BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- The Illinois Wesleyan University women’s soccer
team returns three of the top four scorers from a team that finished last
year with a school record-tying 12 victories in addition to a host of other
school marks.
The Titans, who open their season at St. Mary’s tomorrow (Sept.
2), are coming off a 12-5-1 season that saw them reel off six consecutive
wins and set new school standards for goals in a season (74), fewest goals
allowed (20), and shutouts (10).
Heading the returners are sophomore midfielder Sara Nelson (Shoreview,
Minn., Mounds View HS) and sophomore forward Jenny Sbalchiero (Oak Lawn,
Mother McAuley HS), each of whom scored 10 goals with four assists, and
junior forward Alyssa Kulak (Park Ridge, Maine South HS), who scored 11
goals and added seven assists.
“It will be a challenge to replace the scoring of (graduated)
Kaye Galyean, but we return people who scored 59 percent of our goals last
year, so we should continue to be strong offensively,” said IWU coach Tony
Bankston. Galyean, a three-time all-College Conference of Illinois and
Wisconsin forward, holds seven IWU offensive records, including goals,
assists, and points in both a single season and career, as well as goals
in a game.
Other top midfield candidates include junior Kel Erion (Algonquin,
Jacobs HS), an all-conference player last year, sophomore Vanessa Puma
(Chicago, Parker HS), and freshman Julie Brooks (Belleville, West HS).
Freshmen Laura Hachmeister (Elmhurst, York HS) and Jamie Vilos
(Lockport, Township HS) and sophomore transfer Jill Denoma (Lake Villa,
Carmel HS) are also vying for playing time as forwards and midfielders.
Senior Erin Gallagher (Springfield, Southeast HS), a two-year
all-conference sweeper and IWU’s most valuable player on defense the past
two seasons, anchors a solid defense that hopes to repeat its success of
1997, when IWU allowed a school-record 1.1 goals per game.
Other defensive letterwinners returning are senior co-captain
Kristen Busalacchi (Milwaukee, Wis., King HS), sophomore Eleanor Flanigan
(Downers Grove, North HS), and junior April Schoeneweiss (Rockford, Auburn
HS), while freshman Lisa Hampton (Lombard, Glenbard East HS) will see playing
time as a stopper.
Returning at goalkeeper is junior Gayle Woodbury (Little Canada,
Minn., Roseville HS), the winner of the team's “Outstanding Leadership
Award” who allowed only 12 goals in 13 games for a .92 goals-against average
and posted seven shutouts.
Freshman Amber Knight (Romeoville HS) has also looked good as
a goalkeeper in preseason play.
Due to construction of the new Jack Horenberger Baseball Field
at IWU, all IWU home games will be played at the fields west of the Bloomington
Sale Barn on North Main.
September 2 at St.
Mary’s 4:30 p.m.
September 5 BLACKBURN
12 p.m.
September 12 at Aurora
12 p.m.
September 17 *AUGUSTANA
4 p.m.
September 19 ROCKFORD
1 p.m.
September 24 *at Wheaton
7 p.m.
September 26 *NORTH PARK
1 p.m.
September 29 BENEDICTINE
4 p.m.
October 1
*at Millikin 4 p.m.
October 3
*at North Central 12 p.m.
October 7
MacMURRAY 4
p.m.
October 10
MARYVILLE 1
p.m.
October 16
PRINCIPIA 4
p.m.
October 20
at Monmouth 4 p.m.
October 22
at Illinois College 4 p.m.
October 24
*at Carthage 12 p.m.
October 28
*ELMHURST 3
p.m.
November 1
at Robert Morris 2 p.m.
NO. NAME
POS. HT. YR. HOMETOWN
(HIGH SCHOOL)
8
Gbemi Adeniran
MF/F 5-5 Fr. Lagos,
Nigeria (Hillcrest HS)
14
April App
F/MF 5-6 Fr. Elburn
(Kaneland HS)
19
Julie Brooks
MF/F 5-6 Fr. Belleville
(West HS)
9
Kristen Busalacchi***# Def. 5-0
Sr. Milwaukee, Wis. (King HS)
15
Jill Denoma
Def. 5-10 So. Lake Villa
(Carmel HS)
10
Liz Downes*
GK 5-6 So.
Barrington (Carmel HS)
11
Kel Erion**#
MF 5-2 Jr.
Algonquin (Jacobs HS)
4
Eleanor Flanagin* Def.
5-2 So. Downers Grove (North HS)
5
Erin Gallagher***# Def.
5-7 Sr. Springfield (Southeast HS)
22
Laura Hachmeister MF
5-7 Fr. Elmhurst (York HS)
3
Lisa Hampton
Def. 5-4 Fr. Lombard
(Glenbard East HS)
1
Amber Knight
GK 5-9 Fr.
Romeoville (HS)
12
Amy Krupa
Def. 5-7 Fr. Park
Forest (Marian Catholic HS)
13
Alyssa Kulak**
F 5-6 Jr.
Park Ridge (Maine South HS)
17
Sara Nelson*
F 5-7 So.
Shoreview, Minn. (Mounds View HS)
20
Sara Oberhoffer F
5-5 So. Dubuque, Iowa (Wahlert HS)
21
Vanessa Puma*
F 5-6 So.
Chicago (Parker HS)
7
Jenny Sbalchiero* MF
5-4 So. Oak Lawn (Mother McAuley HS)
18
April Schoeneweiss** Def. 5-8
Jr. Rockford (Auburn HS)
16
Jamie Vilos
F 5-3 Fr.
Lockport (Township HS)
1
Gayle Woodbury**# GK
5-4 Jr. Little Canada, Minn. (Roseville
HS)
* — Indicates letters
won.
# — Indicates captains.