August 21, 2006
USI women's soccer start regular season Friday
Screaming Eagles to play #7 GVSU in tournament
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana women's soccer team starts the 2006 regular season campaign this weekend in the Lakers Soccer Tournament hosted by 7th-ranked Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. The Screaming Eagles play Ferris State University Friday at 1 p.m. (CST) and Grand Valley State Sunday at 11 a.m. (CST).
The Eagles, who are kicking off the season in Michigan for the third straight year, started last season with a 2-1 victory over the FSU Bulldogs and a 5-0 loss to the GVSU Lakers. USI is 1-1-0 in two matches with Ferris State and 1-2-0 in three matches against Grand Valley State.
Last year, the Eagles finished 2005 with their first winning season and GLVC Tournament appearance since 2000 after posting a 9-8-2 overall record.
Junior forward Julie Collins (Merrillville, Indiana) is USI's top returning scorer from last season, posting 28 points on 11 goals and six assists. Junior goalkeeper Meagan Homolla (Portage, Indiana) comes back to lead the defense after recording a 1.68 goals against average and two shutouts a year ago.
The Eagles will start the season without Head Coach Krissy Engelbrecht. Engelbrecht, who is expecting with her first child this week, will miss the first four matches of the year on an abbreviated maternity leave. Assistant coaches Alisann Shetler and Brooklyn Gant will direct the team in Engelbrecht's absence.
Ferris State is coming off an 11-7-0 campaign in 2005 and is led by junior forward Heather O'Keefe. O'Keefe was third on the Bulldogs last year with 16 points on six goals and four assists.
Grand Valley State returns 18 letterwinners and eight starters from a team that posted a 19-3 record and advanced to its first-ever NCAA Quarterfinals appearance. The Lakers return their top scorer from a year ago in sophomore forward Katy Tafler, who had 58 points on 25 goals and eight assists.
Following the tournament in Michigan, the Eagles open the GLVC schedule September 1 at Lewis University and begin the home schedule September 8 when they host Drury University.
Ray Simmons, USI Sports Information
