Quarterfinals Feature UNO-NKU Rematch
Nov 17, 2003 | Women's Soccer
The Mavs will host 18th-ranked Northern Kentucky in the NCAA quarterfinals at the Soccer Field at Ak-Sar-Ben Saturday at 1 p.m. for a chance to advance to the final four in Virginia Beach, Va. UNO (16-3-2) traveled to Wilder, Kent., last year and defeated the Norse 1-0 to advance to the final four. This year the Mavs advanced out of the Central Region with wins over Truman State and Minnesota State, Mankato.
The Mavs will bring a 25 game home unbeaten streak and an 11-2 post-season record into Ak-Sar-Ben after setting a season record with 481 fans at Sunday's game against MSU. Ashley Grace scored three times in the two games to lead the Mavs.
Mavericks and Norse evenly matched
The only major difference between last year's quarterfinal and this year's quarterfinal between UNO and NKU may be where the game is played. Both teams boast a strong defense filled with all-conference players for the second-straight year. Both teams have suffered losses and ties this year after having perfect regular seasons last year. Both teams have spent some time out of the top-twenty-five in the last two years after climbing all the way to the top spot at one point. And both teams have won one game in the two times they have met.
Northern Kentucky's offense is a little more top heavy compared to UNO's. The Norse feature four players with at least twenty points and eight all-together in double digits. Nebraska-Omaha has just four players in double digits but with twelve others tallying points, the Mavs and the Norse equal out. Overall, UNO has scored 59 goals while NKU has 67.
Northern Kentucky's top scorer, Kendra Zinser, has 33 points (13 goals, 7 assists) while UNO's Ashley Grace has 38 points (15 goals, 8 assists).
NKU's back line features all-Great Lakes Valley Conference players Becky Schnieders and
Robyn Withers. The two, along with goalkeeper Sam Westerling, have given up just 16 goals all year and have ten shutouts.
Nebraska-Omaha's back line is healthy again after sophomore Meghan Pile missed the first ten games and junior Rachel Tushner missed four mid-season matches. Along with sophomore Becca Fritz and goalkeeper Amy Price, the defense has allowed just 17 goals and has 12 shutouts.
GLVC coach of the year Bob Sheehan will lead the Norse into their fifth-straight NCAA quarterfinal appearance while UNO Coach Don Klosterman makes his second-straight quarterfinal appearance in his sixth year as coach.
2003 Final Four in Virginia Beach, Va.
For the second straight year the NCAA D II women's and men's soccer semifinals and finals will be played Dec. 4-6 at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex in Virginia Beach, Va.
The winner of the UNO-NKU match is set to play the winner of the Barry-Kennesaw State match in a semifinal match. Barry (16-4-3) knocked defending national champion Christian Brothers out in the second round after penalty kicks and will travel to Kennesaw (22-1-0).
Grace leads all scorers
Junior Ashley Grace's big weekend increased her team-leading point total to 38 (15 goals, 8 assists) after scoring three goals. She leads the team in the points, goals, assists and game-winning goals (6) categories. Senior Stephanie Kirby is second on the team in scoring with 26 points (10 goals, 6 assists) and freshman Haley Fries follows with 25 (10 goals, 5 assists).
Home sweet home
Despite three losses and two ties this year, the Mavs are 9-0-1 at home this year and haven't lost a game at the Soccer Field at Ak-Sar-Ben since Northern Colorado topped them on Oct. 13, 2001. Overall, the Mavs are 42-3-1 at home and are riding a 25 game unbeaten streak in front of the home crowd.
Perhaps the Mavs owe part of their success to the fans. Once again the Mavs lead the NCC with an average of 315 fans per game. In ten home matches, 3154 fans went through the gates. Last year the Mavs were seventh in the nation, averaging 319 per game.
UNO will play in its final home match of the 2003 season this Saturday against Northern Kentucky after defeating Minnesota State in front of a season record 481 fans.
Bouncing Back
After suffering just their second two-game losing streak in school history, the Mavs bounced back last weekend with two NCAA tournament wins. The Mavs had gone just 1-2-1 in the four games before that and only scored three goals while giving up four. The only other time UNO went on a two-game skid was in 2000 when Rockhurst and Northern Colorado topped the Mavs.
