Iowa Opens 2011 Season in Chicago

Aug. 17, 2011

Week One Notes

This Week
The University of Iowa soccer team opens the 2011 season on the road Friday against the DePaul Blue Demons at 4 p.m. at Wish Field in Chicago, Ill. Sunday afternoon, Iowa hosts Southeast Missouri State for the first home game of the season. The teams game will be held at the Iowa Soccer Complex, beginning at 1 p.m.

Scouting The Opponents
DePaul will build its defense on goalkeeper Claire Hanold. The junior played in 16 games for the Blue Demons last season, recording 62 saves and six shutouts.

Sophomore Natasa Radosavljevic will take on a lead scoring role after the team’s top-three scorers from 2010 graduated. Radosavljevic found the net three times last season and competed in 21 games. Kelly Blumberg, Ashleigh Goddard and Michelle Scandora each scored two goals last season and return in 2011.

Head Coach Erin Chastain is in her fifth season at the helm of the Blue Demons women’s soccer team. Chastain led the team to its first Big East conference championship in 2010.

Southeast Missouri State’s attack will look to junior Courtney Luehmann, 2010’s second leading scorer. Luehmann and Stephanie Palmer combined for nine goals last season.

Sophomore keeper Ashton Aubuchon will take the reins between the posts. Aubuchon recorded 54 saves and six shutouts through 16 games of competition.

Veteran Redhawk head coach Heather Nelson enters her 12th season as the program’s coach. Nelson has built the SEMO women’s soccer program from the ground up, starting the team in 1999.

Last Week
The women’s soccer team controlled every aspect of its exhibition victory over drake, claiming a 6-0 win after 90 minutes of play.

Junior Jade Grimm was the first of five Hawkeyes to score, connecting twice in a row within the first 15 minutes of the game.

Hawkeye newcomers Cloe Lacasse, Nicole Urban and Anne Mare Thomas etched their names into the statbook. Lacasse assisted the first goal of the game, while Urban and Thomas both tallied a goal in the final minutes of the game.

Kickoff Tailgate
The University of Iowa Athletics Department is hosting a Tailgate Kickoff prior to Sunday’s game.

Fans can sign up to win a Hawkeye tailgate combo pack, while other tailgaters can stock up on schedule cards and posters.

Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. and admission is free for all ages.

Newcomers
Caitlin Schnorbach, one of two incoming goalkeepers, is from Edina, Minn. Schnorbach recorded 21 career shutouts and did not allow a single goal during her sophomore campaign.

Nicole Urban, a forward from Lisle, Ill., holds three school records, including career goals (105), goals in a single season (41) and points in a single season (101) following her career at Lisle High School.

Caitlin Brown, a defender from Ann Arbor, Mich., is a two-time all-state selection and three-time all-Catholic and all-district honoree.

Marissa Hurt, a defender from Ankeny, Iowa., was a member of the Ankeny girl’s soccer team that was a three-time conference champion.

Anne Marie Thomas, a defender from Kentworth, Ill., competed on the New Trier lacrosse team that posted a perfect 24-0 record.

Abby Zimmerman, a forward from Bettendorf, Iowa., was her high school team’s leader in scoring and assists for three years.

Cloe Lacasse, a forward from Sudbury, Ontario., was named the Female Athlete of the Year by her high school and the city of Sudbury.

Jordan Rakas, a defender from Holt, Mich., was a four-time all-conference selection as well as her team’s MVP and captain for two seasons.

Melanie Pickert, a defender from Canton, Mich., was a three-time all-state selection for her efforts on the Canton High School girl’s soccer team.

Kiley Beck, one of two incoming goalkeepers, is from Rockford, Ill., where she posted a .952 goals against average following her junior year.