Mavs Welcome Northern Iowa, Northern Illinois
Aug 26, 2015 | Women's Soccer
The Week Ahead
• The Omaha women's soccer team welcomes Northern Iowa (8/28) and Northern Illinois (8/30) to Caniglia Field this weekend. Start time for Friday's match is 5 p.m., while Sunday's kick-off is 11 a.m.
Looking Back
• Omaha opened the 2015 regular season at Iowa on Sunday afternoon. The Hawkeyes came away with a 4-0 win over the Mavericks. Haley Shelton had six saves in the loss.
Maverick Quick Hits
• Veteran Vibe: Omaha returns one of the most experienced lineups in the country this fall. The Mavericks bring back 11 starters from a season ago. Included are Summit League Defensive Player of the Year Hannah Wampler and First Team All-Summit League performer Chelsi Rohloff.
• Goals, Goals, Goals: UNO returns 79.2 percent of its goal scoring from last season, led by senior Chelsi Rohloff who netted 10 goals in 2014. Senior defender Hannah Wampler added four goals.
• Lending a Helping Foot: The Mavericks return four players who tallied at least three assists last season. Rohloff led the team with four assists last season. Kyla Booker, Lydia Holtmann, and Courtney Neville each had three assists.
• Preseason Predictions: Omaha was picked to finish fifth in the preseason Summit League Coaches Poll. Last season, the Mavericks defeated preseason favorite Denver and post season tournament champion South Dakota State.
• Klosterman's Way: Don Klosterman (193-54-10) enters his 17th season at the helm of the Omaha program in 2015. During his stint with the Mavericks, he has been named NSCAA Coach of the Year twice (2002, 2005) and won the NCAA Division II national title in 2005.
Previewing the Panthers
• Northern Iowa opened the 2015 season with a 1-0-1 record. The Panthers were picked to finish seventh in the Preseason Missouri Valley Conference.
• UNI opened the season with a 1-0 overtime win over Green Bay on Friday evening. The Panthers outshot the Phoenix, 14-12. Annie Dale scored the game winner in the 97th minute. Goal keeper Whitney Blunt made four saves.
• The Panthers tied SEMO on Sunday afternoon, 3-3. Northern Iowa scored three goals in the second half to earn the tie. Dale scored her second goal of the season, while Maddie Welch and Mary Brandt tallied their first goals of the season. Blunt was credit with five saves.
• Annie Dale was named the MVC Offensive Player of the Week for her two goals last week.
• Coach Prince announced this will be his final season at the helm of the Panthers.
• Northern Iowa finished last season with a 7-9-3 overall record and a 2-3-1 MVC record. They are returning nine starters from last season, including leading scorer Brady Clark. Whitney Blunt returns in goal and posted a 6-9-3 overall record with a 1.37 goals against average and a .757 save percentage.
Series vs. Northern Iowa
• Friday marks the fourth meeting between the two schools. Omaha owns a 2-1 all-time series lead.
Notes on Northern Illinois
• Northern Illinois opened the 2015 season with a 1-1 record. The Huskies were picked to finish fifth in the MAC Western Division according to the Preseason Poll.
• NIU's roster features six seniors, five juniors, two redshirt freshmen and four incoming true freshmen.
• Northern Illinois rallied for a 2-1 win over Lewis on Friday evening to open its 2015 campaign. Nicole Gobbo and Cassidy Page each scored goals in the win, while Maggie Renfro assisted on both goals. Amy Annala made two saves in the game.
• The Huskies lost a 2-1 decision to North Dakota on Sunday afternoon in DeKalb, Ill. Gabbo scored the lone goal for NIU in the 68th minute. Annala was credited with four saves in the loss.
• Northern Illinois finished last season with a 6-11-4 mark and a 4-4-3 record in the MAC.
Series vs. Northern Illinois
• Sunday marks the second meeting between the two schools. NIU owns a 1-0 all-time series lead.
UP NEXT: MAVERICKS RETURN TO THE ROAD
• Omaha hits the road for a pair of games next weekend. On Friday, Sept. 4, the Mavericks travel east on Dodge Street to play crosstown rival Creighton at Morrison Stadium at 5 p.m. UNO hits the road for a Sunday, Sept. 6 match up against North Dakota in Grand Forks at noon.