Hard work in classroom pays off
The University of Nebraska at Omaha soccer team was honored by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America with the NSCAA Women's Collegiate Team Academic Award for having a team GPA of 3.31. The award will be presented at the College Coaches Luncheon on Jan. 15, 2004, as part of the 57th Annual NSCAA Convention, to be held in Charlotte, N.C., Jan. 14-18, 2004. A total of 264 women's team received the award.
The Mavs will bring a 25 game home unbeaten streak and an 11-2 post-season record into Ak-Sar-Ben after setting a season record with 481 fans at Sunday's game against MSU. Ashley Grace scored three times in the two games to lead the Mavs.
Mavericks and Norse evenly matched
The only major difference between last year's quarterfinal and this year's quarterfinal between UNO and NKU may be where the game is played. Both teams boast a strong defense filled with all-conference players for the second-straight year. Both teams have suffered losses and ties this year after having perfect regular seasons last year. Both teams have spent some time out of the top-twenty-five in the last two years after climbing all the way to the top spot at one point. And both teams have won one game in the two times they have met.
Northern Kentucky's offense is a little more top heavy compared to UNO's. The Norse feature four players with at least twenty points and eight all-together in double digits. Nebraska-Omaha has just four players in double digits but with twelve others tallying points, the Mavs and the Norse equal out. Overall, UNO has scored 59 goals while NKU has 67.
Northern Kentucky's top scorer, Kendra Zinser, has 33 points (13 goals, 7 assists) while UNO's Ashley Grace has 38 points (15 goals, 8 assists).
NKU's back line features all-Great Lakes Valley Conference players Becky Schnieders and
Robyn Withers. The two, along with goalkeeper Sam Westerling, have given up just 16 goals all year and have ten shutouts.
Nebraska-Omaha's back line is healthy again after sophomore Meghan Pile missed the first ten games and junior Rachel Tushner missed four mid-season matches. Along with sophomore Becca Fritz and goalkeeper Amy Price, the defense has allowed just 17 goals and has 12 shutouts.
GLVC coach of the year Bob Sheehan will lead the Norse into their fifth-straight NCAA quarterfinal appearance while UNO Coach Don Klosterman makes his second-straight quarterfinal appearance in his sixth year as coach.
2003 Final Four in Virginia Beach, Va.
For the second straight year the NCAA D II women's and men's soccer semifinals and finals will be played Dec. 4-6 at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex in Virginia Beach, Va.
The winner of the UNO-NKU match is set to play the winner of the Barry-Kennesaw State match in a semifinal match. Barry (16-4-3) knocked defending national champion Christian Brothers out in the second round after penalty kicks and will travel to Kennesaw (22-1-0).
Grace leads all scorers
Junior Ashley Grace's big weekend increased her team-leading point total to 38 (15 goals, 8 assists) after scoring three goals. She leads the team in the points, goals, assists and game-winning goals (6) categories. Senior Stephanie Kirby is second on the team in scoring with 26 points (10 goals, 6 assists) and freshman Haley Fries follows with 25 (10 goals, 5 assists).
Home sweet home
Despite three losses and two ties this year, the Mavs are 9-0-1 at home this year and haven't lost a game at the Soccer Field at Ak-Sar-Ben since Northern Colorado topped them on Oct. 13, 2001. Overall, the Mavs are 42-3-1 at home and are riding a 25 game unbeaten streak in front of the home crowd.
Perhaps the Mavs owe part of their success to the fans. Once again the Mavs lead the NCC with an average of 315 fans per game. In ten home matches, 3154 fans went through the gates. Last year the Mavs were seventh in the nation, averaging 319 per game.
UNO will play in its final home match of the 2003 season this Saturday against Northern Kentucky after defeating Minnesota State in front of a season record 481 fans.
Bouncing Back
After suffering just their second two-game losing streak in school history, the Mavs bounced back last weekend with two NCAA tournament wins. The Mavs had gone just 1-2-1 in the four games before that and only scored three goals while giving up four. The only other time UNO went on a two-game skid was in 2000 when Rockhurst and Northern Colorado topped the Mavs.
Hard work in classroom pays off
The University of Nebraska at Omaha soccer team was honored by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America with the NSCAA Women's Collegiate Team Academic Award for having a team GPA of 3.31. The award will be presented at the College Coaches Luncheon on Jan. 15, 2004, as part of the 57th Annual NSCAA Convention, to be held in Charlotte, N.C., Jan. 14-18, 2004. A total of 264 women's team received the award.
Players Mentioned
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