30 August 2000
CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, (309) 556-3206 and/or head coach Steve Berry, (309) 556-3343

IWU Women's Soccer Team Loaded With Weapons

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Twelve letterwinners, including three of the four "Most Valuable" players, return from last season's very successful Illinois Wesleyan women's soccer team, playing under new head coach Steve Berry.

The Titans, who tied a school record for victories in a season with a 12-6 mark in 1999, open their season with a Friday (Sept. 1) home game against Wisconsin-Stout at 7 p.m. at IWU's Neis Field.

Berry expects the key players to provide a one-two offensive punch to be junior midfielder Julie Brooks (Belleville, West HS) and freshman midfielder Ann Bernard (St. Charles HS).

Brooks, who has been the Titans' offensive MVP as a freshman and sophomore, scored eight goals and had four assists for 20 points last fall. A first team all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin choice for the second straight season, Brooks is No. 3 in career scoring at IWU with 53 points coming on 24 goals with five assists.

Bernard played for the five-time state champion St. Charles team as a high schooler and has been very impressive in preseason play. "She will solidify us wherever we play her," Berry said. "We'll start her off as a sweeper to make up for some injuries we have there, but she'll eventually move to midfield where we can use her great offensive skills."

Also bolstering the offense will be seniors Jill Denoma (Lake Villa, Carmel HS) and Vanessa Puma (Chicago, Parker HS), along with freshmen Lauren Boegen (Waukegan, Warren HS) and Christine Reed (Crystal Lake, South HS).

Another offensive returner will be co-MVP April App (Elburn, Kaneland HS), who led IWU in scoring last fall with 26 points, including 11 goals. A second team all-CCIW selection, App had three multi-goal games, including scoring two vs. Benedictine and Millikin and three vs. Illinois College. With 31 career points, she is No. 8 in scoring in IWU history.

Junior L.J. Hachmeister (Elmhurst, York HS) and senior Eleanor Flanagin (Downers Grove, North HS) will be key defensive players, while sophomore Alicia Heeger (Manchester, Mo., Lafayette HS) will inherit the goalkeeping job from the graduated Gayle Woodbury.

"Heeger was a second team all-CCIW player in 1999 as a defensive stopper, but played keeper in high school," Berry said. "She's very athletic and a natural in that position."

Junior Jen Randa (Burr Ridge, Hinsdale South HS) was another key defender for the 1999 team that allowed only 22 goals in 18 games.

The Titans open with an ambitious schedule of five games in the first 10 days of the season, including a Sept. 3 home game against Kalamazoo College, the No. 20-ranked Division III women's team.