Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Set For Big 12 Challengers
8/31/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 31, 2005
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BLOOMINGTON, IND. - The Indiana women's soccer team is set for its upcoming matches this weekend against Big 12 challengers Missouri and Iowa State. As part of the Big Ten/Big 12 challenge, multiple Big Ten squads will face off against the inter-conference competition over the weekend.
IU opens the challenge with a match-up against Missouri on Friday, Sept. 2. The match will get under way at 7 p.m. (CST), in Columbia, Mo, at the Audrey J. Walton Complex. The Hoosiers end their road trip with a stop in Ames, Iowa, to face the Cyclones at the ISU Soccer Complex on Sept 4, at 12:30 p.m. (CST)
Both squads pose a challenge for the Hoosiers, who have their eyes set on claiming their first season win.
"At this point, we have recovered physically and mentally from this past weekends travels out west, " head coach Mick Lyon said. "With a day of training and meetings, we are pumped and ready for the Big 12 Challenge. So far our results have been mixed in our season's first two matches, but the enthusiasm and confidence on the team still remains high for the rest of the 2005 schedule. We have been working on the right blend of players and at the right positions this week, and the staff if eager to see how that plays out this weekend."
The Hoosiers will return home for their home opener at the Hoosier Classic against Miami and Xavier Sept. 9-11.
•HEAD COACH Mick Lyon PREVIEW•
"Every time I have faced Missouri it has been a battle," Lyon said, "and I don't expect anything different from them this weekend. Missouri's head coach Bryan Blitz always brings a well-organized team to the table. We are excited about getting back on the field after a tough weekend so that we can have the chance to perform at our best. We want to carry the pride of the Big Ten with us and do our part to uphold our conference as one of the best between us and the Big 12."
•LAST TIME OUT•
The Indiana women's soccer team could not overcome the Loyola Marymount defense during its 110-minute match against the Lions. Indiana ran with the Lions for two regulation and two sudden death overtime periods, but in the end forced to call the match at 0-0. While the team could not score, it proved tough as a group keeping the Lions from getting the better of the Hoosier defense. The Hoosiers finished the match with seven shots against the Lions' defense, while Loyola reeled off 18 on the night.
The Hoosiers had valuable minutes from its bench, as well as its starters, with both units applying offensive pressure over the stretch of the match. Sophomore Lindsay McCarthy led the Hoosiers with two shots, followed by senior Kristen Zmijewski, sophomores Kristin Radcliffe and Suzie Teixeira, freshmen Molly Kruger and Ashley Seib with one shot each. Sophomore goalie Stacey Van Boxmeer pulled in six saves on the night through 65 minutes of action, while senior Fabbro closed out the night in front of IU's goal with four saves over 45 minutes.
In their next contest, the Hoosiers put together a solid second half against the Southern California Women of Troy, but the defensive hold came too late as the Trojans took a 4-0 lead into half time.
While the Hoosiers were unable to notch a goal in the match, their offense found its way through the USC defense on numerous occasions. Juniors Megan Pipkens and Ali Brown, sophomore Kristin Radcliffe and freshmen Molly Beckwtih, Molly Kruger and Ashley Seib each posted a shot. IU had six shots on the night, while four found their target on goal.
Sophomore Van Boxmeer and senior Fabbro split the match in goal, taking a period each. The Hoosiers allowed only two more goals for the Trojans, as Brown found the back of the net in the 74th minute, followed by a goal by Amy Mann in the 81st.
•SCOUTING MISSOURI•
This will be the first time the two teams have met since 2002, when the Hoosiers defeated the Tigers at the Tiger Invitational, 2-1. Both Teams come into the match having won and lost two matches against each other.
The Tigers are coming off a 0-1-1 weekend where they opened the season with a loss to No.25 Arizona, 2-0. The Tigers' road did not get any easier as they faced off against No.17 California two days later on Sunday, Aug.28. The Tigers were able to run with California, ending the match in a 0-0 tie.
