August 28, 2002
USI soccer opens regular season
Women’s team opens at Strassweg on Friday
The University of Southern Indiana women’s soccer team will kick-off of the 2002 regular season Friday night when it hosts the University of Montevallo at Strassweg Field. Game time on August 30 is 5 p.m.
The USI women’s program is coming off a 4-12-0 season and will be looking to move back into the top half of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. USI is under the direction of Head Coach Bill Wilkins.
The Eagles are led offensively by junior forward Darlene Dippel (Evansville, Indiana) and senior forward Megan Fitzler (Maryland Heights, Missouri). Dippel tied for the team lead in scoring last season with 11 points on three goals and five assists, while Fitzler had nine points on four goals and one assist. Fitzler tied for the team lead in goals scored with Kristin Light and Kayla Scheller.
Between the posts, senior goalkeeper Aude de La Salle (France) returns to take charge of the USI defense. De La Salle set the USI single game record for saves twice with 17 against Northern Kentucky University and Minnesota State University Mankato.
Montevallo also kicks-off its season Friday. The Lady Falcons were 9-7-0 in 2001 and return their top scorer from last fall in forward Peetra Vaisanen from Finland. Vaisanen led the Falcons with 26 points on 12 goals and two assists.
In goal, senior goalkeeper Adrianne Peters comes back for her final season at Montevallo. Peters led the Lady Falcons with a 2.12 goals against average, starting all 16 contests.
USI women’s soccer will be practicing today (Wednesday) from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the practice field on campus and Thursday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the Strassweg Field. To arrange interview times, contact the USI Sports Information Office at 465-1622.
Ray Simmons, USI Sports Information
