Wisconsin Soccer Central

NCAA women's soccer tournaments kick off this weekend, with sides across the country taking their their first steps toward what every team hopes will be a national championship.

Three Wisconsin teams made the Division I tournament – Marquette, UW-Milwaukee and the University of Wisconsin – while UW-Parkside earned a spot in the Division II event and UW-Whitewater is in the Division III field.

Here's a look at those five state teams, along with many other Wisconsin natives whose out-of-state teams also qualified.

Division I

Marquette Golden Eagles

Coach: Markus Roeders, 17th season (252-91-35).
Record: 16-2-2 overall, 9-0-1 Big East Conference American Division (first).
How they qualified: Automatic bid as Big East tournament champion. Beat Georgetown 1-0 in the final.
NSCAA ranking: National – 12th. Northeast Region – First.
NCAA tournament history: 7-8-3 in 10 previous appearances (1999, 2000, '01, '02, '05, '06, '08, '09, '10 and '11).
Goals for: 53 (2.65 per game). Goals against: 12 (0.60). Shutouts: 15.
Leading scorers: M-F Maegan Kelly, jr. (8 goals-12 assists); M-F Taylor Madigan, jr. (8-4); M-F Kate Reigle, jr. (5-5); F Rachael Sloan, sr. (5-2); D-M Ally Miller, sr. (5-1); M-F Rachel Brown, sr. (4-3); M Mary Luba, so. (3-4); M-F Mady Vicker, so. (3-4); M-F Cara Jacobson, jr. (2-4); M Ashley Stemmeler, jr. (3-1); M-F Lisa Philbin, sr. (2-3).
Top goalkeeper: Amanda Engel, fr. (0.45 goals-against average, six shutouts).
From the touchline: Unbeaten in 14 matches (13-0-1) since only losses, 4-0 to North Carolina on Sept. 7 and 5-2 to Duke on Sept. 9, and have outscored opponents 41-3 in that span. ... Tied with Central Florida for national lead in shutouts. ... Ranked sixth in the country in scoring and 12th in goals-against average. ... Allowed just seven shots and four shots on goal in 1-0 wins over Notre Dame and Georgetown in Big East tournament last weekend. ... Engel, who made her college debut in the North Carolina match, ranks third in the nation in goals-against average. ... Defeated Toledo 1-0 in overtime in first-round of NCAA tournament last season before falling to Penn State 4-1.
On tap: First round – vs. Illinois State (13-4-2), 7 p.m. Friday at Valley Fields. Second round – Winner vs. No. 21 West Virginia (11-4-4) or Princeton (13-3-1), Nov. 16 or 18, site TBA.

UW-Milwaukee Panthers

Coach: Greg Henschel, first season at UW-Milwaukee (8-8-1), 14th overall (134-97-14 women, 298-165-34 overall).
Record: 8-8-1 overall, 5-2-0 Horizon League (tied for first).
How they qualified: Automatic bid as Horizon League tournament champion. Defeated Wright State 1-0 in double overtime in the final.
NSCAA ranking: National – Not ranked. Great Lakes Region – Not ranked.
NCAA tournament history: 1-9-2 in nine previous appearances (1997, 2001, '02, '05, '06, '08, '09, '10 and '11).
Goals for: 25 (1.47 per game). Goals against: 23 (1.35). Shutouts: Seven.
Leading scorers: F Krissy Dorre, jr. (7-3); F Kelly Lewers, so. (3-6); M Kelsey Holbert, so. (3-5); F Sammy Vovos, sr. (4-1); M Helen Steinhauser, sr. (3-1); M Amy Kauffung, so. (2-1); F Sara Zawacki, fr. (2-0); D-F Sara Stern, jr. (0-3).
Top goalkeeper: Jamie Forbes, sr. (1.27 gaa, seven shutouts).
From the touchline: Have won six of past seven matches, five by shutout and four by one goal. ... Won or shared Horizon regular-season championship each of past 13 years, second-longest streak in NCAA Division I women's soccer history behind Penn State (15 consecutive Big Ten titles). ... Won Horizon regular-season and tournament double for fifth straight year and ninth time overall. ... First-round opponent Notre Dame has won the past six meetings between the teams. ... Both the Panthers and Fighting Irish lost to Marquette and the University of Wisconsin this year. ... Earned first NCAA victory with 3-1 win over Illinois State in the first round last season before losing to Ohio State 2-1.
On tap: First round – at Notre Dame (13-5-2), 6 p.m. Friday in South Bend, Ind. Second round – Winner vs. No. 10 Wake Forest (13-5-3) or Georgia Southern (10-7-5), Nov. 16 or 18, site TBA.

