Weekly Notes | Live Stats
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Coming off a thrilling 2012 season highlighted by the program's first ever Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference championships and a trip to the NAIA Tournament, the newly nationally ranked No. 21 Davenport women's soccer team turns the page and begins a new chapter Wednesday when the Panthers kick off 2013 at third-ranked Spring Arbor, the first of what will be six grueling matches on the road. First kick at the Cougar Soccer Field is at 7 p.m. and can be followed via live stats.
The Panthers, who finished the 2012 season 17-3-1overall and a perfect 8-0-0 in WHAC play, are the favorites to repeat as conference champions for the first time after being predicted third the last couple of seasons. But before they even think about their first WHAC opponent in late September, the Panthers must get through their tough non-conference schedule. Spring Arbor has been picked to win the Crossroads League, Lindsey Wilson College, which will host the Panthers Monday, is the defending NAIA champions and Martin Methodist College, which has been ranked in the top 10 for quite some time, will entertain the Panthers again Wednesday.
A Quick Study on Spring Arbor
The Cougars, much like Davenport, had a perhaps the best year in program history, reaching as far as the semifinals in the national tournament. Although the Cougars are missing key pieces to their team with the loss of three graduates and All-Crossroads League selections, it is still an offensive threat with the return of Karly Linton and Brooklyn Morgan. Linton tallied 20 goals and 14 assists en route to becoming the Crossroads League's Player of the Year and a third-team NAIA All-America selection. Morgan was second on the team in scoring last season, recording 12 goals and 10 assists. Spring Arbor also had the best defense in the nation, leading the way with 17 shutouts in 25 matches.
Looking at the National Rankings
The NAIA released the first edition of its national poll Tuesday and has placed Davenport 21st in the country, moving up one spot after finishing 22nd in the final poll last year. But looking ahead to this season, the Panthers will jump right out of the gate against the top three starting with third-ranked Spring Arbor followed by top-ranked Lindsey Wilson.
Davenport will have a third straight opponent ranked nationally as Martin Methodist enters the first week ranked 12th in the country while Indiana Tech, which received votes, rounds out Davenport's opponents nationally ranked.
Women's Soccer Contact: Rick Hoskin | 616-871-6180 | rhoskin@davenport.edu
DU Athletics: Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram
Women's Soccer: Facebook
