2006 CCIW Women’s Soccer Preview

NAPERVILLE, Ill. – The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) enters its 12th season of sponsoring women’s soccer, but the 2006 champion will be determined by a brand new playoff format.

Under the old format, the conference champion in both men’s and women’s soccer was determined by a four-team tournament with the automatic qualifier for the NCAA Tournament being determined by a point system. Under the new format, which takes affect this season, the conference champion will be determined by the single round robin regular season with the automatic qualifier going to the winner of the four-team conference tournament, held November 1 & 4.

Wheaton (21-3-0, 7-0-0 in 2005) has won every conference title since the CCIW began sponsoring women’s soccer during the 1995-96 academic season, sharing a title with Carthage in 2001. Wheaton head coach Pete Felske’s counterparts in the conference picked his team to win another title in 2006. The Thunder were picked first in the latest Preseason Women’s Soccer Coaches Poll, winning with 49 points including seven first place votes.

Despite the loss of all-American Jen Binger and all-region defender Colleen McAndrews, the Thunder return 13 letterwinners eager to win their 12th conference title and make their 10th straight NCAA Division III Tournament appearance. Sophomore forward Erin Hodina returns after leading the team with 17 goals last season, earning second-team all-conference honors. Junior Sarah Richardson, a first-team all-conference selection a year ago, scored 12 goals and was second on the team in assists with eight. Senior co-captain Laura Koontz and sophomore Kari Klynstra will be relied upon at midfield, while Kristin Eggert will take over the goalkeeping duties.

Illinois Wesleyan (15-4-1, 5-2-0 in 2005) advanced to the NCAA Tournament a year ago as an at-large bid. The Titans were picked to finish second in the preseason poll with 41 points, including one first place vote as they look to build upon the success of last season. First-team all-conference midfielder Lyndsay O’Brien returns after scoring six goals and tallying nine assists last season. O’Brien is the school’s all-time leader in assists with 25. Sophomore forward Caroline Leighton, a second-team all-conference pick a year ago, also returns, as does senior co-captains Ashley Goergen and Emily Castner at defender and goalkeeper respectively.

Augustana (13-7-1, 5-2-0 in 2005) were picked to finish third by the coaches in 2006, earning 38 points in the preseason poll. The Vikings look to make its second straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Despite losing goalkeeper Betsy Knawa and defenders Betsy Fritz and Anne Gajewski to graduation, Augustana has a number of talented players to replace the departed ones. Senior defenders Mindy Diehl and Elizabeth Fries both started a year ago and return to lead the Viking defense. Junior forward Tessa Roberts, a first-team all-conference pick last season, returns after leading her team in scoring a year ago (14 goals and two assists for 30 points). Additionally, senior midfielder Nicci Bosco returns after earning first-team all-conference status in 2005.

Carthage, picked fourth in the preseason poll (31 points), finished the 2005 season 10-6-3, 4-2-1 in CCIW play, under first-year head coach Susie Foster. Foster’s team returns 19 letterwinners from a year ago, including three all-conference players. Sophomore defender Paige Land returns after earning second-team all-conference honors last season. Midfielders Keeley Monckton, a junior, and Jacqueline Peterson, a sophomore, both took home second-team all-conference accolades in 2005 and return to the Lady Reds in 2006.

Elmhurst (5-13-1, 3-3-1 in 2005) placed fifth in the preseason poll with 26 points. The Bluejays have 15 newcomers to the roster this season after losing eight seniors to graduation, including all-conference goalkeeper Amy LeFurgy, who is now the team’s assistant coach. Senior defender Nicole Schuette returns after suffering through an injury in 2005. Kelly Huson, a senior forward, is back after leading her team with five goals and two assists last season.

North Park (12-7-1, 2-5-0), Millikin (6-12-1, 1-6-0) and North Central (7-11-0, 0-7-0) rounded out the preseason poll with 19, 11 and nine points respectively. Under the direction of head coach Kyle Lubrano-Fluhr, North Park’s 12-7-1 record in 2005 was a major step up from its 6-10-3 mark in 2004. The improvement was ranked the 18th best amoung NCAA Division III women’s soccer programs.

Millikin first-year head coach Steve Golas takes over for Craig Lee, who now coach’s the Big Blue’s men’s team full time. Junior Jessica Linn is back after leading her team with eight goals last season, which was a new school record. North Central returns junior forward Michelle Daly who scored 10 goals and two assists for 22 points. Daly’s 10 goals was the fourth-highest total in school history.