DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - The 2015 season kicks off for the Loras Women's Soccer team on Tuesday when they travel to Oshkosh, Wisconsin to take on the Titans. The week will conclude on Friday when the Duhawks return to the Rock Bowl for their home opener against St. Olaf.
ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST UWO •••The Duhawks lead the all-time series against UW-Oshkosh 3-0-0 and hold a +2 goal differential. The first meeting between the two programs came on November 8, 2006 in the NCAA Tournament. Loras was outshot 18-4 but a goal from Alex Clesen in the 80th minute proved to be the difference maker for the Duhawks who advanced to the second round with the victory.
LAST MEETING VERSUS UWO •••The last time these sides met, the Titans were struggling with the opening of their 2013 campaign. Riding a four-game winless streak, the UW-Oshkosh saw their woes continue thanks to a
Danielle Vujovic winner in the ninth minute. That season, the Duhawks went on to win the Iowa Conference and earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament where they finished 18-4-1.
SCOUTING THE TITANS •••Coming off a championship season in 2014, the Titans are looking forward to 2015 and the return of the Elliott sisters. The Sussex, Wisconsin duo combined to lead the Titan offense with 13 goals and six assists, including seven game-winners. In goal, Nina Muzi returns for her final season after sporting a 0.61 goals against average and an .898 save percentage, both of which lead the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST ST. OLAF •••Friday will mark just the second time in program history that the Duhawks face off against the Oles, with the first meeting coming in 2014.
LAST MEETING VERSUS ST. OLAF •••2014 brought with it Loras' first trip to St. Peter, Minnesota, which ended favorably for the purple and gold. Two first-half goals by
Maura Walsh and
Hanna Burgmeier gave the Duhawks the early lead and a late tally from
Katie Truesdale put the game out of reach.
Hannah Wilson was tested early and often, making seven saves for the partial shutout.
SCOUTING THE OLES •••The St. Olaf faithful hope that they can put 2014 behind them after seeing their team go 5-11-2. While on paper, many statistics matched up with their opponents, the Oles simply couldn't convert enough offensive chances, surrendering a goal differential of -14. With the return of midfielder Kajsa Brindley (5G-5A), expect St. Olaf to target the Lexington, Kentucky native and build momentum through her. Ruth Hesse returns for the Oles in goal a year after going 5-8-1 and posting a 1.70 goals against average.
DUHAWKS PICKED TO FINISH 4TH IN IIAC PRESEASON POLL •••A year removed from coming off four straight Iowa Conference Championships, the Loras Women's Soccer team finds itself picked to finish fourth in this year's preseason poll, the IIAC announced on Thursday, Aug. 27.
ROTHERT BEGINS 18TH SEASON AT THE HELM •••Head Coach
Dan Rothert begins his 18th season as the skipper of the Loras Women's Soccer team, and brings with him a career record of 259-91-20, including nine IIAC Championships and 11 appearances in the NCAA Tournament. In combination with his form as the men's skipper, Rothert owns a total career record of 531-180-44.
FOLLOWING THE TREND •••The last time Loras was picked to finish fourth in the IIAC preseason poll was 2010, following a season that saw the Duhawks bounced from the IIAC Tournament in penalties by University of Dubuque. The season that ensued saw Loras rattle off 14 straight contests without a loss. That team, which finished the season at 22-1-1, were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament on penalties against Otterbein.
IIAC MVP TRUESDALE READY FOR FINAL CAMPAIGN •••Senior
Katie Truesdale has been building her case over the past three seasons to put herself in contention to be known as one of the best women's soccer players in Loras' history. With 42 goals and 14 assists in 66 games to date, Truesdale finds herself two points short of the century mark. The last women's soccer player to eclipse 100 points was Kate Young, who posted 42 goals and 34 assists in 89 career games, finishing with 118 points.
VUJOVIC READY TO RETURN TO FULL DUTY •••The collegiate career of senior
Danielle Vujovic has been filled with plenty of ups and downs. Just as she was preparing for a long and successful season in 2014, Vujovic suffered a season-ending injury in Loras' final preseason scrimmage against Ashford, leaving the Duhawks without a potent offensive threat. Now 12 months removed from her injury, Vujovic is locked, loaded, and ready to fire in 2015.
