JENNIES' SOCCER TEAM BEGINS SEVENTH SEASON

WARRENSBURG, MO (August 20, 2001) Central Missouri State's women's soccer team opens its 2001 season at home this weekend (Aug. 25-26) in the Holiday Inn Express Classic at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field. Joining the Jennies for the event will be Winona State (Minn.), St. Cloud State (Minn.) and Rockhurst. Saturday's pairings have the Jennies meeting Winona State at 11 a.m. and Rockhurst meeting St. Cloud State at 2 p.m. Sunday the Jennies take on St. Cloud State at 2:00 p.m., after Rockhurst and Winona State play at 11 a.m. Winona State was 15-3-2 last season, St. Cloud State was 9-9 and Rockhurst was 8-11. The Jennies beat Winona State 1-0 last season and last played St. Cloud State in 1999, winning 2-0.
Coach Al Iantorno's Jennies were 11-8 last season, matching the school record for wins in a season, and he feels this year's team may be his strongest in the program's seven-year history. Eight starters return from last season, including seven who earned all-conference honors. Offensively, sophomore April Reyes, the MIAA freshman of the year, figures to be the Jennies' primary scoring threat. She led the Jennies' a year ago with 10 goals. In the middle, the Jennies will have four veterans - seniors Shaunita Sharpe and Jessica Rausch and juniors Katie Smith and Jessica Goedeker. Smith was a first-team all-conference selection last year, while Sharpe and Rausch received second-team recognition. Senior Megan Heideman and junior Melissa Layton will anchor the Jennies' defense. Layton was a first-team all-conference pick, while Heideman was a second-team choice. In goal, senior Carrie Payne returns for her fourth season as the Jennies' starter. She received honorable mention all-conference recognition last year.
Newcomers given a good chance to crack the starting lineup include freshmen Stephanie Reyes at forward and Amy Brzoznowski as a defender, sophomore Teleshia Joseph at forward and senior Molly McDonough as a defender. Joseph is a transfer from Brevard College (N.C.), while McDonough is a transfer from Missouri Valley College.