Oct. 1, 2001

MILWAUKEE -- Senior midfielder Erin Blaedow was named the Horizon Player of the Week for women's soccer, the league announced today. Blaedow was instrumental in helping UWM (6-2, 2-0 Horizon) to three wins last week, recording four goals and one assist in wins over Green Bay, Illinois State and Arkansas.

She set up a goal and added one herself in a 2-0 win over Green Bay on Tuesday night and scored the first goal against Illinois State off a header in the Panthers' 2-1 Friday afternoon. The captain scored the game-winner against Arkansas in just the third minute of play, then added another later in the half as UWM routed the Lady Backs, 5-0.

The 5-0 blow out of Arkansas gave UWM its sixth-straight win of the season. Milwaukee has outscored its opponents, 16-2, during the streak.

Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (2-8) is coming off a 7-0 loss at the hands of Marshall on Sunday. The Mastadons captured their second win of the season on Saturday, routing Morehead State, 6-2.

New Horizon League-member Youngstown State (1-9, 0-1 Horizon) is coming off its eighth-straight loss after Southern Utah shutout the Penguins, 3-0, on Sunday. The Penguins lost their league opener against Butler, 3-1, on Friday.

UWM will meet both teams this weekend for the first time ever.

UWM Recap

* Joining Erin Blaedow with goals against Arkansas were Kristine Coburn, Amber Jelinek and Rana Thompson. Amy Oechsner teamed up with Blaedow as each scored a goal in games against Green Bay and Illinois State.

UWM (3-2) Game Notes

* The Panthers' points are well-rounded, as ten players have contributed to UWM's attack. All eight goals on the year have come from different Panthers, with seven players recording two points so far this season.

* Senior Erin Blaedow leads UWM with 11 points , tallying five goals and one assist on the year. Amy Oechsner is second in team scoring with 10 points on three goals and four assists.

* UWM has outscored its opponents, 17-8, and has outshot them, 116-91

* Sophomore goalkeeper Kerri St. Aubin has started every game for UWM so far this season, posting a 6-2 record and 0.91 GAA. St. Aubin, who has 31 saves on the season, has split time with junior Mary Duffy, who has a 1.41 GAA in 128 minutes of action. UWM has recorded four shutouts on the season, though neither goalkeeper has been credited with a shutout as they have split time in all four games.

Moynihan Captures 50

UWM coach Michael Moynihan captured his 50th career win Friday night after the Panthers defeated Illinois State, 2-1. Moynihan's milestone came in his fifth year as head coach of the Panthers, and now holds a 51-26-11 record overall

In The League

UWM's two league games this season both have come as 2-0 wins. Last season the Panthers were undefeated in the league and outscored their opponents, 14-4, while tallying three shutouts.

Six Straight

After losing their first two games of the season, UWM has gone on to win every game since to record six consecutive victories. The last time UWM has won at least six straight was in 1994, when the squad won a school-record nine consecutive.

IPFW (2-8) Game Notes

* The Mastadons' 7-0 loss on Sunday was the fifth time this season they have been shut out. They have been outscored, 47-19, overall and have been outshot, 176-97.

* IPFW is led in scoring by Kristin Macdonald with 15 points total on six goals and three assists. Shacina Hersey is second on the team with 10 points, capping six goals and one assist.

* Goalkeepers Lindsay Moskwinski and Sarah Laib have split time in front of the net, with Moskwinski starting seven games and recording a 4.50 GAA. Laib has played in six matches and started three, recording a 4.97 GAA in 380 minutes of action.

Youngstown State (1-9, 0-1 Horizon) Game Notes

* YSU was shut out on Sunday against Southern Utah, who received its first-ever program win. Against Butler on Friday, Kara White scored the Penguins only goal of the game in the first half on a penalty kick. Senior goalkeeper Christine Handte collected ten saves for the Penguins as Butler outshot YSU, 29-7.

* YSU has been outshot by its opponents, 132-60, and outscored, 27-7.

* Jennifer Jacobs and Cerid Irvine lead the Penguins in team scoring with four points on two goals each. Kara White follows with three points, tallying one goal, one assist.

* Goalkeepers Christine Handte and Mia Railing have split time in the net for the Penguins. Handte has a 3.15 GAA and Railing has a 5.66 GAA.

* Formerly in the Mid-Con Conference, the Penguins were picked to finish last this year in the Horizon League in a preseason poll of the league coaches.

Double Duty

Junior Amy Oechsner has become UWM's most versatile player, playing in both the defense and attack. Oechsner has started every game and has often switched positions from the front line to the back line during the course of the game. Oechsner's speed and endurance have greatly served the Panthers on both ends of the field.

Injury Update

Sophomore forward Lisa Bengtsson got into the game on Sunday after sitting out Sept. 9th's game. Bengtsson, who started in the first three games of the season, pulled her hamstring against Central Michigan on Sept. 7th and began training again last week

Also suffering an injury in the game on Sept. 9th was sophomore midfielder Alexa Torres. Torres, who rotated into the central midfield in the first three games, suffered a serious injury to her MCL and has not been training.

Climbing The Ladder

* Amy Oechsner's three assists at Valparaiso was the highest single-game total since 1997. Danielle Alberg tallied five assists and Lindsey Munkwitz recorded four against Western Illinois on Sept. 5, 1997. Oechsner's three assists put her fourth in the record book for single-game assists.

* With her goal scored just 49 seconds into UWM's match against Valparaiso, Megan Mann etched her named into the Panther record book as well. Her goal was the third fastest goal scored in school history. Katie Waltenberger scored a goal at the 0:26 mark against Loyola on Oct. 27, 1998, to set the school mark.

Entering the 2001 Season

The Panthers entered the season favored to win the Horizon League title after winning the regular-season championship last year with an undefeated record (5-0). The Panthers finished 2000 on the cusp of the NCAA Tournament, losing, 1-0, to Wright State in the league championship game.

* League Co-Coach of the Year Michael Moynihan returns seven starters from a year ago, including first team all-league selection Erin Blaedow and Co-Newcomer of the Year Lisa Bengtsson, who is the team's returning leading scorer (17 points). Goalkeeper Kerri St. Aubin returns to the squad after being selected to the all-newcomer and all-second team as a freshman. St. Aubin posted a 0.93 GAA, recording four shutouts and only allowed nine goals.

Coach Michael Moynihan

Moynihan is in his fifth year at the helm of the Panthers, and currently boasts a 51-26-11 career record after Sunday's victory over Wright St. His career winning percentage of .642 is best in program history. Last season, he guided UWM to its first-ever regular-season league championship and was named MCC Coach of the Year for the second time in his career. Moynihan also won the coaching award in 1997, his first year as head coach, when his team won the league tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever in program's history.

A Milwaukee-area native, Moynihan graduated from Wisconsin where he was a four-year letterwinner on the Badgers soccer team.