Oct. 30, 2009

MILWAUKEE -

Game Notes in PDF Format

The BIG EAST American Division Champion Marquette women's soccer team will look to advance to the BIG EAST semifinals for the fourth time in program history Sunday when it takes on No. 4 National Division-seed Villanova in the BIG EAST Tournament Quarterfinals. Kickoff at Valley Fields is set for 1 p.m.

"Our team is excited to host a BIG EAST Tournament Quarterfinal match at Valley Fields on Sunday. We are at home because it was earned during the regular season, and now it is time to earn more," said head coach Markus Roeders. "Our only guarantee is the next game and we control our own destiny. The team has done a masterful job in training this week and our goal is to peak on Sunday. We can't live or survive on what we have done so far no matter how great the journey has been. The motivation is there to keep it going and build on it, a characteristic this group of players has had all year."

The winner of this match advances to the BIG EAST Tournament Semifinals where it will meet the victor of No. 2 National Division seed Rutgers versus No. 3 American Division seed West Virginia. Connecticut's Morrone Stadium will serve as host for the semifinals (Nov. 6) and finals (Nov. 8).

The home quarterfinal match marks the fourth time since Marquette joined the league in 2005 that it has played a quarterfinal match on its home turf. MU is 3-4 all-time in the BIG EAST Tournament, 3-1 in BIG EAST Tournament Quarterfinal action, and 3-0 when those quarterfinal matches are played at Valley Fields. Marquette last won a quarterfinal match in 2008 when it defeated Rutgers, 1-0, at Valley Fields.

Sophomore Rachael Sloan leads Marquette's attack with 15 points on five goals and five assists. Four of her goals have been game winners. Senior Becky Ryan follows with nine points on four goals and one assist, while 12 other Golden Eagles have registered at least one goal this season. Ryan and Sloan each scored goals in MU's two wins in final weekend of regular-season play, which secured the BIG EAST American Division title.

Defensively, the Golden Eagles have leaned on the stifling backline of seniors Katie Miller and Allison McBride and junior Lauren Thut, who have been integral in helping to hold 13 opponents this season scoreless. In net, sophomore goalkeeper Natalie Kulla has played in every minute of every match this season. Kulla owns the single-season shutout record with 13 clean slates, and has not allowed a goal in over 568 minutes.

The Wildcats (11-4-5), who finished fourth in National Division play with a 4-4-3 BIG EAST mark, stamped their ticket to the BIG EAST Tournament Quarterfinals by way of a 4-1 shoot-out victory over Connecticut after tying the Huskies, 1-1, in two overtimes.

Katie Ryan, the BIG EAST's leading scorer, scored Villanova's lone goal just 26 seconds into the game. She has totaled 29 points on 11 goals and seven assists, and has scored in 10 games in 2009. Heidi Sabatura follows with 19 points on seven goals and five assists.

In goal, Molly Williams has seen the majority of time in net and owns a 10-4-5 overall record, including six shutouts. Williams boasts a 0.88 goals against average over 1,833 minutes in net.

"Villanova will be a very strong opponent, with great balance on offense and defense. They have some high caliber players who have scored for them and defensively they are a tight group who hasn't given up many goals in BIG EAST play. It will be another tough match on our schedule, but it is good to be at home," said Roeders.