?Roos Look to Continue Winning Ways on the Road Against IPFW and Oakland
10/6/2011 5:11:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Coming up, the 'Roos will hit the road for a two-game swing against IPFW on Friday at 6:00 p.m. (CT) and Oakland on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. (CT).
Scouting the Opponent
IPFW Mastodons: 3-6, (0-1) as of 10/6
In what will be their only second home game of the season, the Mastodons will look to improve on a 3-6 record after falling 1-0 to Oakland in their league opener last week. With that loss, IPFW has dropped four out of their last five.
Players to Watch
In eight games, junior forward Lisa Underwood leads the team in goals (4) and points (9). Also, junior midfielder's Rhea Proctor and Tyler Allison have tallied five points each this season.
Head Coach
In her fifth season, Margaret Saurin is only the second head coach in IPFW women's soccer history. During her tenure, she currently holds a 15-61-3 record.
Oakland Grizzlies: 3-8, (1-0) as of 10/6
After going 12-5-3 last season, 8-0-1 in conference action, the Grizzlies have gotten off to a slow start in 2011.
However, to their credit, their schedule included the likes of Kentucky, Michigan, Indiana, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, and #18 Dayton.
Players to Watch
Offensively, the Grizzlies are led by freshman forward standout Kyla Kellerman. In 10 games, Kellerman leads the team in goals (5) and points (10).
In the net, Oakland has two keepers at their disposal with senior Anne Berschbach and sophomore Payj O'Shea. The two have split starts this season and both have done fairly well when given the opportunity.
In five games started, Berschbach has gone 2-3, saving 27 shots (.818) and giving up 1.14 goals-per-game along with two shutouts. In Week 4, Berschbach earned Summit League Defensive Player of the Week honors.
As for O'Shea, she holds a 1-5 record this season, saving 33 shots (.733) and giving up 2.04 goals-per- game including one shutout. Like Berschbach, O'Shea earned Summit League Defensive Player of the Week honors earlier in the season.
Head Coach
Serving as the only head coach in Oakland women's soccer history, Nick O'Shea in 18 seasons has an overall record of 191-110-19. His resume also includes three Summit League Coach of the Year awards, eight regular season Summit League titles, and five NCAA tournament appearances.
The Series
IPFW: The 'Roos are 0-1-1 all-time against the Mastodons.
Oakland: The 'Roos are 0-2 all-time against the Grizzlies.
What to Watch For
Not the Same 'Ole Roos
For the first time in team history, UMKC has won three-straight games. Also, with four total wins this season, they have more than doubled their win total from the previous two seasons. Head coach Chris Cissell certainly has this team going in the right direction in only his first season.
2-1 Winning Trend?
During UMKC's three-game winning streak, the final score of each contest has been 2-1.
With IPFW and Oakland tied for last in the Summit League in total goals scored (10), there is a chance this trend could continue.
Only Three More Home Games Remain
After this two-game road trip, the 'Roos will return to DSSRF for their final home stand of the season with games against South Dakota (10/15), North Dakota State (10/21), and South Dakota State (10/23).
The 'Roos are 3-1-3 at home in 2011 and will look to improve a 1-4 road record against IPFW and Oakland this weekend.