Aug. 31, 2000
Women's Soccer Opens 2000 Season at Minnesota State, Mankato Tournament
The Games: Truman State University Bulldogs (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association/NCAA Division II) at Minnesota-State, Mankato tournament
Date: Sept. 2-3, 2000
Time: 1 p.m. (CST)
Location: Mankato, Minn.
Truman: Truman has been on the bubble of being a contender for the Division II women's soccer title for the past five seasons, and 2000 will be no different for the Bulldogs. The women return 12 letterwinners and nine starters from a team that won the first-ever Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association women's soccer championship and narrowly missed a bid to the NCAA tournament after going 14-4-1. Truman will be looking to continue a 12-game unbeaten streak they ended last season with and get off to a good start.
Second-team all-region defender Meredith Hartle (Mehlville, Mo.) is back for her final season, while MIAA co-MVP Emily Huyck (Omaha, Neb./Westside) returns in goal for the 'Dogs after finishing the year ranked second in the nation in goals against average, allowing just 0.36 per game. As a sophomore last year, Huyck set new school records for shutouts in a season (14) and goals against average as the lone keeper.
The Bulldogs return eight other players who earned all-conference honors, including the league's freshman of the year Anna Smith (Jefferson City, Mo.). Smith, a forward/midfielder, started every game in her first collegiate season and finished fourth in team scoring with 12 points.
Goalkeeper: Huyck will again serve as keeper after enjoying one of the most successful seasons ever in goal at Truman. Last year served as good experience for her, after seeing limited action as a freshman.
"Emily is a strong leader from the back for us," head coach Mike Cannon said. "Her communication skills and strong vocal style give her teammates a sense of assurance, as well as confidence. She's solid in every area, technically and tactically, and capable of making the big save when needed," Cannon continued.
Defenders: There is no denying that Hartle will lead the defensive corps after earning postseason honors last year.
"Meredith is a smart, tenacious, defender," Cannon said. "She doesn't get beat easily. Meredith is athletic enough to stay with the forwards and read what they're trying to do. Her 'never say die' work ethic is also an asset."
Hartle will be aided on the left side of the pitch by returner Karla Danekas (Naperville, Ill/Central) who earned honorable mention all-MIAA status and started every game in her first collegiate campaign a year ago.
Sophomore Becky Ojile (St. Louis/Nerinx Hall) and redshirt freshman Angie Schuhler (Olathe, Kan./Olathe South) will play reserve roles as wide players in the backfield. Ojile saw limited action in four games last year.
Also returning to the backs is Jennifer Buscher (Oakville, Mo./Notre Dame), another full-time starter as a sweeper a year ago. She spent the summer rehabbing a knee injury suffered in the last game of the year, but should be an all-conference performer again for the Bulldogs.
"J.J. will be important to what we do," Cannon said. "She's good on the ball and makes good decisions. We'll rely on her and Emily (Huyck) to take care of the ball."
Newcomer Rebekah Fredlund (Wichita, Kan./Northwest) will back up Buscher at sweeper in her first season.
Nicole Thorpe (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods), a second-team all-MIAA pick last year, rounds out the backfield. She scored a pair goals as a full-time starter in '99. Thorpe played more of a stopper last year and should fill a similar role this year.
"Nicole is an athletic and skilled player who I'd like to see get forward more," Cannon indicated. "She'll be an important central player for us."
Incoming freshman Beth Wieman (St. Louis/Rosati-Kain) is slated to relieve Thorpe.
Midfielders: Experienced players and talented newcomers make up the 'Dogs' midfield. However, a replacement will be needed for the teams leading scorer, Stephanie Toczylowski, who was lost to graduation. In addition, Cannon is looking at playing two players up top and will expect the midfielders to handle more responsibility.
Sophomore Heather Murray (St. Charles, Mo./West) earned 16 starts in midfield last year and looks to have a lock on a starting spot this year.
"Heather is one of best passers on the team and she makes good decisions," Cannon said. "We'll be trying to get her the ball more."
Honorable mention all-MIAA senior Niki Taylor (Crestwood, Mo./Lindbergh) was a steady reserve in every game a year ago, making four starts, and will play behind Murray. She finished sixth in team scoring with a goal and five assists.
"Niki is another experienced central midfielder who worked hard in the spring and summer to get ready for her senior year," Cannon said. "She's a smart and skilled player."
Transfer Molly Adams (Omaha, Neb./Marian) from the University of Tulsa seems to have solidified a starting role in the midfield. She was a part-time starter at Tulsa, playing in 23 career games.
Junior Kelly Hritz (St. Peters, Mo./Francis Howell North) will spell Adams. She played in 15 games last year, making one start.
