EVANSVILLE – After closing out the 2015 campaign with fifth NCAA tournament trip in school history, the University of Evansville women's soccer team will be looking to kick off the 2016 campaign successfully this weekend with contests at Xavier and Miami (Ohio).
The matches, which will be played on Friday and Saturday, are set for 5:30 and noon kickoffs.
UE Women's Soccer Opening Weekend
2016 UE Information Guide
UE at Xavier (Friday, 5:30 Central): Live Stats |
Xavier Website
UE at Miami (Sunday, Noon Central): Live Stats |
Miami Website
"We've been very impressed with our two-and-a-half weeks on campus thus far," UE head coach Krista McKendree said. "The girls came back ready to work, and the new girls are fitting in nicely. We've seen a lot of positives, especially with our attacking combination play, and we're looking forward to getting things started this weekend."
The Aces will depend on a veteran core this fall, led by the first-team all-conference duo of Emily Richardson and Bronwyn Boswell as well as Missouri Valley Tournament MVP Whitney Biggs.
Boswell, who led the team with three goals and a pair of assists in 2015, will be a key member of the UE attack. She's joined there by Colleen Dierkes and Sara Osinski, who each found the back of the net three times a year ago.
"It's a big positive to have the same core group of attacking players back," McKendree explained. "It gives us some continuity, and the freshmen that played last season have grown as well. For us, hopefully having that experience will help us with our decision-making in the attacking third, and that should open up the game even more for other players instead of having to rely on just one or two. To me, I think we have four or five players that have the ability to create dangerous opportunities for us."
The Aces offense will also be looking to capitalize on the return of Montana Portenier to the line-up. The junior out of London, Ontario, missed all of last season due to injury, and she's impressed in her chance creation ability this preseason.
"Montana is one of our most dangerous players when she's running at people," McKendree said. "That's what she likes to do. So far this preseason, she's already created a lot of opportunities to set people up for goal-scoring chances. For us, it's going to be about her continuing to do that, and then about getting in position to take advantage of that final ball. If we can get people on the end of her crosses and passes, I think we're going to be able to open up the game."
Defensively, Richardson will be looking to lead the back line after helping the team post six shutouts a season ago. The Aces improved defensively as the season progressed, holding opponents scoreless for the 357 minutes leading into last season's NCAA tournament showdown with Florida State.
"The defensive line-up was a bit of a question mark for us after last season because we had to figure out who the new pieces were going to be back there," McKendree said. "Obviously, experience helps in defense, so when you add more than one new piece to the puzzle, it's going to take a little time to get on the same page with everyone else and learn how to read a game. I like who we have back there, and we have options. It's just going to be a bit of work in progress with getting the necessary experience to be a cohesive unit."
Helping out that defensive effort again this season will also be Biggs, who took over goalkeeping duties near the end of last season and put together 200 scoreless minutes in net to earn the top honor at the MVC Championship.
"It was huge for Whitney to perform like that for us last year," McKendree said. "The more game time that you get, the better you will be. For her, she stepped up big, and she was ready for her moment when it came. She did a phenomenal job, and she was voted captain this year by the team. She definitely has more confidence back there, and that makes us a better team."
Meanwhile, Xavier will be looking to build on an 8-9-1 campaign from a year ago. The Musketeers will be helped by the return of Kenadie Carlson, who scored a team-best seven goals, and goalkeeper Rachel Piccus, who played the vast majority of minutes, shutting out six opponents.
Miami, on the other hand, will aim high after a trip to the Mid-American Conference title match. Like XU, the RedHawks brings back their No. 1 keeper as Vic Maniaci will want to build on a season that saw her post 10 shutouts. Leading scorers Rachel Marble and Kat Zalar also return after combining for seven goals and three assists.
NOTES: The Aces are 12-9-2 overall in season opening matches … UE is 4-4-2 in openers played on the road … UE will begin the season in Ohio for just the second time ever. Previously, the Aces picked up a 1-0 win over Wright State in 1999 … The Aces are 17-8-2 overall against Ohio schools, including a 5-8-2 mark against Xavier and a 2-2 record versus Miami … XU and UE have met in five of the last six seasons, with the Musketeers picking up a 3-2 overtime victory in Evansville last season … The last Aces win in the series was a 2-0 decision in 2010. The last road victory was by the same scoreline in 1998 … UE and XU first met in 1993 … UE beat MU last season 2-1 at Arad McCutchan Stadium … This will be the second away meeting in the series' history. UE dropped the first 3-2 in 2010 … Sara Osinski scored in both contests against XU and MU last season, and Bronwyn Boswell scored a goal and assisted another.
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