?Roos Return Home to Host Tournament Featuring Saint Louis, Tulsa, and Florida Gulf Coast
9/6/2012 2:06:00 PM | Women's Soccer
(Kansas City, Mo.) - Coming off a three-game road swing, the UMKC women's soccer team (2-2-1) return to Kansas City for a two-game homestand against Saint Louis (1-2-1) on Friday (7:30 p.m.) and Tulsa (4-1) on Sunday (2 p.m.) in the UMKC Tournament.
The tournament will also feature Florida Gulf Coast (3-1-1) as it will face Tulsa on Friday (5 p.m.) and Saint Louis on Sunday (11 a.m.).
Full Tournament Schedule» Friday, Sept. 7: *Tulsa vs. Florida Gulf Coast (5 p.m.) *UMKC vs. Saint Louis (7:30 p.m.)» Saturday, Sept. 9: *Florida Gulf Coast vs. Saint Louis (11 a.m.) *UMKC vs. Tulsa (2 p.m.) Blue & Gold Night» At 6:30 p.m. on Friday night, there will be a pre-game Pizza Party for UMKC students.» It is also be Blue and Gold night for UMKC student-athletes, who will be in attendance.The Opponents
» Saint Louis Billikens (1-2-1, 0-0 A-10 as of Sept. 6)
Coming in, the Billikens lone win came in a 2-0 victory over Evansville on Aug. 24. Earlier in the season, Saint Louis settled for a scoreless tie with the Southeast Missouri Redhawks, who the Kangaroos beat on the road for their first win, 1-0, on Aug. 24.
Offensively, three players (forward Jenny Hummert, forward Maddie Gebauer, and midfielder Jamei Borges) are tied for the team lead in goals (1), while Lindsay Elking and Ali Reimer are tied for the team lead in assists (1).
In the net, senior Katie Walsh has allowed four goals and notched 15 saves along with two shutouts.
» The Head Coach: Kat Mertz is in her first season at the helm. Before accepting the head coaching position at Saint Louis, Mertz served two years at Texas as an assistant coach.
» The Series: The Kangaroos are 0-1 all-time against Saint Louis. The two squads met last season as the Billikens defeated Kansas City at home, 3-1.
» Tulsa Golden Hurricane (4-1, 0-0 C-USA as of Sept. 6)
The Golden Hurricane head into the UMKC Tournament on a three-game winning streak, including a 7-0 victory at home over Nicholls State on Aug. 26. Their lone loss of the year came at the hands of previously ranked Notre Dame on the road in a 2-0 contest.
Offensively, Tulsa has scored 17 goals this season, led by forward Claire Nicholson (5), who scored three times in the win over Nicholls State. Behind her, forward Aitken Stephanie has four goals on the year along with two assists. As for midfielder Camille Pelley, she leads the team in assists (3), while tallying two goals.
At the keeper spot, Katie Bykowski and Hayley Harryman have received starts this season. In three games, Bykowski is undefeated allowing one goal, saving two six shots, and recording two shutouts. Harryman, on the other hand, is 1-1 allowing three goals and tallying 10 saves.
» The Head Coach: Kyle Cussen is in his fifth year at the helm of the Tulsa women's soccer program. In 2011, the Hurricane recorded a 10-8-3 overall record and a 4-5-2 mark in Conference USA, marking the first time since 2000 they posted double-digit wins and had a winning record.
» The Series: First meeting.
Last Time Out...
The Kangaroos went 1-1 in the SIUE Tournament this past weekend.
On Aug. 31 after a two-hour weather delay due to heavy rain and lightning, UMKC allowed two second half goals to the SIUE Cougars as it fell, 2-1.
In the 50th minute, no score, Kansas City had a chance to score when midfielder Randi Simmons placed a corner kick in front of the net, followed by midfielder Ashely Gann sending a header-shot just wide.
About four minutes later, the Cougars had a scoring opportunity of their own with a corner kick taken by midfielder/forward Michelle Auer. SIUE took advantage as forward Kataye Skrivan (1) shot it past keeper Nina Tzianos and the UMKC defense to take a 1-0 lead. Midfielder Cassidy Sherman was credited with the assist.
But, the Kangaroos answered in the 63rd minute when Simmons (1) scored after securing the ball in heavy traffic deep in Cougar territory on the left side. Defender Kaely Tott was credited with the assist.
Later, with the ball deep in UMKC's zone, SIUE caught a break in the 68th minute when the Kangaroos committed a handball foul. Less than a minute later, the Cougars took a 2-1 lead when midfielder Samantha Jones scored as Auer was credited with the assist.
Two days later, the Kangaroos came away with a 2-0 win over the Green Bay Phoenix behind two goals by forward Taylor Bare.
In the 39th minute, no score, the Kangaroos struck first when midfielder Hunter Wagoner fed a streaking Bare (2) as she shot it past a charging Katy Pilarzyk for the goal.
Bare was not done.
In the 54th minute with the ball in Green Bay territory, same score, the Kangaroos showed some nice teamwork when Wagoner dropped it off to forward Hannah Chadick, followed by a pass to Bare (3) as she scored to make it a 2-0 ball game.
This two-goal performance by Bare tied her own team record for most in a single match. Last season, the Anoka, Minn. native set the mark in a 2-1 win over Omaha on Sept. 24.
At game's end, the Kangaroos defense held steady, despite being out-shot, 9-7. In the net, Tzianos bounced back nicely after the loss to SIUE with three saves along her second shutout performance and first win of the season.
With their performances in these two games, Simmons, Tott, and Bare were named to the all-tournament team.
Bare Named Co-Offensive Summit League Player of the Week
Tuesday afternoon, junior Taylor Bare earned her second-career Summit League Offensive Player of the Week award after scoring both goals in a Kangaroo 2-0 win over Green Bay in its final game of the SIUE Tournament.
Last season, Bare led the Kangaroos in goals (8) and points (19), while finishing second in assists (3) on her way to becoming the first player in the program's history to earn First Team All-Summit League honors. Through five games in 2012, she leads the team in goals (3) and points (6).
Career wise, Bare is Kansas City's all-time leader in goals (14), points (33), game-winning goals (5), and shots on-goal (47), while second in assists (5).
Each week so far this season, a Kangaroo has earned a league player of the week award as keeper Jami Finnell received back-to-back defensive honors (Aug. 20 and Aug. 27).
Team Defense Staying Strong
In the Kangaroos 2-1 loss to the SIUE Cougars, it was the first time Kansas City allowed more than two goals in a match this season. However, the Blue & Gold has yet to allow a first half score.
Overall, despite their opponents registering a combined 70 shots on-goal, the Kangaroos have allowed three goals total.
Through Five Games Last Season...
The Kangaroos were 1-2-2 coming off a 4-0 loss to the Florida Atlantic Owls on the road.
Coming Up for the 'Roos
The Blue & Gold will travel to Omaha, Neb. to face Creighton on Thursday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. Last season, Kansas City fell 2-0 to the Bluejays at home.
