Sept. 2, 2007

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MILWAUKEE - With goals from sophomore Anna Sawicki and freshman Ashley Bares, the Marquette women's soccer team defeated Indiana State, 2-0, in the finale of the Milwaukee Cup. Due to a tie-breaker - total goals scored - Wis.-Milwaukee claimed the tournament crown with a 2-1 win over Washington. The Panthers defeated Indiana State, 3-0, on Friday. Sawicki, along with junior Katie Kelly and sophomore Michelle Compty were named to the all-tournament team. Kelly earned the Defensive Most Valuable Player Award as she totaled three points on three assists for the tournament. With the win, MU improves to 2-0 on the season.

"We had to dictate the tempo and create this game," said head coach Markus Roeders. "We are really pleased to go 2-0 on the opening weekend and get two shutouts. What else could we ask for? It is terrific. One thing that we would have wanted was to win the trophy, but ultimately, that is secondary. Winning the games and continuing to improve is most important."

The Golden Eagles pushed right off the whistle as junior Britni Benage tallied two shots that went wide in the first four minutes of the game. MU controlled play for a majority of the first half limiting the Sycamores to one shot, while the Golden Eagles fired off nine shots, two on goal.

Marquette came out hard in the second half and scored its first goal of the game in the 47th minute. Benage and freshman Kelsey Lynch collected their first points of the 2007 season as they set up Sawicki in what would be the first goal of the afternoon. Benage fed the ball to Lynch who crossed it to the foot of Sawicki. Sawicki took one dribble and sent the ball high to the far post past Indiana State keeper Rachel Rudzis.

Sawicki finished the weekend with five points on two goals and one assist.

Bares netted her first goal of her career in the 88th minute. Marquette was fouled in Indiana State territory and Kelly took the free kick for the Golden Eagles. Kelly served the ball in and found Bares with one defender on her in front of the goal. Bares collected the pass and one-timed a chip over the defender and out of reach for Rudzis.

"It was an awesome feeling coming in and scoring the goal to contribute to the team," said Bares. "I was pumped after scoring. I thought alright, this is the beginning. Now that I got one I want more."

For the game, the Golden Eagles out shot the Sycamores, 21-5. Senior goalkeeper Laura Boyer played the entire 90 minutes and earned her second shut out of the season, 16th of her career. Boyer made three saves.

The Golden Eagles will be back in action on Thursday, Sept. 6, when they host LaSalle at Valley Fields at 7 p.m.

Post game notes

*The Golden Eagles have started the season 2-0 for the third consecutive season, fourth overall.

*Sawicki has come off the bench and scored two goals in as many games. Her five points thus far on the season match her total from 2006.

*With her three assists this weekend, Kelly moves to ninth on the all-time assists list with 16 career assists.

*It is the first time in eight seasons, Marquette has played back-to-back home games at Valley Fields.

*With the win, Marquette improves to 96-28-7 all-time at Valley Fields.

*The Golden Eagles are 12-4 all-time in the Milwaukee Cup and 6-3 in Milwaukee Cup games at Valley Fields. It was the first time in Cup history Marquette and Wis.-Milwaukee played both of their tournament games at their respective home fields.

Post game quotes

Senior goalkeeper Laura Boyer
"It is really exciting to start off the season with two, 2-0, wins. We would have really loved to win the Milwaukee Cup, and I think everyone had that in the back of their minds as one of our goals. But, we have to be happy to start the season undefeated. We look forward to LaSalle on Thursday."

Head coach Markus Roeders
"We really haven't had enough of just trying to attack a team and try to break them down. I think within the game we had to learn that today. We created opportunities. We had 21 shots, eight on goal. How many shots do you want? We just have to finish them. We got one at the end, but we need to understand that we have keep playing and try to get another one. Within that I think individual players did extremely well. We are sorting things out and continuing to move players around. We need to keep working on it. We have to play to win."

Associate head coach Frank Pelaez
"It is bitter sweet because we won at home and we won on a Sunday. Sundays are always tough to play on because our legs are a little bit tired and you go from Friday night playing under the lights to sun in your eyes on Sunday. But, with that said, we came out with a great result, 2-0. A shut out is what you always want. The bitter part is that we didn't win the Milwaukee Cup. I think we lacked urgency inside the box when we had a scoring opportunity. We need someone to get down and dirty inside the box, and we are looking for that person right now."