Posted: Aug 17, 2023

Women's Soccer: Season preview

Facts and figures to get you ready for the seventh Indiana University East women's soccer season.

WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR?

Record: 7-5-8. The seven victories ended a streak of four straight years of double-digit wins. However, the eight ties doubled the record for the most draws in school history when the Red Wolves had four in 2017 and 2018.

Conference: 5-1-4. IU East finished as the No. 3 seed heading into the River States Conference Championships. The Red Wolves defeated Brescia University 5-0 in the quarterfinals of the RSC Championships before falling to the IU Kokomo 5-1 in the semifinals.

RED WOLVES IN THE RANKINGS

4th - IU East had 77 points in the RSC women's soccer preseason poll as the Red Wolves trailed last year's tournament winner IU Kokomo (93), Point Park University (87) and league newcomer Shawnee State University (85).

QUOTABLE

"We have a lot of new pieces of the puzzle which will take us time to gel, but we definitely have the ability to make another run. We will be solid once again in the back and at goal, but we will need a player or two to step up and score some goals." - IU East coach Shane Meridith.

BY THE NUMBERS

3 - IU East's first three matches of the season are all at home. The Red Wolves open with Siena Heights (Aug. 21) at Centerville followed by the Holy Cross College (Aug. 26) and Indiana Wesleyan University (Aug. 29) contests in Eaton.

4 - All-conference honorees returning from 2022. Ava Wittrock was member of the All-RSC Second Team, while Grace Harris and Morgan Grudich were both on the honorable mention list. Abigail Welch was named to the RSC Champions of Character Team.

6 - The number of RSC Scholar Athletes back from last year. Harris, Grudich, McKenna Kleinrichert, Jordan Miller, Sophie Pohlabel and Ema Nunley were among the 11 players to earn the award in 2022.

9 - Kleinrichert and Wittrock are the leading scorers returning from last season. Kleinrichert had four goals and one assist, while Wittrock had three scores and helped on three others.

MATCHES TO WATCH

Aug. 21 vs. Siena Heights - When the two squads meet in the season opener for IU East, it will be the first time to teams have played against each other.

Sept. 21 vs. IU Kokomo - The Red Wolves entertain the RSC preseason favorite in their league opener at Centerville.

Sept. 30 vs. Point Park - IU East faces the team that was No. 2 in the RSC Preseason Poll at Eaton.