•SCOUTING IOWA STATE•
The Hoosiers have never faced off against the Cyclones since beginning the program in 1993. Iowa State comes into the match with a 0-1-1 record after tying Mississippi State , 0-0, after two sudden-death overtimes, before dropping a 2-0 decision to Ole Miss.
•FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING•
This will be the first time that that the Hoosiers have faced off against Iowa State. Iowa State is only the second team from the Big 12 that the Hoosiers have ever faced. The other Big 12 opponent previous to this weekend's Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge is Missouri, whom IU has faced three previous times since 1993.
•2005 SEASON PREVIEW•
The Hoosiers continue to rely on their defensive ability to stop opposing teams. The 2004 team again set a record for the least number of goals allowed by opponents with 18, which ranked second in the Big Ten. Every year, head coach Mick Lyon's Hoosiers have set a record for fewest goals allowed since he took the job three years ago.
With past years seeing a squad that was bottom heavy with underclassmen and inexperience, this year's team is full of experience in not only Big Ten matches, but international and club contests as well. This year's team has four seniors, five juniors, nine sophomores and 10 freshmen.
•HOME SWEET HOME•
After back-to-back trips west, the Hoosiers will return home for the Hoosier Classic on Sept.9-11, facing Miami and Xavier on Yeagley Field at Armstrong Stadium.
•KRUGER WATCH•
Freshman Molly Kruger enters the lineup as a true freshman, though she is no stranger to the Hoosiers. Kruger was slated to be a 2004 recruit before a car accident required her to forgo enrollment at IU.
Kruger enters the season as a top recruit and an immediate contributor for the Hoosiers at the midfield position. Kruger has already tabbed two shots in her career opening matches at LMU and USC. The midfielder has also seen the most minutes at her respective position than anyone else at the same duty.
•ON THE GO WITH PIP•
Junior Megan Pipkens is nothing, if not on the go. Her aggressive style of play not only makes it hard for defenders to keep tabs on her, but the fans have a hard time tracking her course across the field with her fancy footwork.
Pipkens has tallied one shot on goal over the span of two matches so far in 2005.
•PROTECTING GOAL•
The job in goal has been spread evenly between IU's two top goalies, sophomore Stacey Van Boxmeer and senior Lauren Fabbro. The two have combined to pull in 11 saves in two matches, while holding LMU scoreless over 110 minutes of play.
•CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN•
Senior Kristen Zmijewski has been named the 2005 team captain for the Hoosiers. Zmijewski is one of three seniors on the squad and will lead Indiana from the midfield position. While only standing 5-4 on the height roster, Zmijewski was chosen for her leadership ability.
"She will be our on-field captain and leader," head coach Mick Lyon said. "Her leadership qualities and work ethic make her a perfect match for the role."
•WHO'S THAT SEIB•
Freshman Ashley Seib has made an immediate impact on the stats sheet posting two shots, each of which were on goal in her first two collegiate matches. While the freshman has yet to start in the Hoosier lineup, her play off the bench has made her a deadly threat at midfield. The Evansville product leads the Hoosiers in shots on goal, and is tied for first with the most shots so far in 2005.
•SHUTTING OUT THE COMPETITION•
In their first contest of the Hoosiers shut down the Loyola Marymount Lions through 110 minutes of play. While Indiana could not post a goal off seven shots from six different Hoosier cleats, they were able to dodge 18 from the Lions over the course of two regulation periods, followed by two sudden death overtime periods.
•GOING THE DISTANCE•
Junior Lauren Lamping and sophomore Jenna Babcock have seen all 200 minutes of play for the Hoosiers from the field. Both Hoosiers have started and played defense for IU so far in 2005. While neither has achieved feats that show up on a stats sheet, it was their efforts that help shutdown an aggressive offense from LMU, who posted 18 shots in its 0-0 tie against Indiana.
