Aug. 15, 2012

Marquette - SBU Match Notes

The No. 16/14 Marquette University women's soccer team opens its 20th season of competition Friday at 7:30 p.m. CT when the squad hosts St. Bonaventure at Valley Fields. The campaign lidlifter against the Bonnies will mark the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

Friday is Wisconsin Youth Soccer Night, featuring 2-for-1 admission for all youth wearing their team jersey. Fans will also be able to purchase root beer floats for just $1. The price includes a souvenir cup and all proceeds benefit the Milwaukee Breast and Cervical Cancer Awareness Program.

Miller, Kelly Earn Preseason Accolades: Senior Ally Miller has been named the Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year and was also named preseason all-league in a survey of the conference's head coaches. Maegan Kelly joined Miller on the squad and was also tabbed to the 2012 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List. Miller was named All-BIG EAST Third Team in 2011 while Kelly garnered first team accolades.

Schunk Takes Over In Net: Sophomore netminder Sofie Schunk, who is taking over for two-time BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year Natalie Kulla, will make her first collegiate start in the season opener. The Albuquerque, N.M., native appeared in two matches in 2011 off the bench and didn't allow a goal in almost 75 minutes of action. Schunk was a two-sport star at La Cueva High School, lettering in both soccer and track & field.

Potential Starting Lineup Features Experience: Marquette's probable starting lineup features just one player (Schunk) who isn't at least competing in her respective junior campaign. Eight of the players own at least 30 career starting assignments and that group has combined for 66 total goals.

Sloan Ready To Regain Form: An All-BIG EAST First Team honoree in 2010, senior forward Rachael Sloan appeared in only six matches in 2011 due to a knee injury. She owns 16 career goals, but only one came last season. During the 2009 and 2010 campaigns, Sloan netted 14 goals and started each of the squad's 47 outings.

MU Downs Wisconsin In Exhibition Action: Senior Ally Miller headed home a Megan Jaskowiak corner kick midway through the second period to give the Golden Eagles a 1-0 victory over Wisconsin on Aug. 9 in exhibition action at Valley Fields.

• The Golden Eagles have collected 16 consecutive winning seasons, which ranks 10th all-time in NCAA Division I history and is tied for the nation's seventh-longest active streak.
• Head coach Markus Roeders and associate head coach Frank Pelaez are in their 17th season at the helm. The duo, college teammates at UNC Asheville, has never suffered a losing season.
• The Golden Eagles have won three-straight BIG EAST American Division titles (2009, 2010, 2011) and have earned four consecutive NCAA Championship appearances (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011), which matches a program-best streak. Overall, Marquette has earned 10 NCAA Championship berths.
• The Golden Eagles welcome back 22 letterwinners and nine starters from a team that a season ago captured MU's third-straight BIG EAST American Division title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship. Six newcomers will join the squad in 2012.
• Led by Maegan Kelly and Taylor Madigan, MU's top returning scorers who combined for 57 points on 22 goals and 13 assists, Marquette returns 82.7 percent of its scoring from last season. Marquette ranked second in the league with 2.36 goals per game.
• Since the 2009 season, Marquette is 28-3-2 in BIG EAST Conference play.

Up Next: Marquette hosts No. 4/6 Florida State at 1 p.m. CT on Sunday, Aug. 19 at Valley Fields. The concessions stand will feature $1 items, there will be a postmatch autograph session and Marquette will also celebrate the 20th anniversary of the women's soccer program.