Women's Soccer | 11/5/2010 9:57:25 AM
Match 18: No. 5 McPherson (7-8-2, 4-4-1) at Sterling College (10-7-1, 5-3-1)
Friday, Nov. 5, 2010 | 4:00 p.m. | Sterling, Kan.
Match Notes (PDF)
KCAC Tournament Bracket
Live Video
McPherson, Kan. - The McPherson College women’s soccer team travels to Sterling College this week for the opening round of the 2010 KCAC Postseason Tournament. The No. 5 Bulldogs (7-8-2, 4-4-1) will face No. 4 Sterling College Warriors (10-7-1, 5-3-1) in the first round Friday afternoon at Simsor Stadium at 4:00 p.m. The winner will take on No. 1 Ottawa University in the semifinals Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m. at People’s Bank & Trust Field in Ottawa, Kan. Fans can catch the action of the first round with free live video provided by Sterling College at http://www. livestream.com/thesterlingcollegesportsnetwork.
The Bulldogs are attempting to make their fourth consecutive trip to the KCAC semifinal round, but will need to get past a resurgent Sterling College team lead by KCAC Co-Coach of the Year award winner Justin Morris.
McPherson was nicely represented on the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference postseason award list released earlier this week, as five Bulldogs received recognition. Seniors
Haley Cook (Littleton, Colo.) and
Ana Calderon (Lone Tree, Colo.) were named to the second team, while
Amanda Aragon (Thornton, Colo.),
Stachea Perea (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and
Molly Whitwell (Plano, Texas) garnered honorable mention status. Cook, one of the primary scoring threats for the Bulldog offense, leads the team with 11 points on four goals and three assists, while Aragon is second on the team with 10 points.
Sophomore Molly Whitwell started the first 15 matches in goal for the Bulldogs and owns a 1.36 goals against average and five shutouts. However, freshman
Tori Verdeick (New Castle, Colo.) has started the last two games for the Bulldogs. She owns a 1.41 goals against average and .714 save percentage on the season.
Looking farther down the road, if McPherson defeats Sterling, the Bulldogs will travel to Ottawa University on Tuesday, Nov. 6. The matchup will begin at 7:00 p.m. The Braves won the KCAC regular season crown with a perfect 9-0-0 league record.
Scouting Sterling
Sterling (10-7-1, 5-3-1) has been the 2010 comeback story for the KCAC. In 2009, the Warriors failed to win a conference match en route to a 3-13-1 overall record, but have bounced back completely in 2010 to register a ten-win season and the No. 4 seed in the KCAC Tournament.
Much of the Warriors success can be attributed to the play of KCAC Offensive Player of the Year Kylie Yates. Yates ranks in the top 15 nationally in total goals (22), total game winning goals (6), goals per game (1.22), game winning goals per game (0.33), total points (46), shots per game (5.56) and points per game (2.56). She finished the regular season with eight multi-goal games, including a streak from Sept. 11-Sept. 18.
Midfielder Lacy Rhoads, the 2010 KCAC Newcomer of the Year and a member of the all-conference first team, orchestrates the Warrior midfield. On the year, Rhoads registered 11 points on five goals and 11 assists in 18 starts.
Head coach Justin Morris is in his 12th season at Sterling College and has organized the team’s turnaround from a 3-13-1 team in 2009 to a 10-7-1 squad in 2010. Earlier this week, Morris was named KCAC Co-Coach of the Year by the conference.
