Southern Illinois University
Drake University
Five Things to Know: Salukis at Drake
03/12/2021 | 1:15:00 | Women's Soccer
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois' women's soccer team heads to Des Moines, Iowa to face off against the Bulldogs of Drake, Sunday, March 14 at 1pm at Drake Stadium. Live stats are available here, while the game will be streamed on ESPN+.
1. LOOKING AT LAST WEEK: Back at home last week, the Salukis saw improvement at the draw against Evansville, 0-0 in double-overtime, at Lew Hartzog Complex, by outshooting the Purple Aces, 16 (7) shots to UE's 11 (5) shots towards the Saluki goal. Sophomore Emma Spotak, who played all three previous games for the Salukis in center-back, moved up in attack. The Palatine, Illinois-native led the Salukis in shots-on-goal (3), with near back-to-back shots crossing the box while one-on-one with Evansville's defense in the 77th minute. Keeper Maddy Alaluf garnered her fourth start of the season, and recorded five saves in 110 minute battle.
2. SCOUTING DRAKE: The Bulldogs are currently 1-2 on the season, taking losses in their first two matches of the year against Indiana State, 0-1, and reigning MVC Champions Loyola, 0-2. The last contest for Drake was at home against Illinois State on Wednesday, winning 1-0 with a goal by junior defender Megan Valenzuela, assisted by senior defender Sam Nosler. Drake garnered two preseason All-MVC First Teamers, senior defenseman Abby Stephenson and midfielder Hannah Bormann, both of whom collectively accumulated 29 shots and three goals for the Bulldogs in 2019.
Falling to Loyola in the semifinals of the 2019 MVC Tournament, the Bulldogs completed 2019 8-10-1 (4-3 MVC), with their largest win against Valparaiso, 3-0 in October. As a high veteran squad with ten upperclassman in 2021, the Bulldogs see the return of points leader, Olivia Bruce (3G, 2A) and runner-up Vanessa Kaven (2G, 3A).
3. MOVING AROUND: In showcasing the team's flexibility and adaptability to the opponent, this 2020-21 squad has moved in some position changes. Juniors Kailyn Stone and Maya Warrior have moved forward to score goals for the Salukis -- Warrior recording six shots and a shot-on-goal this year. While junior Hailey Blanchard and sophomore Emma Spotak have been ultilities for SIU. Blanchard moved in at attack for Southern in the team's first three matches, while Spotak was in the back. Both flipped, as Spotak recording multiple shots for the Salukis on Tuesday and Blanchard made prominent blocks in the Saluki box.
4. IN THE BOOKS: As the League's leading shooting defender, Kathryn Creedon ranks fourth in the MVC, bringing in six shots-on-goals in the Salukis' four games in 2021. Sophomore forward Kaitlin DuCharme is fifth in the book in shots this season, shooting ten times towards the net, averaging 2.5 shots a game. Keeper Maddy Alaluf is ranked third in the MVC in goaltender saves, recording 17 in three games started and posting a .850 percentage.
5. SPRING SOCCER: Due to COVID-19, the traditional fall soccer season was postponed into a spring format. Southern Illinois will play its first season of conference soccer as new joining
members of the Missouri Valley Conference. Along with the eight-game conference schedule, the Salukis played one non-conference contest against Western Kentucky. The MVC Women's Soccer Tournament begins April 11. The NCAA Division I Women's College Cup will begin May 13.
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