Coaches pick Lions second in MIAA Preseason Women’s Soccer Poll

Head coach Trevor Wachsman’s Lions in 2005 will be young but hungry.

While Missouri Southern’s women’s soccer team is made up of more than 90 percent freshmen and sophomores, the coaches in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association also believe Southern is on the rise. The Lions were picked for second place in the 2005 MIAA Preseason Women’s Soccer Coaches Poll announced this week.

Six-time conference champion Truman State was the No. 1 pick, receiving five first-place votes and 47 points. But Missouri Southern was only six points behind, charting three first-place votes.

Southwest Baptist was third in the balloting, 10 points back of the Lions. Emporia State was fourth, followed by Central Missouri State, Washburn, Northwest Missouri State and first-year program Missouri Western.

The Lions, 10-8-2 overall (8-5-1 MIAA) in 2004, field a preseason roster of 23 players, 21 of which are freshmen or sophomores. Junior Jessica Buhman (Olathe, Kan./St. Thomas Aquinas) is the only player on the roster with more than one letter.

Wachsman has turned in a couple of stellar recruiting classes; 11 true freshmen lettered last season and Southern has nine incoming freshmen and a redshirt freshman this year.

Three sophomores who combined for nine goals last season –– Lauren Kurelac (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs), Erin Gfeller (Overland Park, Kan./Olathe East) and Erin Whelan (Belleville, Ill./Belleville Township East) –– are back. They, along with help from the freshman class, could help ease the loss of two-time all-region forward Tera Reisner, who had 22 goals, seven assists and 52 points in just two years with MSSU.

Between the pipes, the Lions have two solid goalkeepers in senior Alese Woolard (Claremore, Okla./Oologah) and sophomore Kaney Tyler (Topeka, Kan./Seaman). Those keepers and the defense, keyed by a pair of second-team all-conference choices in Buhman and sophomore Ashley Turner (Columbia, Mo./Hickman), led the Lions to school records last season in shutouts (6) and goals-against average (1.04).

Southern tied for the fifth-best improvement in NCAA Division II last year in victories from the 2003 season to the 2004 campaign. The Lions were 3-13-4 in Wachsman’s first year, 2003, but had a six-game improvement last season.

MSSU opens the 2005 campaign at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Aug. 26, followed by an Aug. 28 date at Missouri-St. Louis. The Lions’ home opener is scheduled for Sept. 4 as Wayne (Neb.) State visits Joplin and Hal Bodon Field.


	Aug. 3, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Coaches pick Lions second in MIAA Preseason Women’s Soccer Poll Head coach Trevor Wachsman’s Lions in 2005 will be young but hungry. While Missouri Southern’s women’s soccer team is made up of more than 90 percent freshmen and sophomores, the coaches in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association also believe Southern is on the rise. The Lions were picked for second place in the 2005 MIAA Preseason Women’s Soccer Coaches Poll announced this week. Six-time conference champion Truman State was the No. 1 pick, receiving five first-place votes and 47 points. But Missouri Southern was only six points behind, charting three first-place votes. Southwest Baptist was third in the balloting, 10 points back of the Lions. Emporia State was fourth, followed by Central Missouri State, Washburn, Northwest Missouri State and first-year program Missouri Western. The Lions, 10-8-2 overall (8-5-1 MIAA) in 2004, field a preseason roster of 23 players, 21 of which are freshmen or sophomores. Junior Jessica Buhman (Olathe, Kan./St. Thomas Aquinas) is the only player on the roster with more than one letter. Wachsman has turned in a couple of stellar recruiting classes; 11 true freshmen lettered last season and Southern has nine incoming freshmen and a redshirt freshman this year. Three sophomores who combined for nine goals last season –– Lauren Kurelac (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs), Erin Gfeller (Overland Park, Kan./Olathe East) and Erin Whelan (Belleville, Ill./Belleville Township East) –– are back. They, along with help from the freshman class, could help ease the loss of two-time all-region forward Tera Reisner, who had 22 goals, seven assists and 52 points in just two years with MSSU. Between the pipes, the Lions have two solid goalkeepers in senior Alese Woolard (Claremore, Okla./Oologah) and sophomore Kaney Tyler (Topeka, Kan./Seaman). Those keepers and the defense, keyed by a pair of second-team all-conference choices in Buhman and sophomore Ashley Turner (Columbia, Mo./Hickman), led the Lions to school records last season in shutouts (6) and goals-against average (1.04). Southern tied for the fifth-best improvement in NCAA Division II last year in victories from the 2003 season to the 2004 campaign. The Lions were 3-13-4 in Wachsman’s first year, 2003, but had a six-game improvement last season. MSSU opens the 2005 campaign at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Aug. 26, followed by an Aug. 28 date at Missouri-St. Louis. The Lions’ home opener is scheduled for Sept. 4 as Wayne (Neb.) State visits Joplin and Hal Bodon Field.