Aug. 22, 2006
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IOWA CITY – The Setting
The University of Iowa women’s soccer team opens the 2006 season Friday in Columbia, MO, at the Tiger Invitational. The Hawkeyes face host Missouri at 7:30 p.m. and South Carolina Sunday at 11 a.m. Live stats (gametracker) will be available via www.hawkeyesports.com for the match against Missouri.
Youngsters Score in Exhibition
Iowa defeated Winona State, 4-0, in an exhibition at the Iowa Soccer Complex August 19. Two freshmen and two sophomores netted goals for the Hawkeyes.
Freshman Alexandria Seydel got things started in the 37th minute with a goal to put Iowa up, 1-0. The Hawkeye offense continued to pressureWinona State and scored three goals between the 72nd and 78th minute for the final 4-0 advantage. Sophomores Stephanie Hyink and Manon Engelhardt, along with freshman Kathleen Smokowski, each recorded late goals.
Scouting Missouri
The Missouri Tigers return 12 letterwinners and seven starters from the 2005 squad that finished 9-8-3.
Second team all-Big 12 pick Elyse Nikonchuck and Aria Hudetz, who netted six goals in 2005 return for their senior season.
The Tigers are coached by Bryan Blitz. Iowa trails the all-time series, 0-4-0.
Scouting South Carolina
The South Carolina Gamecocks return 16 letterwinners and eight starters from last year’s squad that finished 6-12-0.
Senior Darcel Mollon scored five goals and tallied four assists in 2005 and is the leading returning scorer. Both Ashley Kirk and Alex Mouton each netted three goals last season.
The Gamecocks are coached by Shelley Smith. This is the first meeting between the two schools.
Experienced Squad
The Hawkeyes return both depth and experience at all positions in 2006. Lindsey Boldt returns as a letterwinner in goal along with defenders Katie Smeltzer, Kim Lewis, Sarah Stephenson, Abby Gierke, Megan Love and Claire Goldenberg.
Iowa’s midfield returns six players, including Kelly Warner, Ashley Schlueter, Jackie Kaeding, Katie Mulvahill, Kelsey Shaw and Manon Engelhardt.
Stephanie Hyink, Melisa Kaetterhenry and Kelsie Full return up front for the Hawkeyes.
Returning Scorers
Sophomore Stephanie Hyink tallied 15 points (six goals, three assists) in 2005. Sophomore Kelsey Shaw scored three goals while junior Melisa Kaetterhenry netted three.
Hawkeyes Add Transfer
Ali Becker, a native of Bettendorf, has transfered to Iowa from Ball State for her senior season.
As a junior in 2005, Becker was an all-MAC selection and was named to the NSCAA all-Great Lakes and earned third team all-region honors.
New Faces on the Sidelines
Three new coaches will patrol the Hawkeye sidelines during the 2006 season. Head Coach Ron Rainey along with assistant coaches Eric Golz and Eileen Narcotta are in their first season at Iowa.
Rainey, who was an assistant coach at Iowa (1997-98), returns from Ball State where he was head coach for seven seasons. Rainey led the Cardinals to five-straight Mid-American Conference tournament bids and was named Mid-American Coach of the Year in 2001.
Golz joins the Hawkeyes from Bowling Green, where he was an assistant coach for two seasons. In 2005, Golz helped the Falcons to a 14-7-2 record and the the first MAC regular-season title in school history.
Narcotta was an assistant coach with Rainey for four seasons at Ball State. She was in charge of coaching goalkeepers and practice planning.