Panthers Set For Horizon League PlayComplete Release in PDF Format
Sept. 16, 2003 MILWAUKEE - "Second Season" Set To Begin For UWM Most college coaches break down the season into three parts: the non-conference schedule, the conference schedule, and the posteason. For the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team, Part II-the conference season begins Sunday (Sept. 21) as UWM travels to Indianapolis, Ind. to face Butler University in the Horizon League opener for both teams. The Panthers will hope the Horizon League campaign will bring different fortunes, as they are currently winless on the 2003 season. L.A. Not So Friendly The two Los Angeles-based teams UWM played this past weekend didn't serve as very good hosts to their visitors from Wisconsin. Despite playing very well in the first half of each game, UWM dropped both contests in California, losing 4-0 to No. 3 UCLA before falling 1-0 at Loyola Marymount. Milwaukee played both teams to a scoreless draw in the first half before eventually allowing goals in the second half of each contest. Now Let's Carry It Over The young Milwaukee women's soccer team made some great strides this past weekend despite not scoring a goal in two games in California. In both contests, UWM held both UCLA and Loyola Marymount scoreless in the first half. Milwaukee has not allowed a first-half goal in three games, dating back to the Kansas contest on Sept. 5. On the season, UWM has allowed only three first half goals in six games, or 540 minutes played. Furthermore, UWM has taken the exact number of corner kicks as the opposition in the first half (11), despite being out-CK'ed on the season, 27-19. Scoreless Drought Continues While the UWM women's soccer team has certainly been playing improved soccer of late, it unfortunately has not shown up on the scoreboard. For the third straight weekend UWM went scorless, running the 2003 scoreless games streak to six, and overall streak to seven, dating back to last season. UWM has yet to dent the net in any of the six contests this season, after failing to score in a 2-0 loss to No. 5 Pepperdine in last season's NCAA Tournament contest. Prior to the current streak, the longest UWM had gone without scoring a goal was three games, which has occured on six different occasions ,most recently in late 1999. Recent History With The Bulldogs It has become known around the Horizon League the last few years that the "unofficial" league title game comes when Butler faces Milwaukee each season. Furthermore, each of the last two Horizon League tournament championship games have featured the two schools. Milwaukee has dominated the recent series between the two teams, winning seven straight games dating back to a 3-1 Butler win on Oct. 10, 1999. Since that game, UWM has defeated Butler in the last three regular seasons, while also eliminating the Bulldogs in each of the last four Horizon League tournaments. S.A. Among League Leaders UWM goalkeeper Kerri St. Aubin has done all she can to keep the ball out of the Panther net this season. The junior has allowed just five goals in 415:49 of playing time in six games. S.A.'s .861 save percentage is currently tops in the Horizon League while her 1.08 goals against average is good for fourth place. 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 Controlling The League The UWM women's soccer team is unbeaten in its last 15 matches against league foes and unbeaten it its last 17 regular season Horizon League showdowns. 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. The last regular season defeat came Oct. 27, 1999, at UW-Green Bay. 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.
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