2012 Women's Soccer Tournament Bracket
Horizon League Women's Soccer Tournament Schedule -
First Round (Tuesday, Oct. 30):
(5) Wright State at (4) Youngstown State, TBA (Horizon League Network)
(6) Loyola at (3) Valparaiso, 4 p.m. ET
Semifinals (Friday, Nov. 2; at Engelmann Stadium, Milwaukee)
Highest remaining seed vs. (2) Detroit, 5 p.m. ET (Horizon League Network)
Lowest remaining seed at (1) Milwaukee, 8 p.m. ET (Horizon League Network)
Championship (Sunday, Nov. 4; at Engelmann Stadium, Milwaukee)
Semifinal winners, 2 p.m. ET (Horizon League Network)
The conductor changed, but the song remains the same in the Horizon League – the road to the League’s automatic bid goes through Milwaukee.
With Greg Henschel in his first year, and without the best player in League history in Sarah Hagen,
Milwaukee (6-8-1, 5-2-0 Horizon) got off to a slow start in conference play at 1-2-0. But, that one win proved to be the difference in the standings. The Panthers’ 1-0 victory over Detroit provided the tie-breaker over the Titans, sending the tournament to Engelmann Stadium for the second straight season.
In Hagen’s absence, Krissy Dorre has become Milwaukee’s top offensive player, netting five goals and three assists for a balanced Panther attack. Kelsey Holbert (11 points) and Sammy Vovos (9) both rank in the top 10 of the Horizon League in points per game.
Picked in the preseason as co-favorites with Milwaukee, Detroit (9-6-1, 5-2-0 Horizon) finished tied with the Panthers and will be the No. 2 seed in the tournament for the second consecutive season, hoping an extra year of experience helps the team reach the championship.
A balanced offense boasts Kaitlyn Quarrell (11 points) and Abby McCollum (11 points), while Nora Abolins continues to lead the conference with a 0.52 goals-against average.
For the second straight year, Valparaiso (10-5-3, 3-2-2 Horizon) will host an opening round match, earning the No. 3 seed. The Crusaders will welcome Loyola on Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.
Kristen Manski set the Valpo career shutouts record this season, turning in nine this year to reach 21 in her career.
Luisa Desario has been the Crusaders’ most reliable offensive threat, turning in a team-high 10 points this season.
Youngstown State (8-8-0, 3-4-0 Horizon) is in the Horizon League Tournament for the first time since 2008, knocking off Wright State, 2-1, on Saturday in a must-win scenario for the Penguins. YSU and WSU will meet for the second time in four days on Tuesday, once again at Stambaugh Stadium.
The Penguins’ eight wins are the most in program history, while their three conference victories are also the most for the team since joining the Horizon League.
YSU has utilized a balanced approach throughout the year, with Chelsey Haney and Rachel Morrison taking turns as the team’s leading scorer. A similar philosophy has carried the Penguins in net, where Jackie Podolsky and Alli Viola have split time, with each earning Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week honors in the season.
The runners-up in the Horizon League Tournament in 2011, Wright State (7-4-6, 2-2-3 Horizon) enters the 2012 Tournament as the No. 5 seed. Last season, the Raiders went on the road in the first round, eventually reaching the League championship, also as the No. 5 seed.
Despite losing one of the League’s most dynamic players in Brittany Persaud, a blend of youth and experience has carried the Raiders. Freshman Ini Umotong leads the Horizon League with 16 points, including a hat trick, while senior Emilie Fillion has added 13 points; the duo has combined for 12 goals on the year.
Loyola (7-8-3, 2-3-2 Horizon) had to sit and wait on Saturday to see if its eight points would hold up and allow the Ramblers to reach the Horizon League Tournament, but after Valparaiso’ 1-0 win at Green Bay, Loyola was in after a one-year absence.
The Ramblers hit their stride midway through the year, snapping an early four-match skid with a 5-0-1 run that put Loyola in position to qualify for the tournament.
The lowest-scoring team in the Horizon League, Loyola will rely upon its defense, which has allowed just 22 goals in 18 matches. Monica Gonyo’s 76 saves are second in the conference.
The Horizon League Network will have coverage of five of the six matches, including both semifinals and the League Championship on Sunday, Nov. 4, at 2 p.m. ET.
Tags: Detroit Mercy - Women's Soccer · Horizon League - Women's Soccer · Loyola - Women's Soccer · Milwaukee - Women's Soccer · Wright State - Women's Soccer · Youngstown State - Women's Soccer
