The Panthers face a pair of challenging matches this weekend when they host their first Conference games of the season. They play the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars on Friday at 5:00 pm and the defending GLVC Champion Quincy Hawks on Sunday at noon.
While the women are 5-1, 2-0 in the GLVC, this will be their toughest weekend of the year, with the possible exception of late October when Bellarmine and Northern Kentucky visit. SIU-E is preseason #3 and Quincy is #1, while Drury is predicted to finish out of the playoffs again this year at #9. Much like the men, it was on the road trip to Quincy when the ladies saw their playoff hopes fade away in 2006 when they lost 1-2 in two overtime periods on September 22nd. They went 0-4-2 in the Conference at that time, recovering with a pair of wins in their final home stand but it was too little, too late.
There is a very real opportunity here however. The Panther’s loss this year was 0-1 to Saginaw Valley State, in their opening game of the season. SVSU is currently #3 in the NSCAA Regional Poll, at 3-1-1 with a 1-0 win over Quincy included. Coaches Bilbao and Swan have pulled in a very strong recruiting class that is contributing immediately, with freshman Aly Reynolds leading in goals (5) and game-winning goals (3) and sophomore transfers, Micah and Mandi Little each have a game-winner as well. Melissa Perry already has 3 (she totaled 5 last year) and five other players have scored as well. Freshman Caitlin Weins has three assists to lead the team with six other players involved as well.
The key? Last year the team went 6-5-2 in the Conference, with a 4-1-0 record at home. There were 21 goals for, 13 against with six shut outs and a 3-4-2 record in games with a one goal differential or a tie. You have to hold your home court and the ladies will have to do it with a young line up that seems to be coming together, including a defense that includes freshman Jessie Sanderson (Jeff City Jays) in goal (pictured) and a back line that is led by jr. Chloe Moushey and includes fr. Sarah Colvin-Fritz and sophomores Emily West, Caitlin Weins and Bailey Randol.
Definitely worth the price of admission folks. The Panthers deserve your support this weekend!
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