Indiana University Athletics
Hoosier Women Take On Memphis
8/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 17, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana women's soccer team will host the Memphis Tigers in one of two preseason exhibition matches on the schedule for the Hoosiers. The two teams will square off on Friday, Aug. 19, at Yeagley Field at Armstrong Stadium, at 7 p.m., in Bloomington, Ind.
Leading Indiana are returners Kristen Zmijewski and Megan Pipkens. Zmijewski, senior and 2005 team captain, will be looked at to add points on the board. Zmijewski finished her 2004 campaign with one goal, four assists and five points for the Hoosiers.
Pipkens, a junior, will also be a go-to player for the Hoosier offense in 2005. Pipkens ended last season first on the squad in assists (7), and second behind graduated senior Kim Grodek in points (15), shots (40) and shots on goal (23).
Returning defenders for IU will be seniors Courtney O'Bryan and Robin Barker. O'Bryan saw action in 16 of the Hoosiers' 19 matches last season, while Barker made appearances in all 19.
IU's most notable edition to the team is freshman Molly Kruger. Kruger, who was a 2004 recruit, suffered a season ending accident last year and delayed her enrollment until 2005. She now enters the squad as a true freshman.
A high school standout at Carmel, Kruger ended her campaign as one of the top-graduating seniors, leading the team to four straight state titles. Among her many accomplishments, Kruger earned three-time NSCAA All-American honors, and captured the Super Team Player of the Year for the third consecutive year from the Indianapolis Star.
Memphis enters the contest returning five starters, and 10 letterwinners overall from last years squad that finished seventh in the Conference-USA standings (5-5). The Tigers cannot be overlooked, as they debut a cast of 11 newcomers, all of which will look to fill the spots left open by the loss of seven starters from last year's team. One of the most notable newcomers is freshman Kylie Hayes, the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Arkansas, who is projected to see action at the forward position.
The Tigers return eight players to the squad, four of which saw action in at least 18 games last season. The most notable returner is midfielder Robyn Smart, who tallied one goal, four assists and six points for the Blue and Gray last season.
