TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Sycamore soccer hosts IUPUI on its annual Think Pink night at Memorial Stadium on Friday, Sept. 25th at 7:00 p.m. ISU is coming off of a 6-0 victory over Chicago State in Chicago on Sept. 18th.
IUPUI is currently on a two-match winning streak after defeating Marion (IN) 4-1, and Murray State 3-0 last weekend. Overall the Jaguars have earned a 4-4-1 record. IUPUI has tied Eastern Illinois, and fell to Marshall and Butler all at home. Those three teams have made the journey to Terre Haute, with the Sycamores defeating Eastern Illinois and Butler while falling to Marshall.
Indiana State has won three of its four matches at Memorial Stadium, outscoring opponents 6-3 in those victories. Sydney Lovelace enters the match after setting single match school records for goals scored and total offensive points after netting three goals and assisting one more during the 6-0 victory over Chicago State. Lovelace was also named MVC Offensive Player of the Week for her efforts.
A Little History -- IUPUI
The Sycamores and the IUPUI Jaguars have faced off a total of 15 times in the 15 years of Sycamore Soccer. ISU holds a 9-4-2 record over the Jaguars. This will be the eighth match played in Terre Haute between the two squads. At home, ISU is 5-2 against IUPUI and under head coach Erika True, the Sycamores are 4-1-1 overall. In the last five matchups, the Sycamores hold a 4-0-1 record. Last season, ISU and IUPUI tied 3-3 at Michael A. Carroll Stadium.
For the Jaguars, this is the final contest before entering into a string of eight-straight Summit League matches to end their regular season. ISU enters Missouri Valley Conference play against Drake on Oct. 2nd and six of the last seven matches are with MVC opponents prior to the MVC tournament in Evansville.
Scouting The Jaguars
IUPUI enters Friday's contest with a 4-4-1 record. The Jaguars have faced off with Eastern Illinois, Marshall and Butler, all who have played in Terre Haute this season. IUPUI has found its groove as of late, winning its last two matches. On Sept. 18th, the Jaguars beat Marian (IN) 4-1, and turned around on Sunday, Sept. 20th and took down Murray State 2-0 at home.
Offensively, IUPUI is led by sophomore forward Krissy Kirkhoff. Kirkhoff leads the team with 16 offensive points in 2015. She is tied for the team-lead with five goals and has assisted six more. Junior forward Tori Minnich has also added some power in the attacking third of the field. Minnich has scored five goals in her nine games played and assisted two others. Minnich is second on the team with 20 shots and leads the team with two game-winning goals.
In net, IUPUI has used two keepers so far in 2015. Catherine Schmidt has played in all nine matches and in 670 minutes total. Schmidt averages 1.21 Goals against and has saved 44 shots, while recording two shutouts. Nicole Kulovitz has also logged time in net, playing 160 minutes in five matches. Kulovitz has allowed three goals while saving ten shots.
Series History -- IUPUI
Here's a quick look at the series history with IUPUI (9-4-1)
09/03/00 - vs. IUPUI - L, 0-2 10/25/01 - at IUPUI - W, 4-0
09/25/02 - at IUPUI - T, 2-2 09/28/03 - vs. IUPUI - W, 4-0
09/08/04 - at IUPUI - L, 0-3 09/11/05 - vs. IUPUI - W, 3-1
09/24/06 - at IUPUI - W, 2-0 09/19/07 - vs. IUPUI - W, 2-0
10/05/08 - at IUPUI - L, 0-1 09/06/09 - vs. IUPUI - L, 0-3
09/17/10 - at IUPUI - W, 1-0 08/21/11 - vs. IUPUI - W, 2-1
09/14/12 - at IUPUI - W, 2-1 10/11/13 - vs. IUPUI - W, 4-0
09/21/14 - at IUPUI - T, 3-3
MVC In Action
Below is a list of other Missouri Valley teams competing over the weekend.
9/26
Loyola at Evansville * - 4:00 p.m. Northern Iowa at Missouri State * - 6:00 p.m.
Drake at Illinois State * - 8:00 p.m.
