Freshmen Lead The Way For Cougars
         EDWARDSVILLE, ILL. -- Of the six goals that have been scored in two games by the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville women’s soccer team this year, five have been scored by freshmen.
         The Cougars have a 2-0 mark including a upset of 7th-ranked Ashland. SIUE travels north to face Grand Valley State on Friday.
         “We are getting all of our top regional opponents out of the way early,” said Bowers. “That is another regional opponent that we have to beat. Last year, we lost to them 1-0 and that was a big hit in terms of us getting a NCAA bid.”
         Leading the freshman charge are Jenny Kates (Florissant, Mo.), Amy Million (Granite City), and Elizabeth Valenti (Overland Park, Kan.). Kates and Million both have netted two goals on the season.
         “That is pretty much what I expected from them,” said SIUE women’s soccer coach Lynda Bowers. “They are just very talented and goal hungry.”
         Valenti recorded one goal, adding two assists including the game-winner over Missouri Southern last Friday.
         “She is a very talented player,” said Bowers. “She is extremely composed for a freshman. She can control the game and find passing lanes that most freshmen wouldn’t even dream of finding.”
         Fellow freshman Jennifer Kratzer (St. Charles, Mo.) and junior Kristine Armstrong (St. Peters, Mo.) also have made contributions from their forward spots.
         “All four of our strikers in the Ashland game played great,” said Bowers. “Their names were all over the stats.”
         Junior Padra Bencini (Carbondale) has led the Cougars’ defensive, holding their opponents to 16 shots in two contests.
         “She is a rock for us on defense,” said Bowers. “She is such a leader.”
         SIUE’s matchup with the Lakers will begin at 4 p.m. on Friday in Allendale, Mich.
                -siue cougars-