Wisconsin Badgers

Coach: Paula Wilkins, sixth season at UW (58-44-17) and 12th season overall (177-63-28).
Record: 12-7-1 overall, 5-5-1 Big Ten Conference (sixth).
How they qualified: Earned one of 34 at-large berths in 64-team field.
NSCAA ranking: National – Not ranked. Great Lakes Region – Eighth.
NCAA tournament history: 13-15-2 in 16 previous appearances (1985, '88, '89, '90, '91, '93, '94, '95, '96, '98, 2000, '02, '04, '05, '09, '10).
Goals for: 38 (1.90 per game). Goals against: 27 (1.35). Shutouts: Six.
Leading scorers: F Cara Walls, so. (10-1); F Paige Adams, jr. (6-5); M Monica Lam-Feist, sr. (6-1); M Kinley McNicoll, fr. (3-6); M-F Kodee Williams, so. (3-4); M McKenna Meuer, fr. (4-1); M-D Joana Bielefeld, sr. (2-4); D Lindsey Johnson, sr. (0-6).
Top goalkeepers: Lauren Gunderson, sr. (1.32 gaa, two shutouts); Genevieve Richard, jr. (1.12 gaa, two shutouts).
From the touchline: Started season 6-1-0, then went 1-4-1 followed by a five-winning streak to strengthen NCAA resume. Lost regular-season finale to Iowa 2-1 and Big Ten tournament quarterfinal to Michigan 2-0. ... Third tournament appearance under Wilkins. Have recorded 3-1-2 record in that span, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2009. ... First-round match at UCLA is a rematch of a non-conference game from Aug. 31, won by the host Bruins 2-0. UCLA scored in the 78th and 90th minutes to deal UW its first loss. ... Richard, who missed the beginning of the season because she was with Canada at the FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup in Japan, made all five of her starts over the past nine matches. She played against Iowa, while Gunderson got the call in the Big Ten tournament match.
On tap: First round – at No. 6 UCLA (15-2-2), 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Los Angeles. Second round – vs. Tennessee-Martin (13-5-3) or Kentucky (13-6-1), Nov. 16 or 18, site TBA.

Other state players

Junior Sarah Tompkins (Franklin) is the backup goalkeeper for Tennessee-Martin (13-5-3), which takes a seven-game winning streak into its first-round match at Kentucky (13-6-1) on Friday. ... Senior striker Dana Larsen (Mequon Homestead) leads Baylor with 10 goals and nine assists. The Bears (17-1-4), who are coached by Marci Jobson(UW), open Friday at Arizona State (10-8-2). ... Midfielder Ally Andreini (Oshkosh West) has played in all but one match as a freshman for Miami, Fla. (9-7-3) and has a goal and two assists for the Hurricanes, who face Central Florida (17-4-1) in the first round Saturday. ... Junior defender Sarah Thune (Walworth Big Foot-Williams Bay) has come off the bench in 20 of 21 matches for Missouri (14-7-0), which plays host to Illinois (10-8-3) on Saturday.

Division II

UW-Parkside Rangers

Coach: Troy Fabiano, 15th season (188-67-22).
Record: 12-4-1 overall, 11-3-0 Great Lakes Valley Conference (fourth).
How they qualified: Earned one of 28 at-large berths in the 48-team field.
NSCAA ranking: National – Not ranked. Midwest Region – Seventh.
NCAA tournament history: 4-5-1 in five previous appearances (2003, '04, '08, '10 and '11).
Goals for: 32 (1.88 per game). Goals against: 15 (0.88). Shutouts: Eight.
Leading scorers: M Megan Owens, sr. (6-1); M Emily Konior, so. (6-0); F Ashley Meyer, jr. (4-4); M Kelsey Armour, jr. (4-1); F Cyrstal Chalery, sr. (3-2); M Madison Pickett, sr. (0-7); M Jasmine Espino, jr. (3-0); F Kaela Hoecherl, so. (3-0); M Lauki'i Cheng, sr. (1-4).
Top goalkeeper: Michelle Girard, so. (0.76 gaa, seven shutouts).
From the touchline: Closed regular season with nine consecutive wins, the final seven coming by shutout. ... First-round match against William Jewell is a rematch of a Sept. 16 Great Lakes Valley Conference game won by the Cardinals 2-0. ... A GLVC team will advance to the third round, as Parkside or William Jewell will play Quincy in the second round. Quincy won the conference regular-season title despite losing to the Cardinals, and beat William Jewell to win the tournament. ... The Rangers' match against Quincy was canceled due to inclement weather. ... Parkside has played Grand Valley State (Mich.) in all five of its NCAA tournament appearances, but would need to advance to the third round and have the Lakers do the same to continue that streak. ... Last year, the Rangers defeated Quincy 2-1 in overtime in the first round before being eliminated by Grand Valley State 3-1.
On tap: First round – vs. No. 22 William Jewell, Mo. (15-2-3), 7 p.m. Friday in Quincy, Ill. Second round – Winner at No. 13 Quincy, Ill. (16-2-2), 1 p.m. Sunday.