* - Denotes Missouri Valley Matchup
Hat's Off
Sydney Lovelace earned MVC Offensive Player of the Week honors after the match with Chicago State on Friday. Lovelace used just three shots to record her school record three goals in a match. In the ninth minute, Lovelace was able to dispossess a Cougar defender at the top of the box. She then dribbled in and fired a shot to give ISU an early lead. Two minutes later, Lauren Weigel sent a pass through the Chicago State backline where she was able to find Lovelace in stride. Lovelace beat the keeper to the lower right corner for her second goal. She also played a vital role in ISU's third goal of the afternoon, taking a corner kick and finding the head of Maddie Orf to give ISU a 3-0 lead. In the 31st minute, Lovelace made Sycamore Soccer history, scoring her third goal of the match. After being fouled in the box, Lovelace set up for her first penalty kick of her four-year career. She buried her shot to the right side of the goal for the first hat trick in school history. Lovelace's assist on the third goal of the match and gave her seven offensive points in the match, setting a record for most offensive points in a match in school history.
Unexpected Rest
Sycamore Soccer got an unexpected break this past weekend. After defeating Chicago State on Friday afternoon, Indiana State was scheduled to play Valparaiso in Valparaiso on Sunday, Sept. 20th. The Crusaders were playing a Horizon League match on Friday evening when severe weather hit the area. After delaying the match Friday night, Valpo and Wright State rescheduled their match for Saturday evening and cancelled the Sunday matchup with the Sycamores.
Ice in Her Veins
With the Sycamores trailing 1-0, Elly Freesmeier scored her first collegiate goal against Oral Roberts on Sunday afternoon. Freesmeier was able to power past a defender along the right side line where she dribbled to about five yards from the end line. Freesmeier then lofted a shot that went over the ORU keeper's head and ricocheted off the far post and in for her first goal. She also tied for the team lead with two shots in the contest.
Brilliant Brittany
Brittany San Roman recorded 24 saves in two contests against Tulsa and Oral Roberts. She saved 12 shots against Tulsa, and 12 more against Oral Roberts. It's the most saves in a two-match period since Aug. 29th-31st when she saved 29 shots against Belmont and UT Martin. San Roman has stopped 59 shots in 2015, and leads the Valley with the most saves. She is also tied for ninth in the NCAA for most saves.
MVC Honors
The Missouri Valley Conference awarded Sydney Lovelace and Kasey Wallace as Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for their performances during the week of Aug. 31st-Sept. 6th.
Sydney Lovelace tallied five of offensive points on Friday evening in a historical victory over the Butler Bulldogs. ISU went into halftime trailing 1-0. Lovelace scored goals in the 60th and 67th minute to give the Sycamores the lead. After giving up a goal in the 85th minute, ISU battled back and Lovelace assisted the game-winning goal that was scored by Maddie Orf in the 87th minute of action. It was the first victory over Butler since 2010, as ISU is now 4-10 against the Bulldogs. The match was Lovelace's third multi-goal effort in her career. She is now fourth all-time with 40 offensive points, fifth all-time with 14 goals scored.
Kasey Wallace continues to dominate in the defending third of the pitch in the 2015 season. Wallace played 180 minutes of the two matches against Butler and Eastern Illinois, both resulting in Sycamore victories. Against Butler, Wallace played an integral role in helping defeat the Bulldogs for the first time since 2010. Wallace also added an assist in the 3-2 victory over Butler. On Sunday afternoon against Eastern Illinois, Indiana State's defense allowed only nine shots, with just one being on frame.
Home Sweet Home
ISU is 3-1 in games played at Memorial Stadium in 2015. ISU has defeated Belmont, Butler and Eastern Illinois in Terre Haute, outscoring the teams by a combined 6-3. The Sycamores were 3-3 at home in 2014. During their second place finish in 2013, Indiana State was 6-2 at Memorial Stadium.
Sydney the Scholar
Senior forward Sydney Lovelace earned MVC Scholar-Athlete of the week for the week prior to Aug. 24th. Lovelace led the team with seven shots, three shots on goal and scored twice in her 189 minutes of action in the two matches. Lovelace tallied one shot in a 3-1 loss to Idaho before bringing the Sycamores back against Montana. ISU went down 3-0 to the Grizzlies in the 50th minute prior to forcing double overtime. Lovelace scored in the 53rd and 57th minutes to bring the Sycamores back into the match. Lovelace has earned a 3.94 GPA in athletic training.
