`Roos Begin Summit League Play At Western Illinois
9/30/2010 6:23:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Kansas City, Mo. -- The UMKC women's soccer team opens up Summit League play this weekend at Western Illinois on Friday. The Kangaroos are coming off of a 2-1 overtime loss to Missouri State.
UMKC is 1-8 on the season, notching its only win at Eastern Illinois on Sept. 12.
The Kangaroos went 1-17-1 in their inaugural season last year. UMKC landed its only victory last season against Southern Utah, 2-0, on Oct. 16.
Head coach Anita Rodriguez is back for her second season and brings with her 11 letterwinners from last season, all of who saw lots of action. The Kangaroos also welcome eight newcomers to the 2010 squad, seven freshman and one transfer.
Scouting the Opponent
Western Illinois is 4-3-3 in the 2010 season, fresh off of a 1-0 win at Northern Iowa. This season the Leathernecks are led by Jordan Spaciel and Jenny Green with two goals a piece.
Last season the Leathernecks finished 8-8-2 overall and went 5-3-1 in The Summit League. Western Illinois is coached by Tony Guinn, who is in his third season.
The Series
The Kangaroos are 0-1 all-time against the Leathernecks. UMKC fell 2-1 in overtime on Oct. 10 of last season at DSSRF.
Finnell Leads Summit League in Saves
UMKC goalkeeper Jami Finnell is leading The Summit League in saves and saves per game. The sophomore has 68 saves on the year and is averaging 7.64 saves per match.
This is the second season in a row where Finnell has led the League in saves and saves per game. In 2009, Finnell lead for the majority of the season in the two categories. She finished atop The Summit League with 159 saves and 8.37 saves per game.
`Roos Defeat Panthers 1-0 To Pick Up First Win Of Season
The UMKC women's soccer team recorded its first victory of the 2010 season at Eastern Illinois on Sept. 12, 1-0. The Kangaroos win over the Panthers is the second win in UMKC women's soccer program history. Amanda Casalinuovo scored the game winning goal for the `Roos and goalkeeper Jami Finnell came up big in the win with 10 saves.
2010 Summit League Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. IUPUI 75 pts. (5)
2. South Dakota State 71 pts. (2)
3. North Dakota State 59 pts. (3)
4. Oakland 57 pts.
5. Western Illinois 49 pts.
6. Oral Roberts 41 pts.
7. IPFW 34 pts.
8. Southern Utah 27 pts.
9. UMKC 16 pts.
10. Centenary 11 pts.
Home of the Kangaroos
The Stanley H. Durwood Soccer Stadium & Recreational Field serves as the official home of the Kangaroos and provides student-athletes, students and community groups with one of the top soccer facilities in The Summit League and the Midwest. The $9 million dollar addition adds to the growing residential feel of the UMKC campus.
DSSRF provides seating for 850 fans and a separate addition hosts locker rooms for men's and women's soccer, softball and track & field, as well as offices for the respective coaching staffs and concession areas.