Other state players

Senior goalkeeper Amy Kunowski (Greendale) has 10 clean sheets and a 0.52 gaa for Bellarmine, Ky. (14-3-2), which plays Rockhurst, Mo. (13-3-3) in a first-round match Friday night in Allendale, Mich. – the teams tied 1-1 in a GLVC game on Oct. 14. The winner gets third-ranked and host Grand Valley State (18-1-2) in the second round Sunday. Senior forward Ashley Botts (Beloit) leads Grand Valley with 15 goals and four assists and has scored in seven of the last eight games. ... Sophomore midfielderSydney Temple (Madison La Follette) and senior defender Haley Petterson (Evansville) are regulars for No. 17 Minnesota State-Mankato (16-1-3), which got a bye into the second round. Temple has three goals and four assists and Petterson has a goal and three assists for the Mavericks, who are unbeaten in their past 18 games (16-0-2) and will play host to Central Oklahoma or Fort Hays State (Kan.) on Sunday. Senior midfielder Emma Grumke (Waunakee) has made three appearances for Mankato, while freshman forward Haley Gaines (Waunakee) also is on the roster.

Division III

UW-Whitewater Warhawks

Coach: Ryan Quamme, first season (15-4-1).
Record: 15-4-1 overall, 8-0-0 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (first).
How they qualified: Automatic bid as WIAC tournament champion. Defeated UW-Stevens Point 1-0 in the final.
NSCAA ranking: National – Not ranked. North Region – Third.
NCAA tournament history: 1-1-1 in one previous appearance (2011).
Goals for: 42 (2.10 per game). Goals against: 17 (0.85). Shutouts: Nine.
Leading scorers: F Chrissy Tooren, sr. (12-7); M Jenna Woodson, fr. (10-5); M Sarah Sedlar, so. (6-4); D Kelsey Finn, sr. (3-2); D Jessica Allemang, jr. (2-3); M Natalie Lechner, so. (2-1); M Erin Mrazek, fr. (2-0); M Alyssa Chamberlain, sr. (1-1); F Samantha Hoerchner, jr. (0-2).
Top goalkeeper: Jordan Myers, so. (0.83 gaa, seven shutouts).
From the touchline: Unbeaten in past nine games (8-0-1) with five shutouts. ... Started the season 1-3-0 with all three losses by shutout. ... Three of four losses have come to teams that qualified for the NCAA tournament. ... Advanced to Sweet 16 in first NCAA tournament appearance last fall before losing to Wheaton 4-1 – could meet the host Thunder in a second-round match this year. ... Woodson has scored four of her 10 goals in the past four matches, while Tooren has five goals in her last five games. ... Seventeen of 27 players on the roster are from Wisconsin.
On tap: First round – vs. Wittenberg, Ohio (11-4-3), 1:30 p.m. Friday in Wheaton, Ill. Second round – Winner vs. No. 11 Wheaton, Ill. (17-3-2) or Webster, Mo. (16-5-0), 5 p.m. Saturday.

Other state players

Freshman strikers Michelle Greeneway (Sheboygan North) and Holly Lesperance(Waukesha South) are the leading scorers for Midwest Conference champion Lake Forest (14-5-1) with 16 and 15 goals, respectively. Greeneway has added eight assists and Lesperance six. Junior defender Anya Moran (Shorewood) and sophomore midfielder Emily Keast (De Pere) also are regulars for the Foresters, who play No. 14 Concordia-Moorhead, Minn. (15-3-2) on Saturday in Waverly, Iowa. Senior midfielderLindsey Boyke (Verona) has played in every match for the host Knights (12-4-3), who open against Cal Lutheran (17-4-0). ... Junior defender Jenee Lange (Green Bay Notre Dame) leads the backline for No. 22 Aurora, Ill. (19-1-1), which plays Calvin, Mich. (15-4-1) on Friday in Dubuque, Iowa. Host and 19th-ranked Loras (17-4-0) has six Wisconsin players on its roster, including regulars in senior forward Hillary Wilson, sophomore keeper Hannah Wilson and sophomore midfielder Abby Maier – all from Waunakee – along with junior defender-midfielder Kinsey Campbell (Greendale). Hillary Wilson has six goals and five assists, while her sister Hannah sports a 0.93 gaa. Senior defenders Amy Nader (Milwaukee Lutheran) and Erica Frana (West Allis Hale) also have seen action for the Duhawks, who bring a 10-game winning streak into their first-round match against St. Scholastica, Minn. Junior forward Taylor Cunningham(Eau Claire Memorial) has three goals and 10 assists for the Saints (17-4-1), while freshman defender-midfielder Alexi Bopray (River Falls) has five goals and two assists. ... Liz Collins (Brookfield Academy) has two goals and an assist in 14 games and fellow freshman Abby Starker (Whitefish Bay) has a goal and an assist in nine appearances for third-ranked Washington-St. Louis (16-1-1). The Bears play Transylvania (11-5-3) in the first round Saturday.