Aug. 19, 2010

MILWAUKEE -

Idaho State/Ohio State Game Notes

The No. RV/22 Marquette women's soccer team officially opens the 2010 season Friday, Aug. 20 at Valley Fields against Idaho State at 7:30 p.m.

MU's fourth annual Fan Fest will be held prior to the game beginning at 5 p.m. The FREE event will feature interactive skill stations, player autographs, photo opportunities, and food courtesy of Qdoba.

Following the match against the Bengals, Marquette will travel to Columbus, Ohio to play Ohio State Sunday, Aug. 22 at Noon CT.

Picked as the BIG EAST American Division favorites, the Golden Eagles welcome back 22 letter winners and five starters from a season ago that captured MU's first-ever BIG EAST American Division Championship and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament with a 15-5-3 overall record, 7-2-2 in BIG EAST play. The Golden Eagles are ranked No. 22 according the Soccer America and are receiving votes in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) preseason poll.

Junior forward and preseason All-BIG EAST selection Rachael Sloan is the team's top returning scorer after leading Marquette with 19 points on seven goals and five assists followed by senior Lauren Thut and junior Lindsey Page who registered eight and five points, respectively in 2009. Overall, the Golden Eagles return 10 players who tallied at least a point in 2009.

Idaho State returns 13 letterwinners from last season's team that reached the 2009 Big Sky Tournament final. 2009 Big Sky Newcomer of the Year Ashley Jones is the Bengals top returning scorer with five goals and five assists in 2009. Friday's contest will be the first meeting between the Bengals and the Golden Eagles in both programs' history.

Ohio State is picked to finish second in the Big Ten after a 7-2-1 finish in 2009. The Buckeyes return nine starters from a team that earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament last season. Lauren Steuer returns as the team's top scorer, with 15 points last season.

Marquette leads the all-time series, 2-1-1. MU topped Ohio State early in the 2008 season in overtime, 2-1, at Valley Fields. The Buckeyes are currently receiving votes in the NSCAA preseason poll.