Illinois Wesleyan 2007 Women's Soccer Stories

Also see other stories, previous seasons, etc. at Women's Soccer Archives

Illinois Wesleyan 2007 Preseason Information (pdf)

November 27
Junior defender Tina Rodriguez has been chosen as the "Most Valuable Player" for the 2007 Illinois Wesleyan women's soccer team. A two-time first team all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin selection, Rodriguez had a goal and two assists for the Titans, who limited opponents to only 23 goals in 203 shots (.113). In other team awards, junior defender Carissa Nemmers and sophomore defender Patty Troxell were co-winners of the team's "Most Improved Player" distinction. Second team all-CCIW selection Caroline Leighton led IWU in scoring with 28 points and after three seasons she ranks No. 8 at IWU in career scoring (69 points) and No. 5 with 31 goals. Freshman goalkeeper Alli Novak made a school single season record 96 saves and had a 1.22 goals against average. Head coach Dave Barrett, whose team finished 7-8-3 overall and 3-3-1 in the CCIW, awarded 21 letters to women's soccer players, including 19 to players who will return next season.

November 13
For the second straight year, junior Tina Rodriguez was chosen to the first team of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin women’s soccer all-league squads while teammates Caroline Leighton and Elizabeth Sinclair were chosen to the second team in voting by league coaches Nov. 13. Rodriguez was a key defender on a team that allowed only 1.29 goals per game in conference play. Leighton, a second team all-CCIW player for three straight years, was fourth in the conference in points (12), points per game (1.71) and was second in goals (six). Sinclair tied for seventh in the league with 1.14 points per game with eight points on four goals, which tied for fourth most in CCIW play. The Titans finished with a 7-8-3 overall record and were 3-3-1 in the CCIW.

October 30
The Illinois Wesleyan women's soccer team took the No. 1 nationally-ranked Wheaton Thunder into overtime before losing, 3-2, at Wheaton on Tuesday, Oct. 30 in the first round of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin tournament. The Titans, whose season ends with a record of 7-8-3, got both goals from Elizabeth Sinclair as she scored in the third minute on an assist from Caroline Leighton that put IWU ahead, 1-0, then found the back of the net in the 87th minute to level the score at 2-2 and force the overtime. IWU had six total shots with four on goal and Wheaton had 27 shots with 12 shots on goal. IWU freshman keeper Alli Novak made 9 saves. The Thunder, winners of 39 straight, improved to 21-0 as they got the gamewinning goal from Kari Klynstra 3 minutes, 2 seconds into the first overtime.

October 27
Illinois Wesleyan and Carthage battled to a 0-0 tie after two overtimes in women's soccer on "Seniors Day" at IWU on Saturday, Oct. 27. The Titans (7-7-3, 3-3-1 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) made four shots on goal while Carthage (14-3-1, 5-1-1 CCIW) had seven total shots and five shots on goal that were repelled by IWU freshman keeper Alli Novak. Meghan Rynne and Megan Lucke were the two seniors honored by Illinois Wesleyan in 2007.

October 24
Transportation difficulties prevented the Illinois Wesleyan women's soccer team from getting to their scheduled match against Hope in South Bend., Ind., on Wednesday, Oct. 24, so the game had to be cancelled. There are no plans to reschedule the contest so the Titans next action will be against Carthage at home at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27.

October 20
The Illinois Wesleyan women's soccer team played to a 1-1 double overtime tie against St. Mary's (Ind.) on Saturday, Oct. 20 at Neis Field. The Titans' lone goal came from Caroline Leighton, her 13th of the season, unassisted in the 45th minute. IWU had 14 shots on goal and Amy Maloney made 13 saves for the Belles (7-3-5 overall), who got on the board first on an unassisted tally from Mandy Thomson. St. Mary's had 10 total shots and four shots on goal. IWU has an overall record of 7-7-2 after the Homecoming game tie and will play next on Wednesday, Oct. 24 against Hope at a neutral site in South Bend, Ind.

October 17
On a rainy night in Bloomington, the Illinois Wesleyan women's soccer team got a pair of goals from Caroline Leighton and breezed to a 5-2 win over North Central on Wednesday, Oct. 17. The Titans improved to 7-7-1 overall and 3-3 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Leighton scored both her goals in the first 28 minutes to put IWU on top, 2-1. The Cardinals fall to 4-9-1 and 0-5 in the conference. Emily Marcheschi, Tina Rodriguez and Elizabeth Sinclair tallied the other goals for the Titans while Rodriguez and Kelsey Porter contributed assists. Alli Novak had three saves in goal for IWU, who will host St. Mary's (Ind.) at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20 as their Homecoming game.

