Central Michigan University Athletics
Women's Soccer Opens Season With Neutral-Site Games
8/26/2002 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Aug. 26, 2002
The Teams - The Central Michigan University women's soccer team (0-0, 0-0 Mid-American) will open the 2002 season with neutral-site affairs at the Bronco Soccer Classic in Kalamazoo, Michigan. CMU will square off against Loyola-Chicago on Friday, August 30, at 1 p.m. (EDT), and Northern Arizona University on Sunday, September 1, at 11 a.m. (EDT).
The Ramblers open the season picked fifth in the Horizon League preseason poll. They are a defensive-minded team, posting a school record seven shutouts last season. Erica Pedini headlines the defense, starting her fourth season between the pipes. The team boasts a youthful offensive corps with two freshmen, two sophomores and a junior taking the field at forward. Last season, the Ramblers were 6-9-1, 2-4 in league play, and were sixth in the conference.
The Lumberjacks take the field with a proven defense as well. NAU tallied a school-record low 1.44 goals against average last season en route to a sixth-place finish in the Big Sky Conference. The team posted marks of 6-10-2 overall and 1-4-1 in conference play. The big question mark will be its offense as the school's all-time leading scorer graduated last season. The Lumberjacks were tabbed to finish fourth in the Big Sky preseason poll. NAU will play Western Michigan on Friday, August 30, before playing CMU on the following Sunday.
A Preview Of Things To Come - "These first two games will be like preseason games to us," fifth-year head coach Mark Salisbury said. "This will be a chance to evaluate our program and see where we need progress. We have a good core but we need 14 or 15 players who can step up and play consistently - and we're still looking for that. It will be a chance to play, evaluate our team, and prepare for the conference season."
Off To A Good Start - "Our preseason practices have gone well," Salisbury said. "Our returning starters are setting the standard for the rest of the team to follow. The freshmen and other players have jumped on board and that has made for a good quality of play in our workouts."
Season Preview - A strong foundation has been built ... but now, the Central Michigan University women's soccer team is looking to take the next step.
The forwards will have the daunting task of filling in for CMU's all-time leading goal scorer, Allison Campbell, who graduated last spring. Headlining the front line are Emilie VilleMonte (Farmington/Sr.) and Olina Vidarsdottir (Grindavik, Iceland/So.). Both saw extensive time on the field last season and tallied six points each.
Taking care of center midfield are Cari VanDyck (Medina, Ohio/Jr.), a second-team All-MAC pick, Jessica LaFevers (Auburn Hills/Fr.) and Kit Schwartz (Des Moines, Iowa/Sr.). Playing wide midfield is All-MAC second team selection Sabrina Borgquist (Birmingham Groves/Sr.), Erica Peterson (Fenton/Sr.) and Jacqui Lorenzo (Hudson, Ohio/Jr.). Borgquist was third on the team with 10 points last year and Peterson was fifth with nine.
With four freshman back, the defense is youthful but confident. Lisa Taube (Brighton/So.), Jill Adams (St. Louis, Missouri/Jr.) and Katie Conway (St. Charles, Illinois/Jr.) are the veterans in the backfield. They will be joined by redshirt freshmen Jenny Alexander (Midland) and Elizabeth Dangel (Muskegon)
Standing between the pipes is MAC all-tournament goalkeeper, Kari Alexander (Midland/Jr.). She led the team to its first MAC tournament final berth in 2001, and turned in a 1.03 goals against average in 19 games.
News and Notes - CMU was picked to finish fourth in the Mid-American Conference preseason poll. The preseason favorite this season is the perennial powerhouse, Miami ... the Chippewas take the field with two all-conference selections. Sabrina Borgquist and Cari VanDyck were both named to the second team last year. Also, goalkeeper Kari Alexander was an All-Mid-American Conference tournament selection ... Olina Vidarsdottir spent her offseason playing top-level soccer when she joined the under-21 Icelandic National Team. She was a midfielder in all six games of the Nordic Cup, playing in all 90 minutes of the first five matches ... the Chippewas are 2-2 in season-opening matches. CMU has dropped its last two openers including a 2-1 loss at Pittsburgh last season ... CMU is 3-7 in neutral site games. It hasn't won a game on neutral ground since its inaugural campaign in 1998 ... Loyola-Chicago is not the only Horizon League member on the 2002 schedule. CMU will also battle Wright State (9/15) and Detroit (10/27). The Chippewas will also play Big Ten rival, Michigan State (10/30), in the final regular season game.
