Sophomore Annie Wayland and senior Becky Feldmann will see playing time when the Illinois State soccer team opens its 2000 season on the road Friday, at 5:30 in DeKalb, Ill. against the Huskers of Northern Illinois.
Wayland, the 1999 Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year, was the team and leagues leading scorer in her freshman campaign. The All-MVC first team selection in 99 recorded 14 goals and three assists for 31 points last year.
Feldmann, who has been consistent between the posts for the Redbirds since her freshman year, was named to the All-MVC first team and all-tournament team in 1999. Her .74 goals against average, which led the team, ranked No. 1 in the Valley standings.
The Redbird soccer program, entering its fifth year of Division I play, is coached by Pete Kowall. Since he took over the at the helm of the program in 1997, Kowall has posted a 30-21-4 record at ISU and has guided his team to back-to-back regular-season conference championships in 98 and 99.
In 1999, the Birds recorded a 14-2-2 overall record and 4-0-1 Valley record. For the second-straight year, ISU shared the regular-season title with Evansville and ended its season with a loss to SW Missouri St. in the first round of the Valley tournament.
According to Kowall, the team has changed a lot since last season with the graduation of six players. But the diversity and flexibility of this years squad will help fill those gaps left by the seniors.
We will really be able to move some people around without problems this year, Kowall said. These girls have worked well together so far and have a great ability to feed off each other in order to get scoring opportunities.
With a solid group of returning players that have good chemistry according to Kowall, the Redbirds have set their preseason goal of a third-straight regular-season conference title.
Each player has the confidence it takes to win, Kowall said. We really work them hard in pressure situations and I think they know how to handle themselves on the field. With their knowledge of the game, along with depth and experience, this team will definitely be in the mix at the top of the Valley standings.
Illinois State will host Ball State in its home opener at Adelaide Street Field, on Friday, Sept. 8. Play begins at 4:00 p.m.
