2017 SLIAC Women's Soccer Tournament Preview
At A Glance
This marks championship week for one of the best seasons in SLIAC Women's Soccer history. For just the third time in conference history the top four teams all recorded at least seven conference wins. The two other times that was accomplished was back when the conference played 14 conference games in a season. This year's tournament field includes Fontbonne University, Greenville University, Webster University, and Westminster College. Semifinal games will be played on Thursday, November 2 with the SLIAC Championship game set for Saturday, November 4.
Tournament Schedule
Semifinals - Thursday, November 2
Game 1 - #1 Webster vs. #4 Westminster in St. Louis, Mo.(World Wide Technology Soccer Park) 6 p.m.
Game 2 - #2 Fontbonne vs. #3 Greenville in St. Louis, Mo. (Centenne Park) 7 p.m.
Championship - Saturday, November 4
Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2, at higher seed
Collegecasts Championship Game Broadcast link
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FONTBONNE UNIVERSITY 'GRIFFINS' Last year, after advancing to the SLIAC Tournament Championship game for the first time since 1996 Fontbonne has their eyes set on a similar run this year and will be the #2 seed in the tournament. To prepare for the postseason the Griffins played a tough non-conference schedule, that saw them start the year 1-7. However the Griffins have now won six of their last seven games as they enter the tournament and their pressure attack, which ranked 2nd in shots per game and 3rd in goals scored this year, has put up 12 goals in their last three outings. Meredith Wendt is at the front of that attack, leading the team with 16 goals and eight assists. Jacey Pate and Karlie Peth offer support with each notching eight goals this fall. In net, the Griffins have used a rotation of Mary Beers and Makayla Hussong. |
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Coach: Brian Hoener |
Coaches Corner with Brian Hoener
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GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY 'PANTHERS' After a one-year absence, the Greenville Panthers are back in the tournament. Greenville rolled off 13 wins during the regular season, their most since the 2011 season. The Panthers come into the tournament having scored 75 goals this season and finished 3rd in both goals scored and shutouts during conference play. The Panthers have four players with 30 or more points, headed up by Kate Arthur (14 goals and 12 assists). Jade Taylor led the team with 16 goals while Breanna Thomas led the squad with 16 assists. Dani Pearce, a former SLIAC Newcomer of the Year, added 12 goals and 9 assists. Their defense is led by Tymber Gabbert, who missed last year with an injury. The Panthers have quality depth in net as well with Marjory Coates and Hope Brakenhoff. Brakenhoff, the incumbent starter, missed most of the season with an injury but has returned while Coates filled in admirably for the Panthers. |
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Coach: Jeff Wardlaw |
Coaches Corner with Jeff Wardlaw |
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WEBSTER UNIVERSITY 'GORLOKS' For the fifth straight year, the Gorloks are the tournament's top seed. Webster finished 17-1 overall this fall, completing the program's 9th perfect conference season. Webster enters with a nine-game winning streak and has not allowed a goal in five straight games. They buried 75 shots during the regular season including a conference-high 55 during SLIAC games. Melissa Kasper leads the attack, with 10 goals and 12 assists. Joi Wilson leads the team with four game-winning goals while a total of ten players have reached double digits in points this fall. Defensively the Gorloks are strong with Elena Bloma, Sydney Tedesco, and Lily Brauer roaming the field. The Gorloks depth is even evident in net, where Alisa Coralic, Abbey Mercer, and Aly Miller have all seen time down the stretch. The trio has combined for a 0.66 goals-against average and a .803 save percentage. |
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Coach: Luigi Scire |
Coaches Corner with Luigi Scire
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WESTMINSTER COLLEGE 'BLUE JAYS' The Blue Jays have ridden a strong October into the postseason, finishing the regular season with five straight wins. The Blue Jays put up 62 goals during the season and recorded seven shutouts. They feature a dangerous scoring combo of Paige Townsend and Gracie Koonce. Townsend led the SLIAC with 19 goals this fall, adding 8 assists, while Koonce tallied 12 goals and 7 assists. Natalie Schulte also came up big for the Blue Jays with three of her six goals resulting in game-winners. Sarah Craddick has played over 1200 minutes in net this fall and holds a 1.36 goals-against average with 45 saves. |
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Coach: Jen Dyson |
Coaches Corner with Jen Dyson
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