October 13
The Illinois Wesleyan women's soccer team outshot Augustana, 19-10, in the match but lost a 2-0 decision to the Vikings in Rock Island, Ill. on Saturday, Oct. 13. The loss sends IWU's record to 6-7-1 overall and 2-3 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Tina Rodriguez and Caroline Leighton each had three shots on goal and Alli Novak made four saves. Augie's Tessa Roberts had a goal and an assist and Katie Oakes scored the other goal for the Vikings (10-3-1, 3-2 CCIW). IWU next hosts CCIW foe North Central at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 17.

October 9
Caroline Leighton, Elizabeth Sinclair and Kelsey Porter each scored a goal to lead the Illinois Wesleyan women's soccer team past Elmhurst, 3-0, on Tuesday, Oct. 9 in Elmhurst. Leighton scored at the 28:55 mark off an assist from Carlie Hoekstra, then Sinclair tallied off an Alyssa Feulner assist at the 55:30 mark. Porter finished the scoring with her goal at 59:45 from a corner kick assist from Erin Kugler. Alli Novak made five saves for the Titans, who are 6-6-1 and 2-2 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin while Elmhurst falls to 3-9-1, 1-3 CCIW.

October 6
The Illinois Wesleyan women's soccer team fell to 5-6-1 overall and 1-2 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsn after a 2-0 shutout at the hands of Wheaton (14-0, 6-0 CCIW) on Saturday, Oct. 6 at IWU's Neis Field. Wheaton's Taryne Lee scored both unassisted goals in the second half. The No. 1 nationally ranked Thunder, winners of 32 straight matches, had 14 total shots with 12 shots on goal and IWU freshman keeper Alli Novak made 10 saves. IWU's next outing will be at Elmhurst on Tuesday, Oct. 9 at 3:30 p.m.

October 3
Illinois Wesleyan got a goal in the 86th minute from Carlie Hoekstra on an assist from Alyssa Feulner to toss the game into overtime, but Millikin's Brittany Belrichard scored in the second overtime to give the Big Blue a 3-2 win over the Titans on Wednesday, Oct. 3 in Decatur. Caroline Leighton opened the scoring with a goal in the 16th minute on an assist from Tori Samson. Titan keeper Alli Novak made four saves. The Titans are 5-5-1 overall and 1-1 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin prior to the Saturday, Oct. 6 game at 7 p.m. against Wheaton at Neis Field.

September 29
The Illinois Wesleyan women's soccer team improved to 5-4-1 this season and opened their College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin season with a 5-0 win over North Park on Saturday, Sept. 29 in Chicago. Illinois Wesleyan got two goals each from sophomore Elizabeth Sinclair and junior Caroline Leighton while freshman Alyssa Feulner had a goal and an assist. IWU plays next at CCIW foe Millikin on Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 2 p.m.

September 26
The Illinois Wesleyan women's soccer team fell to 4-4-1 this season with a 1-0 loss to Loras on Wednesday, Sept. 26 at IWU's Neis Field. The Titans managed 10 shots and two shots on goal while Loras (now 5-5) had five total shots and three on goal. Maria Prendergast scored off a corner kick at the 32:01 mark for all the goals in the contest. The Titans resume College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play on Saturday, Sept. 29 with a 7 p.m. match at North Park in Chicago.

September 23
The Illinois Wesleyan women's soccer team lost a 1-0 match at No. 10-ranked Washington U. in St. Louis on Sunday, Sept. 23. Becca Heymann ended a scoreless tie with a goal in the 62nd minute as the Bears extended their regular season winning streak to 22 games. Washington U.'s last lossin the regular season contest was a 1-0 overtime defeat at Illinois Wesleyan on Sept. 10, 2006. The Titans had no shots on goal and the Bears had nine as freshman keeper Alli Novak made eight saves. The Titans next host Loras (4-5) at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 26.

