30 August 2001
CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, (309) 556-3206 and/or head coach Dave Barrett, (309) 556-3343
 
 

IWU Women's Soccer Team Has Many Stengths

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. ­ With 14 of the 18 players on the team being freshmen or sophomores, the Illinois Wesleyan women's soccer team may be perceived as too young to contend for conference or national recognition.

But underestimating the Titans might be a mistake, according to first-year head coach Dave Barrett, as nine letterwinners return from a team that set a school record for wins with a 16-4 mark and tied for their best-ever College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin mark with a 5-2 record.

IWU opens its season against Marian (Wis.) at 11 a.m. Saturday (Sept. 1) in a Wisconsin-Whitewater tournament, then plays the host school at 1 p.m. Sunday.

"Defense is our top priority and we need to be the best in our league," said Barrett. "With our talented offensive players, goals will take care of themselves, but we have to be able to unlock and organize good defenses against quality teams."

Two first team all-CCIW players, senior midfielder Julie Brooks (Belleville, West HS) and sophomore midfielder Ann Bernard (St. Charles HS), are keys to a potent offense. Brooks, a three-time team offensive "MVP", led IWU in scoring and set single-season records with 18 goals and 43 total points. Brooks had four multi-goal games last fall and netted four in a 7-1 win over Illinois College to tie an IWU single-game record.

After three seasons, Brooks has jumped to the No. 2 spot in IWU career scoring and goals with 96 points and 42 goals.

Bernard, the team's "Most Valuable Player" in 2000, made an immediate impact in her first year of college soccer, scoring nine goals with six assists for 24 points, placing her No. 14 in career scoring at IWU after just one season.

"Julie and Ann will be counted on to be our playmakers, looking to create and orchestrate our offensive attack," said Barrett.

Other prominent returners are seniors April App (Elburn, Kaneland HS) and L.J. Hachmeister (Elmhurst, York HS) and sophomores Lauren Boegen (Waukegan, Warren HS) and Christine Reed (Crystal Lake, South HS), who shared offensive co-MVP honors with Brooks.

App had 11 goals and seven assists a year ago while Barrett indicated that Hachmeister will be expected to be a leader on defense this year. Reed set a school single-game mark with five assists vs. Augustana and a season record with 16 assists. She was second on the team with 34 points, making her No. 8 all-time in IWU women's soccer scoring.

Sophomores Kristin Riek (Delafield, Wis., Kettle Moraine HS) and Katie Taylor (Hinsale Central HS) will be counted on as defensive players, while junior Alicia Heeger (Manchester, Mo., Lafayette HS) returns as the goalkeeper.

"Alicia is a good athlete, a fast learner, and is a steady player to have in goal," said Barrett. Heeger had a 0.94 goals-against average with five shutouts in 2000.

Barrett has been impressed by the preseason play of freshmen Alissa Hunt (Glen Ellyn, Glenbard West HS), Marisa Johnson (Wayne, St. Charles East HS), April Naylor (Geneva HS), Stephanie Travers (Maryville, Rosati-Kain HS), and Kristin Wood (Sycamore HS).

"The foundation is there for an outstanding women's soccer program," said Barrett, who is coaching a women's team for the first time. "It's exciting to have ability, enthusiasm, and a good work rate up and down the roster."

The Titans look to get away to a fast start this season leading into a Sept. 14 showdown against Wheaton. The Thunder are winners of the CCIW women's soccer championship in all six seasons of conference play and have never lost a league match.