Muleskinner

Issue date: 9/7/06 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Stephanie Flippin Goal Seeking - Defender Mallory Milburn moves the ball during Friday's game against Wayne State. The Jennies are ranked No. 15 in the latest poll.

Media Credit: Stephanie Flippin Unstoppable - Forward Hazel Cox pulls away from a double team during a game against Wayne State. The Jennies won the match 4-2 to remain unbeaten.

The Jennies have started their season off like never before. For the first time in history the Jennies soccer team has won their first 4 games. It was a goal that wasn't reached easily.

This weekend the Jennies hosted the Holiday Inn Express/CMSU Classic. The other teams involved in the two day tournament were Washburn University, South Dakota University, and Wayne State University.

The Jennies defeated Wayne State University in Friday night's game to hand them their first loss of the season. The Jennies played Wayne State at a nauseating pace, with lots of energy and aggression.

"Our strategy coming into this game was to make Wayne State run and control possession. We just wanted to play extremely well defense," Coach VanDeusen said. "We made two mistakes but luckily we were able to keep to our game plan and pull out a win."

The strategy paid off very well, because the Jennies only allowed Wayne State to get four shots on goal the entire game. This was the third straight game the Jennies held their opponent to less than 10 shots.

The Jennies had to play without sophomore defender Heidi Helfers. She went down early in the first half with an undetermined injury. The Jennies also played most of the game without the influence of sophomore forward Hazel Cox. Wayne State double teamed her majority of the night, held her scoreless, and only allowed her to get two shots off. None of them were on goal.

"We expect Hazel to get double teamed a lot. It doesn't mean that our team is going to suffer. We have enough talented players in which if she is covered we can create other opportunities to score," said Coach VanDeusen on Cox's drawn attention.

"It helps a lot because there are more options for everyone else. Everyone else is just as good I am, so its better that they double team me," Cox said.

In Sunday's game the Jennies squeezed by South Dakota 2-1. Again, their team defense was the difference in this game.

"Our motto is great defense equals offensive chances, and that what contributes to our early success," Coach VanDeusen said.

The Jennies capitalized on South Dakota's goalies two mistakes of coming too far out of the box. The first to take advantage was Landri Schmitt for her third goal of the year. Next to score was Cox, with an assist from Schmitt. It was also Cox's third goal of the year. After that the South Dakota goalie was pulled, the scoring ceased and the defense was turned up a notch.

The Jennies allowed South Dakota late goal in the second half, but held tough in the final minutes to clinch their victory.

"South Dakota was a very good team. They made the tournament last year, and this is the second time we've beaten a team that went to the tournament last year. I can't be prouder of this team, but I think they want more," says Coach VanDeusen on his team's recent success at home.

The Jennies played again without Helfers, but she was on the sidelines on crutches. It appeared that her injury occurred in the knee, due to the brace on it.

The Jennies play on the road all of next week. They start Wednesday, against Emporia State University in Emporia, Kan. Then on Saturday the Jennies travel to Topeka, Kan. to play Washburn. Both games are conference match-ups.

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