September 18
The Illinois Wesleyan women's soccer team got two goals and an assist from Elizabeth Sinclair and got past Lake Forest College, 4-1, on Wednesday, Sept. 19 at Lake Forest. Carlie Hoekstra opened the scoring for IWU with a goal at the 6:24 mark and, after the Foresters had tied the game at the half 1-1, Caroline Leighton scored a goal at the 52:34 mark. Sinclair's goals capped the scoring at the 62:06 mark and at 67:49. Alyssa Feulner made two assists on the first Titan goals. The Titans, who outshot Lake Forest 29-6, improved to 4-2-1 as Alli Novak made three saves. IWU plays at No. 10-ranked Washington U. in St. Louis on Sunday, Sept. 23 at 3:30 p.m.

September 15
Junior Caroline Leighton scored the only goal of the game on an assist from sophomore Elizabeth Sinclair as the Illinois Wesleyan women's soccer team defeated Maryville, 1-0, on Saturday, Sept. 15 in St. Louis, Mo. Leighton's goal came in the 66th minute and improved the Titans' record to 3-2-1 while Maryville falls to 2-4. Freshman goalkeeper Alli Novak made nine saves in the game while Maryville's Kendria Boddie made 10. The Titans next play at Lake Forest on Wednesday, Sept. 19.

September 12
The Illinois Wesleyan women's soccer team lost a 2-0 decision to No. 21-ranked University of Chicago on Wednesday, Sept. 12 at IWU's Neis Field. Freshman keeper Alli Novak made seven saves as the Maroons put nine shots on goal and outshot IWU, 11-6. IWU (now 2-2-1 overall) next plays at Maryville on Sept. 15 at 3 p.m.

September 9
The Illinois Wesleyan women's soccer team earned a 5-0 win over Hartwick (N.Y.) on Sun., Sept. 9 in the 2007 Mayor's Cup tournament in Oneonta, N.Y. Junior Caroline Leighton scored three goals while freshman Kelsey Porter (shown) scored two goals in the final 16 minutes and also had an assist. Goalkeeper Alli Novak made two saves as IWU outshot the Hawks, 20-6. The Titans return home for a 7 p.m. match against the University of Chicago on Wed., Sept. 12.

September 8
Oneonta State scored three goals in the first 14 minutes of the second half en route to a 4-0 win over the Illinois Wesleyan women's soccer team in the 2007 Mayor's Cup tournament in Oneonta, N.Y. Emily Marcheschi launched two of IWU's four shots on goal with Elizabeth Sinclair and Meghan Rynne accounting for the other two. Freshman keeper Alli Novak made eight saves as the Red Dragons had 22 total shots and 12 shots on goal. The Titans (1-1-1) will play Hartwick on Sun., Sept. 9 at 9 a.m. Eastern time.

September 2
The Illinois Wesleyan women's soccer team played a 0-0, two-overtime game against Wisconsin-Stevens Point at IWU's Neis Field on Sun., Sept. 2 and placed second in the IWU Classic to the Pointers on a goal-differential basis. The Titans (1-0-1) had six shots on goal and the Pointers (1-0-1) had 11 shots on goal as Titan freshman goalkeeper Alli Novak made 10 saves. IWU's next action is at Oneonta State (N.Y.) on Sept. 8.

September 1
Carly Calkins scored a goal on an assist from Elizabeth Sinclair with 49 seconds left to provide the Illinois Wesleyan women's soccer team with a 2-1 victory over St. Thomas at IWU's Neis Field on Sat., Sept. 1. IWU trailed for the first 76 minutes of the game before Caroline Leighton scored an unassisted goal at the 76:37 mark. Alli Novak made three saves in her first college start and IWU outshot the Tommies, 13-11. The Titans play Wisconsin-Stevens Point at 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 2. Stevens Point downed Elmhurst, 5-0, in the other first round IWU Classic game.

August 2
With 35 points, the Illinois Wesleyan women's soccer team is picked to finish third in the preseason College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin coaches’ poll. The Titans, who were 10-5-4 overall and 4-1-2 in the CCIW, are behind defending national champion Wheaton (49 points, seven first place votes) and Augustana (41, one first place vote) in the poll. See complete poll by clicking here.

July 5
The 2007 Illinois Wesleyan women's soccer team returns 14 letterwinners from a team that finished 10-5-4 overall, was 4-1-2 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, and was ranked as high as No. 24 in the Division III national poll during the 2006 season. The Titans open their regular season against St. Thomas at 2:30 p.m. on September 1 at IWU's Neis Field, then hosts Wis.-Stevens Point at 2:30 p.m. the following day as part of the annual IWU Classic. IWU's schedule this fall includes a trip to play Oneonta State and Hartwick in the Oneonta, N.Y. Mayor's Cup Tournament, September 8-9.