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Western Illinois Women's Soccer Begins Season at Missouri State

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

The Leathernecks start regular season play at Missouri State on Thursday, Aug. 16.

MACOMB, Ill. – The Western Illinois women's soccer program is set to open up the regular season at Missouri State on Thursday, Aug. 16 at 6 p.m.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Leathernecks swept their two exhibition matches at UIC and Green Bay recently. In Chicago on Aug. 10, a goal in the 75th minute by Lauryn Peters on an assist from Cassidy Grunewald helped Western Illinois win 1-0. On Sunday, August 12, the Purple and Gold pulled off a close one at Green Bay. Emily Bollman kicked off the scoring in the 44th minute by converting a penalty kick. The Phoenix tied it up in the 68th minute but Bollman scored again in the 75th minute to regain the lead. Only a minute later, Amy Andrews sent one into the back of the net for a 3-1 lead. Green Bay scored in the 84th minute but the Leathernecks were able to hang on for the 3-2 victory.
 
COACH JOHNSON'S THOUGHTS: "We have had a very productive preseason so far," Director of Soccer Dr. Eric Johnson said. Our incoming class is fitting in well with the returners and getting two wins on the road has given us a boost of confidence. Heading down to Springfield to play Missouri State will be a real test as they were Missouri Valley champions last year.  We need to keep improving every day so we are ready for the start of Summit League play."

RETURNING EXPERIENCE: The Leathernecks return key experience for the 2018 roster, losing just three starters, Cristina From, Alexandra Siavelis and Mary Street from a year ago. In all, Western Illinois returns nine starters from last season and a total of 14 players coming back, while only losing 10 total.
 
The roster features a total of 12 upperclassmen that includes five seniors in midfielder Lilly Butler, forward Madeline Edwards and defenders Ashley Kuhlmann, Emma Keckeisen and Maddie Wilsey while the junior class includes goalkeeper Ines Palmiero Herrera, forward Emily Bollman, Scott Community College transfer defender Madison Bulin, defender Natalie Sielaff, defender Kayla McCormick midfielder Bianca Romay and forward Stacie Wolfgram.
 
Sophomores Lauryn Peters, Natalie Nagle and Bridget Schuler are all returning starters. They are joined by sophomore midfielder Jenna Lundgren and goalkeeper Megan Rasmussen.
 
Lastly, Johnson added a total of eight freshmen that include forward Amy Andrews, defender Sam Brooks, defender Zoe Clarke, forward Laurel Edwards, midfielder Cassidy Grunewald, forward Ally Hasken, defender Sydney Pryor and goalkeeper Birgitta Sol Eggertsdottir.
 
A LOOK AT YOUR LEATHERNECKS: Western Illinois returns all of its statistical leaders from the 2017 season, which include Romay, who led the program with eight points and was tied with Bollman for the team lead in goals (3). Summit League Preseason Player to Watch Madeline Edwards recorded six points and led the team with 19 shots on goal.
 
Of those returning, Western Illinois has eight players who saw action in 10 or more matches from the previous season, and three who appeared in all 17 games in 2017. In net, Palmiero Herrera totaled 62 saves in 13 matches played as a sophomore last season.

SCOUTING MISSOURI STATE: The Bears finished 10-9-2 last season and are the reigning Missouri Valley Conference Tournament champions. Missouri State fell in the first round of the NCAA tournament to No. 16 Oklahoma State in penalty kicks. Rob Brewer has been the head coach of the Bears since the program began in 1996 and has totaled a 190-179-50 overall record while at Missouri State.
 
They are led by senior forward Brooke Prondzinski, who led the team in goals (6) and points (13) off 27 shots last season. Junior defender Brittney Robinson was named to the MVC Preseason All-Conference team and the Bears were picked to finish second in the MVC this season. The last time these two teams met, Western beat Missouri State 2-1 in Macomb on Sept. 25, 2016.
 
COMING UP NEXT: One week after the road match against Missouri State on Aug. 16, Western hits the road again to Northern Illinois on Aug. 23 followed by the home opener against UMKC on Aug. 26 at John MacKenzie Alumni Field. 
 
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