SIUE prepares for conference play

By Rick Crossin
Sports Reporter

The SIUE women's soccer team has had a rough start to the 1999 season, but this weekend may be just what the doctor ordered.

The Lady Cougars (1-2) open up Great Lakes Valley Conference play this weekend against Bellarmine and Kentucky Wesleyan, who had a combined record of 1-18-1 in the conference last year.

"I think our chances are pretty good," head coach Brian Korbesmeyer said.

Korbesmeyer was disappointed with the outcomes of the first three games, but not with the effort of his players.

"I think we should be 3-0," Korbesmeyer said. "Our lack of playing together has been a detriment to our winning games."

The preseason coaches' poll has SIUE ranked at number 10, but Korbesmeyer doesn't think this has had any effect on his players.

"They (coaches) base their rankings on what you finished the year before," Korbesmeyer said.

The women's team lost two key players last week, which may have contributed to both losses so far. The Lady Cougars lost two-year starter Megan Steward and last year's starting goalkeeper Shannon Roth. Steward tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee, and Roth broke her wrist. Both are expected to miss the entire season.

With these two players out for the season, coach Korbesmeyer has a difficult task of inserting underclassmen into the lineup.

"I'm plugging in some freshmen and some subs," Korbesmeyer said. "We'll have to see if they can handle that."

Korbesmeyer is looking to captains Kristi Stedman and Andrea Addotta as the leaders of the team this year.

"Kristi is more of a vocal leader, while Andrea is more of a leader with her ability," Korbesmeyer said. Both Stedman and Addotta lead the team with one goal apiece.

Even with the amount of injuries the team has sustained this year, Korbesmeyer feels the team has a good chance of placing high in the GLVC.

"I see us finishing at the top of the league, and making a lot of noise in the region," Korbesmeyer said.

The ultimate goal, according to Korbesmeyer, is to get an invite to the National Collegiate Athletic Association championship in November.

"Fortunately, we play everyone we need to play to get a bid," Korbesmeyer said. "If we don't beat them, I'm not going to sit and cry and say we should have got this and should have got that."

The Lady Cougars will begin conference play when they face Bellarmine Saturday and Kentucky Wesleyan Sunday. Both games are on the road.