Oct. 9, 2001

MILWAUKEE -- Coming off two shutouts over the weekend, the UWM women's soccer team (8-2, 3-0 Horizon) is hoping to claim its ninth consecutive win against Wisconsin on Wednesday in Madison at 7 p.m. The Panthers continue competing against the Big Ten as they host Northwestern on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Engelmann Field.

Milwaukee dominated both opponents this weekend to defeat IPFW, 2-0, on Friday and league-opponent Youngstown State, 5-0.

Wisconsin (4-5-2, 1-4-1 Big Ten) is coming off a split weekend. The Badgers first beat Iowa on Friday, 3-1, before losing to Illinois, 2-1, on Sunday.

Northwestern (2-7-1, 1-4-1 Big Ten) has lost four straight matches after a pair of 1-0 losses on the weekend against Illinois on Friday and Iowa on Sunday.

The Panthers have never beaten the Badgers, as Wisconsin owns the all-time series, 12-0-4. UWM won last year, 3-1, at Engelmann Field. The last time the Panthers played Northwestern was in 1998, with the Wildcats winning, 4-0. The series with Northwestern rests at 2-2-0

UWM Recap

* UWM outshot its opponents a combined 62-3 this weekend while outscoring them 7-0.

* Against IPFW on Friday, Katie Kubacki headed in a cross from Julie Ruma and Evann Franklin scored off an assist from Erin Shaughnessy in the 2-0 win.

* Against Youngstown State on Sunday, Amy Oechsner scored a pair of goals and added an assist to lead UWM with a 5-0 stomping. Erin Blaedow and Lisa Bengtsson also scored goals for UWM, while Maggie Suminski coverted on a penalty kick.

UWM (3-2) Game Notes

* The Panthers' points are well-rounded, as 17 players have contributed to UWM's attack. 13 players have scored at least one goal, while four others have added assists.

* Amy Oechsner leads UWM in scoring with 15 points, tallying five goals and five assists. Erin Blaedow is second on the team with 13 points (6g, 1a), while Rana Thompson is third with 5 points (2g, 1a).

* UWM has outscored its opponents, 24-8, and has outshot them, 178-94.

* Sophomore goalkeeper Kerri St. Aubin has started every game for UWM so far this season, posting a 8-2 record and 0.78 GAA. St. Aubin, who has 32 saves on the season, has split time with junior Mary Duffy, who has a 0.88 GAA in 205 minutes of action. UWM has recorded six shutouts on the season, though neither goalkeeper has been credited with a shutout as they have split time in all six games.

Moynihan Captures 50

UWM coach Michael Moynihan captured his 50th career win on Sept. 28 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 53-26-11 record overall

In The League

UWM's three league games this season both have come as shutouts. UWM beat Green Bay, Wright State and Youngstown State a combined 9-0. Last season the Panthers were undefeated in the league and outscored their opponents, 14-4, while tallying three shutouts.

Eight Straight

After losing their first two games of the season, UWM has gone on to win every game since to record eight consecutive victories. The last time UWM has won at least six straight was in 1994, when the squad won a school-record nine consecutive. The Panthers are going for the school-record tie when they take on the Badgers Wednesday night.

Wisconsin (4-5-2, 1-4-1 Big Ten) Game Notes

* The Badgers played at home last weekend and are coming off a 2-1 loss to Illinois on Sunday after beating Iowa, 3-1. Down 1-0 against Iowa at the half, Amy Vermeulen scored two goals just 2 minutes apart to give Wisconsin the lead, while Kelly Kundert added the insurance goal. Marla Froelich scored the equalizer in the 43rd minute before the Badgers fell in the second half.

* Kelly Kundert leads Wisconsin in scoring with 10 points, tallying four goals and two assists on the season. Amy Vermeulen is second on the team with nine points on four goals and one assist.

* Most of Wisconsin's 15 goals on the season have been scored in the second half, as the Badgers have finished 11 times in the second half, three times in the first half, and just once in overtime. The Badgers' opponents have scored 14 goals on the season.

* Kelly Conway has seen every minute for the Badgers in the goal, recording 66 saves and a 1.17 GAA. She also has captured three shutouts.

Northwestern (2-7-1, 1-4-1 Big Ten) Game Notes

* The Wildcats are coming a pair of 1-0 losses over the weekend, losing to Illinois on Friday and Iowa on Sunday. Northwestern are on a four-game losing streak entering Sunday's match at Engelmann Field.

* Northwestern has only scored five goals on the season, while allowing 13 in the back of its net. Katie Hertz leads the team in scoring with four points (2g), while Kase McCoy is second with three points (1g, 1a).

* The Wildcats have 92 shots on the season, compared to their opponents' 110. Goalkeeper Susan McCreery has recorded 37 saves playing every minute for Northwestern, and posts a 1.25 GAA.

Injury Update

Sophomores Lisa Bengtsson and Alexa Torres have returned to the Panthers' rotation after sitting out with injuries. Both were hurt in the Sept 7th game against Central Michigan and started training last week. Bengtsson scored her first goal of the season in her return to the field on Sunday.

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 53-26-11 career record after Sunday's victory over Youngstown State. His career winning percentage of .650 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.