?Roos Look to go 5-0 in League Play with South Dakota Coming in Saturday
10/14/2011 11:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Coming up, UMKC will close out its 2011 home schedule beginning with the South Dakota Coyotes (1-9-3) this Saturday at 7:00 P.M. Next week, the 'Roos will be tested heavily as they will face North Dakota State and South Dakota State for what could be for the conference regular season crown.
Scouting the Opponent
South Dakota Coyotes: 1-9-3, (1-2-1) as of 10/14
At the start of the year, the Coyotes stumbled out of the gates with a 0-7-2 record before beating Western Illinois, 2-1, to earn their first win of the season.
Since then, South Dakota has gone 0-2-1 heading into Saturday's match against UMKC.
Players to Watch
After leading her team in goals (8) as a true freshman in 2010, forward Jenny Teslow is doing the same this year. Through 13 games, Teslow leads the team in goals scored (3) and points (9). She is also tied with freshman forward Lauren Bennett for the team leader in assists with three.
In Week One, Teslow scored two goals in a losing effort to North Dakota. However, she was named Offensive Player of the Week by the Summit League for that performance.
As for junior midfielder Erin Bello, she is second on the team in goals scored (2) and points (4). In Week Seven against Western Illinois, Bello scored twice which earned her the Summit League Offensive Player of the Week award.
Head Coach
In her second season, Mandy Green has a combined record of 5-21-5. Before coming to South Dakota, Green spent time at Xavier and Minnesota State as an assistant coach.
Series
South Dakota Coyotes: The Kangaroos are 0-1-1 all-time against the Coyotes.
What to Watch For
Two 'Roos Earn Individual Accolades
Earlier this week, junior keeper Jami Finnell and junior midfielder Zaina Mayer were recognized for their stellar performances in victories over IPFW and Oakland.
Finnell earned her second-career Summit League Defensive Player of the Week award, while Mayer was named to the weekly CS360 (Collegesoccer360.com) Primetime Performer Honor Roll.
In those two games, Finnell collected five saves in a 2-1 win at IPFW and followed that up with four saves in a 2-0 blanking at Oakland. Also against the Grizzlies, she saved a penalty kick to keep the Kangaroos up 1-0 in the first half.
As for Mayer, with the game tied at one late in the second half against IPFW, she capitalized on a penalty kick opportunity for the game-winning score.
Two days later against Oakland, Mayer and midfielder Ashley Gann assisted forward Taylor Bare's team-leading seventh goal of the season to put UMKC up 1-0 early in the first half.
What a Difference a Year Makes
In 2010, the Kangaroos were 0-3-1 through its first four conference games. Fast-forward to now, UMKC is 4-0 and has a good chance of moving to 5-0 with the one-win Coyotes coming in Saturday.
With the exception of North Dakota State and South Dakota State who are currently undefeated in league action, UMKC's remaining opponents currently have a combined conference record of 1-5.
From the looks of it, the 'Roos are streaking at the right time.
Bare Making a Case for Conference Offensive Player of the Year
Through 14 games, sophomore forward Taylor Bare leads the Summit League in goals scored (7) and points (15). If Bare maintains this pace with five conference games remaining, it will be hard not imagine her in the discussion for conference Offensive Player of the Year.