Historical Comeback
Against Montana on Aug. 23rd, ISU went down 3-0 in the 50th minute. The Sycamores were able to rally back and tie the game up in the 65th minute. Although ISU lost the game in double overtime, the three-goal deficit is the largest deficit a Sycamore team has comeback from in school history.
Fresh Faces
Indiana State has 13 newcomers to the 2015 squad. A group of 12 freshman look to make a major impact on Sycamore Soccer this season. Brice Bement, Andrea Brown, Ashley Gibbons, Kim Gleason, Sydney Hamker, Julia Kist, Julia Linton, Kelly Polacek, Kayla Schrubb, Katie Sullivan, Reilly Teal and Katie Wells will be starting their first season as collegiate athletes. The Sycamores have one sophomore transfer joining for the 2015 season. Casidy Simonis played one season with Carson-Newman of the South Atlantic Conference prior to joining ISU. With the Eagles, Simonis appeared in 11 matches while starting four. She also scored one goal on seven shots.
Preseason Honors
The Sycamores were picked to finish fifth in the Missouri Valley Conference in a preseason poll conducted by the league's head coaches. ISU placed two players on the preseason all-conference team. Junior Maddie Orf earned preseason All-Conference honors while senior Sydney Lovelace earned a place on the Honorable Mention squad. Orf finished the 2014 season with 16 offensive points after leading ISU with seven goals. Lovelace finished with 13 points, netting four goals and assisting five more.
Well Isn't That Lovely
Sydney Lovelace is entering her final year in ISU blue in 2015. The Franklin, Ohio native already ranks in the top five all-time of most offensive categories. Lovelace had a successful season her freshman year, scoring four goals on 58 shots and earning MVC Second Team honors as well as All-Freshman honors. Her 2013 season was cut short due to injury, but during her 12 matches played, Lovelace scored two goals and assisted five others. Last season, Lovelace scored four goals and assisted five more as she was second on the team with 13 offensive points. Her 12 career assists are good for second all-time at ISU. Lovelace has is now tied for the third-most career offensive points (47 -- 17 G, 13 A) in school history during her career.
Senior Stars
Four seniors are on the roster for the 2015 season. Sydney Lovelace, Sydney Loesing, Kate Johnson, and Elle Steele make up this year's senior class. All four are currently ranked in the top five of active stat leaders. Lovelace has the most career points with 47 (17 G, 13A), Kate Johnson has racked up 34 (12G, 10A) points. Sydney Loesing has been no stranger to scoring goals, netting six in her three seasons. Elle Steele has also scored three times in her career.
Johnson was a member of the 2013 MVC First Team after scoring eight goals and assisting
five more. In 2014, Lovelace, Johnson and Steele appeared in all 17 matches. Loesing missed three matches due to injury but all logged significant playing time and all will be counted on to provide leadership and production during the 2015 campaign.
Outstanding Orf
Junior Maddie Orf, a preseason All-MVC selection, is coming off of her most productive offensive season. 2014 saw Orf score seven goals and assist two others. Orf took 52 shots during the season, fifth-most in single-season history at ISU. Orf also assisted two others while earning MVC First Team honors as well as MVC Scholar-Athlete honors. The seven goals in the 2014 season are fifth-most in single-season history at Indiana State. Orf has scored four goals and assisted three more in 2015.
Overtime
Indiana State has played 44 overtime matches in their program history, holding a 15-13-17 record when the match goes longer than 90 minutes. In the seven years under head coach Erika True, the Sycamores have played 25 overtime matches, posting a 9-6-10 record.
Return to Action
The Sycamores return to action on Friday, Oct. 2nd as they travel to Des Moines, Iowa to take on the Drake Bulldogs at 8:00 p.m. It is the first Missouri Valley Conference match of the season. ISU will continue their road swing, taking on the Western Illinois Leathernecks on Sunday, Oct. 4th at 2:00 p.m. in Macomb, Ill.
For the latest information on the Sycamore Soccer team, make sure to visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and snapchat (indianastsoccer).
