of late. Baluta has become a consistent threat in the midfield thanks to her fine ball-handling and decision making skills. The sophomore currently leads the team in shots (7), while taking a team, season-high five shots Sunday versus ISU. 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 voting: School 2002 Record Points 1 Milwaukee 11-6-5 36 2 Butler 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 League Supremacy The UWM women's soccer team is unbeaten in its last 15 matches against league foes. UWM went 5-0-1 in league games a year ago, tying Loyola, 2-2, in Chicago, and added a pair of wins in the league tournament. In 2001, the Panthers ran the table on the rest of the league, going a perfect 6-0 in league play and 2-0 in the league tournament. The last UWM defeat at the hands of a league opponent came in the 2000 league championship game against Wright State. A Tough Road Ahead 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 participant Dayton, will head west to face UCLA on Sept. 12, which advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA before falling on penalty kicks. The Panthers will host Marquette, while 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. Looking For Something That Clicks
Holding true to form, UWM head coach Michael Moynihan has once again used the non-conference portion of his schedule to work in new players and try different rotaions while trying to find a mix that will work once the Horizon League season starts. Despite playing just four games thus far in 2003, Moynihan has used 17 different players in the starting lineup. Only six players have started more than twice, with all six of those players taking the post in all four games. Of the six players who have made every start, three are freshman (Taylor Powell, Kelly Peterson, and Ginny Graczyk), with one sophomore (Janice McGann), one junior (Melissa Ricter) and one senior (Lisa Bengtsson) also joiining the list.
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