?Roos Set to Conclude Home Schedule with Matches Against Oakland and Fort Wayne
10/11/2012 1:48:00 PM | Women's Soccer
The Opponents
» Oakland Golden Grizzlies (6-3-3-, 3-0 Summit League as of Oct. 11)
The Golden Grizzlies enter Friday's match tied atop with Western Illinois (11-2, 3-0 SL) in the league standings with victories over Omaha (3-11, 3-1 SL), North Dakota State (4-8, 1-2 SL), and South Dakota State (2-9-1, 0-3 SL).
Offensively, forward Kyla Kellermann is the league's top scorer with six goals and three assists for 15 points, while midfielder Abigail Haelwyn leads the league in assists with eight to go along with two goals for 12 points. Also, forward Meghan Reynolds has chipped in four goals and two assists of her own, while midfielder Marlen Knoph has tallied three goals and three assists in 2012.
Throughout the season, Kellermann, Haelwyn, and Reynolds have all earned Summit League Offensive of the Week honors.
In the net, keeper Shannon Coley has logged the majority of the minutes for a 5-2-2 record with 42 saves, four shutouts, and allowing eight goals. As a team, the Golden Grizzlies have allowed 13 scores on the year.
» The Head Coach: As the only coach in the program's history, Nick O'Shea is in his 19th season at Oakland. Last season, O'Shea reached the 200 win mark as his team won The Summit League Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time.
» The Series: The Kangaroos are 1-2 all-time against Oakland. In 2011, Kansas City picked up its lone of the series, 2-0.
» Fort Wayne Mastodons (6-6, 2-1 Summit League as of Oct. 11)
After dropping its league opener at Omaha, 1-0, Fort Wayne has won two-straight with victories over South Dakota State and North Dakota State.
Leading the offensive attack for the 'Dons, forward Danielle Bishop has three goals and one assist for seven points, while midfielder's Sydney Hoareau and Erin Gill have tallied two goals each. Earlier in the year, Hoareau picked her first Summit League Offensive Player of the Week award on Sept. 10 after scoring both goals in a 2-1 win over Evansville.
Defensively, keeper Sam Pavilka has logged every minute for Fort Wayne this season, posting three shutouts, saving 56 shots, and allowing 13 goals. Throughout 2012, Pavilka has been named the league's defensive player of the week twice.
» The Head Coach: In 2007, Margaret Saurin was named the second coach of the Fort Wayne women's soccer program. Throughout her tenure, Saurin has posted a 25-69-4 record, including a 7-9-1 (4-4-1 SL) finish in 2011.
» The Series: The Kangaroos are 1-1-1 all-time against Fort Wayne. Last season, Kansas City erased a halftime on the road to beat the 'Dons for the first time ever, 2-1.
Last Time Out...
The Blue & Gold were unable to come away with a win in its league home opener as it fell 2-1 to Omaha on Oct. 7.
During the 15th minute, the Mavericks struck first when midfielder Melanie McCormick (1) sent a pass from around the midfield line to forward Danielle Archuleta (5) as she was able to knock it in via a header shot.
At the half, Omaha maintained its 1-0 lead along with owning the shot-count, 4-1.
In the second period, same score, the Mavericks increased their lead during the 61st minute when midfielder Hannah Wampler (1) placed a corner kick near the Kangaroo goalie box as defender Jordyn Braun (2) scored on a header shot of her own.
But, the Kangaroos cut the deficit in half about two minutes later when midfielder Ashley Gann (1) found forward Hannah Chadick (3) streaking down the right side. As a result, she was able to dribble past the Maverick defenders and beat keeper Meaghan Clark for the score.
Kansas City continued its strong play in the second half as it tallied six shots, including one taken by midfielder Hunter Wagoner with 16 seconds remaining deep in Maverick territory that sallied high. Yet, the Kangaroos were unable to force overtime and dropped to 1-2 in league play on the year.
In the net, keeper Nina Tzianos finished the afternoon with two saves, both resulting in near goals for Omaha.
Hannah Continuing Good Play
After scoring her third goal of the season against Omaha, Hannah Chadick continued her good play from the past two weeks. In the last six games, the Overland Park, Kan. native has tallied three goals and two assists for eight points, including the game-winner in a 2-1 victory over Alabama A&M at home on Sept. 22.
Two days later, she earned her first ever Summit League Offensive Player of the Week.
10 Players Say Goodbye
Sunday, 10 UMKC student-athletes will be honored for Senior Day in their final home game as members of the Kangaroo women's soccer program.
Senior's Kara Chavez, Tara Chavez, Jami Finnell, Kortni Kellogg, Meagan Malloy, Zaina Mayer, Meagan Shipley, and Randi Simmons will be recognized for their contributions along with junior Alex Monachino and sophomore Sophie Rackham.
Time Running Out
With the Kangaroos playing their final two home games of the season Friday and Sunday, Kansas City will have three games remaining on the year with matches against South Dakota State (Oct. 19), North Dakota State (Oct. 21), and South Dakota (Oct. 27).
Currently, the Blue & Gold sits fifth in the league standings with North Dakota State, IUPUI (2-11-1, 0-2-1 SL), South Dakota, and South Dakota State trailing, respectively.
Through 14 Games Last Season...
Kansas City was 4-0 in league play and 6-5-3 overall coming off a 2-0 win at Oakland on Oct. 9.
Coming Up Next...
The Kangaroos will travel to South Dakota State to take on the Jackrabbits Friday, Oct. 19 at 6 p.m.
