IWU Sports

1 September 2004

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan women’s soccer team looks to build on the success of last season, when they claimed the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin regular season title, were nationally ranked for the first time in school history, and logged a 12-3-4 overall record.

The Titans, coached by David Barrett, have 18 letterwinners back from last year as they open their with a home game against Calvin at 3:30 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 4, in the Titan Soccer Classic. IWU also hosts Albion on Sun., Sept. 5, at 4 p.m. as part of the tournament.

“A key for our team this year is to stay healthy as our depth is a question mark,” said Barrett, who is in his fourth season with a career mark of 39-11-6. “But I feel our top 11 to 14 players are as good as anybody we play, including nationally-ranked Wheaton and Chicago.”

IWU must replace its first-ever All-American, the graduated Ann Bernard, a four-time all-conference player and the school’s all-time assist leader, who was a leader offensively as well as spiritually.

But the Titans have key offensive returners in junior forward Katie Kelly (Wheaton, Wheaton Warrenville So. HS) and senior co-captain Marisa Johnson (Wayne, St. Charles East HS).

Kelly was a second team all-Central region selection as she tied a school season record with 18 goals. A first team all-league player and three-time CCIW “Player of the Week”, Kelly is tied for No. 8 in career points with 54 and No. 5 all-time at the school with 25 goals.

Johnson was IWU’s second leading scorer as she collected 21 points on six goals with a team-high nine assists. After three seasons, Johnson is No. 4 in career assists with 20, only five away from the record of 25, held by Bernard. Johnson is No. 8 in career scoring (54) and No. 10 in goals (17).

Sophomores Lyndsay O’Brien (Peoria, Notre Dame HS) and Katie Korder (Urbana HS) along with junior Mary Karson (St. Charles HS) are others who give the Titans offensive firepower. O’Brien had five goals and eight assists for 18 points as a freshman while Karson registered eight goals with four assists for 20 points in an injury-plagued sophomore season.

Freshman Taryn Hegi (Wheaton, North HS) is another midfielder who could merit playing time as the season progresses.

IWU was strong defensively in 2003, allowing only 14 goals in their 19-game season. Returning in goal is sophomore Emily Castner (Elgin, Larkin HS), who allowed 0.74 goals per game and had six shutouts.

Other backs who will add to IWU’s strength are junior all-conference player Jenny LaBrenz (Kalamazoo Mich., Central HS), senior co-captain Kristin Wood (Sycamore HS), and sophomore Ashley Goergen (Geneva HS), who was the team’s “Most Improved Player” last season.

Wood, who scored two goals with two assists as a midfielder in 2003, will use her versatility and athletic skills to switch to a defensive position this fall.

“We have good experience, athleticism and speed and our team chemistry is excellent,” said Barrett. “The key to winning a CCIW title is attending to small details that separate championship teams from contending teams.”

On IWU’s schedule are four teams earning national top 25 preseason rankings in Division III, including No. 2 University of Chicago (Oct. 20), No. 8 Wheaton (Sept. 29), No. 16 Washington U. (Sept. 21), and No. 24 Loras (Sept. 15).

Titans Have High Expectations for 2004 Women's Soccer