True freshman Stephanie Cepicky (St. Louis/Lindbergh) and sophomore Jessica Pohren (Omaha, Neb./Duchesne) will play wide in the midfield. Cepicky is another outstanding newcomer to the team who enjoyed a successful high school career, and seems to have made the transition to college ball in the preseason. Pohren was fifth in team scoring last year with 10 points and earned honorable mention all-league recognition. Cannon will also rely on her to take more of a role up top.
Junior Kelli Best (Urbandale, Iowa) and senior Brooke Stephens (Clayton, Mo.) are penciled in as backups out wide to Cepicky and Pohren, but will push for the starting role as seasoned veterans.
Best began 13 of 19 games played as a wing a year ago, earning second-team all-MIAA honors. She also scored five points on two goals and an assist.
"Kelli is a dependable wide player who will see alot of playing time and is one of the more experienced wide players," Cannon indicated.
Stephens redshirted last season and is recovering from a preseason injury which could keep her out of action in the early going.
"Brooke serves a good ball from out wide and takes good shots. She should provide good production off the bench," Cannon said. "Brooke is kind of a wildcard for us out wide and up top, but she'll need to get fit following a preseason injury."
Sophomores B and Laura Paul (Lee's Summit, Mo./Blue Springs) each played in three games a year ago and will provide depth among the wide players in the midfield.
Forwards: An extremely talented pair of women will play up top for the Bulldogs. Smith is perhaps the top returner after starting every '99 contest and scoring five game-winning goals as a wing.
Junior Melissa Miller (Olathe, Kan./Olathe South) was the team's third-leading point-producer in 1999 with six goals and an assist, and was a second-team all-MIAA pick, despite being injured for part of the season.
"Anna (Smith) will play an important role in our attack and will play more up front than last year to take advantage of her attacking abilities," Cannon said. "Miller looked good in the preseason. She's a crafty, creative player who dribbles the ball well."
Sophomore Carrie Hegenderfer (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/John F. Kennedy) and junior Missy Ell (O'Fallon, Mo./St. Dominic) will back up the starting forwards. Hegenderfer played in 12 games as a true freshman last year, while Ell saw action in all 19 games, scoring two goals and an assist.
"Missy is a strong central midfielder and played well in preseason," Cannon said. "She'll be important to our attack."
Redshirt freshman Elizabeth Pulido (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) and sophomore Jennifer Brinkman (Rock Hill, Mo./Webster Groves) will add depth among the forwards.
Schedule: The Bulldogs begin the season with a couple of tough opponents at the Minnesota State-Mankato tournament, and continue with two more difficult tourneys by Sept. 17.
Both the host and Minnesota-Duluth will be tests on the road to kickoff the 2000 campaign. MSUM was ranked among the top 10 in the region last year.
Truman then returns home for the first of two tournaments in Kirksville which will bring a couple tough regional rivals to town in Missouri-St. Louis and Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.
The first four weekends will give a good indication of how the season will progress as the 'Dogs continue the schedule at the Nebraska-Omaha tournament which will pit Truman against Northern Colorado, a team ranked 19th in the NSCAA/Adidas preseason poll.
In week four, the Bulldogs will travel to No. 16 North Dakota State and another strong regional team, Winona State (Minn.).
After that, the schedule takes a big turn for the better as Truman finishes the season with eight home games out of the 11 remaining. However, one obstacle could be the fourth-ranked team in the preseason, Northern Kentucky, which will close out the 'Dogs' regular season home schedule on Oct. 29.
Conference rival Northwest Missouri will begin the conference season on Sept. 28 in Kirksville. Though the Bearcats look to be much improved, Cannon expects Central Missouri and Missouri-Rolla to be the real tests in league play.
Rockhurst, St. Joseph's (Ind.) and Indianapolis are also on the agenda late in the season, and all have been tough competitors in the past.
Truman vs. Last Opponent: The Bulldogs finished the 1999 season on a 12-game unbeaten streak, racking up their last victory over Central Missouri to claim the first-ever Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association title.
Opponent(s): Minnesota State, Mankato is 2-1 heading into its tournament, winning the season-opener 6-3 at Missouri-Rolla. The Mavericks also faced No. 4 Northern Kentucky in Rolla, suffering their first loss of the season, 7-1. On Tuesday, they played Southwest State (Minn.), winning by a 9-0 score.
Minnesota-Duluth is 2-0, registering wins over Indianapolis 2-1 in its first game of the year and then beating St. Joseph's (ind.) 1-0 on Sunday. Before facing Truman, UMD will take on St. Cloud State (Minn.) in the Mankato tournament.
Series Record: In two previous meeting, the Bulldogs have swept Minnesota-State, Mankota. The 'Dogs' last victory came on Oct. 3, 1998, in Mankato, while the first meeting occurred Sept. 13, 1997, in Kirksville and was a 3-1 win for the Truman. The Bulldogs have never faced Minnesota-Duluth.