Northwestern University Athletics
Follow the Wildcats This Spring
2/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Feb. 18, 2006
EVANSTON, Ill.--Northwestern's women's soccer team begins preparation for its 2006 season when its spring schedule kicks off against Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Northern Illinois Sunday afternoon in Evanston.
After this weekend, the 'Cats have a long break before competing at the University of Illinois "Best of Illinois" Tournament in Champaign, Ill. April 1. From there, NU will face an opponent still to be named at the Chicago Scores Showcase at the University of Chicago April 8.
Two weeks later the Wildcats will travel to Cincinnati, Ohio to take on Cincinnati and Dayton April 23 before heading north to take on Marquette and Loyola at Marquette University.
Head coach Jenny Haigh has high hopes looking into the 2006 season. The Wildcats return over 70 percent of their scoring from last season, including junior Kelsey Hans and sophomore Jenny Dunn who finished with 16 and 14 points, respectively. Also back between the pipes is senior Whitney Jones who recorded four shutouts in 2005.
Combine that with a talented group of incoming freshman, and the Wildcats appear poised to make a serious run in the Big Ten in 2006.
"We have a great group of individual players and I want these individuals to feel more like a team in the way that they identify with the successes and failures of each other and how those plug into our team's success this fall," Haigh said. "I want our group to become united in a way that will focus individual performances as a means to get the team to find success. Rather than having 11 hard-working players, I want this team to feel what it's like to have 11 hard-working players that can step outside of themselves to make each other better, more accountable, and more deserving of success as an entire group.
"Every aspect of our 'team building' will be connected to our technical development, tactical development, and competitive development as a team. Ultimately I want our team to learn how to win those close games that we lost this past fall. I really like this group and think they have a lot of potential."
The Wildcats' 2006 Spring Schedule is listed below. Dates and times are subject to change
Sunday, Feb. 19
vs. UW-Milwaukee, W, 2-1
vs. Northern Illinois, W, 2-1
Saturday, April 1-at University of Illinois "Best of Illinois" Tournament
vs. Western Illinois, W 1-0
vs. Northern Illinois, W 1-0
vs. Illinois, L 0-2
The Wildcats advanced to the championship game of the tournament that featured all of the Division I teams in the state of Illinois. NU knocked off Western Illinois and NIU before falling to the Illini in the final game. Kelsey Hans scored the first game-winning goal and played a lot of minutes despite battling an illness. Shannon Schneeman scored the second game-winning goal against NIU.
"Shannon played very well in all three of our games-making an impact in the midfield and in the back," Haigh said. "She's so competitive and finds a way to impact the game and make everyone around her better. Finally, Jeanette Lorme was also solid for us in the midfield. We got the job done in our first two games even though it took us a little time to get used to playing 11 on 11, playing on grass, playing in new positions, etc. Unfortunately we didn't play a great championship game against Illinois. I have to hand it to them-they were fast, sharp on the ball and they competed really well in the midfield. They were the better team yesterday. But, it was a good day for us. We know where we want to go from here and yesterday was a good experience for us."
Saturday, April 8-at Chicago Scores Showcase Games and Community Service Activity (at University of Chicago)
vs. UW-Milwaukee, W 1-0
vs. Wisconsin, W 1-0
The Wildcats picked up two more wins while participating in the Chicago SCORES Showcase, raising funds for the Chicago SCORES organization-an organization that provides supplemental English/Reading skills for inner-city children while also teaching them teamwork through soccer.
"It was a wonderful way for our athletes to give back to the game of soccer and kids that need our support," Haigh said.
Northwestern downed UW-Milwaukee 1-0 in the first game with Jeanette Lorme scoring the lone goal for the 'Cats. She created her opportunity off the dribble at the top of the 18-yard box, shaking her defender with some clever footwork and drove the ball into the back of the net.
"It was an outstanding play," Haigh added.
The Wildcats then beat Big Ten-rival Wisconsin 1-0 on an outstanding goal by Kelsey Hans which was served up by Katie Wright.
"It was a beautiful goal," Haigh said. "Wright served a near-post ball into the mix and Kelsy exploded past her defender and laid out for it. She managed to volley it out of the air. Shannon Cusick also played very well on the day. Whitney Jones also was very steady for us in the goal. Shannon Schneeman and Jeanette Lorme played well for us in both games while Laura Janowitsch lent her speed and fitness to the front line and made some dangerous scoring opportunities for us as well."
Sunday, April 23-at University of Cincinnati
vs. Cincinnati, L 1-0
vs. Dayton, W, 1-0
The 'Cats went 1-1 over the weekend with loss to the Bearcats before rebounding with a 1-0 win over Dayton, with Laura Janowitsch scoring the lone goal off a header for the win. The short-handed Wildcats are toughing it out this spring, playing with only two subs for most of their games.
"I want to hand it to my team for really bouncing back in that second game to finish the day with a strong win," Haigh said. "On the day, we played much better in the second game against Dayton. Laura played in the back and the midfield on the day and did well both places. Shannon Cusick was solid in the back for us as well. Kelsey had a strong second game creating from the wing space and Jenny Dunn played very well in second game doing the same. I also think Shannon Schneeman has a great day as well for us as well."
Saturday, April 29-at Marquette
vs. UW Green Bay, W, 1-0
vs. Marquette, L, 2-1
"While we were still short-handed due to an incomplete roster and injuries, we competed well on the day," Haigh said. "Against UW-Green Bay we had many quality scoring opportunites but only came up with one goal. We possessed the ball well and spent a lot of time in the attacking half of the field. Against Marquette, the game was much more even with quality scoring chances for both teams. However, Marquette scored two goals to our one and came away with the win. Alex Covington had a good day as she made many plays that broke down our opponent's defense. Caitlin Carr got into good scoring position but had some very near misses. Laura Janowitsch was solid in the back once again as well as up top. Jenny Dunn was dangerous in the flank space at times.
"Overall, we competed very well on the day. I was proud of how this team competed this spring. I'm really pleased with this group's efforts and progress. They work hard. They come to play. We have a lot of good things to look forward to in 2006!"
