Men's and women's soccer prepare for weekend matches

By Edward Kealy The Review

September 14, 2007

Newark, DE (CSTV U-WIRE) -- Both Delaware soccer teams will be in action this weekend as the women look for their fourth straight win, while the men still seek their first victory of the season.

The men's soccer team looks to get rolling at Monmouth University on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Delaware men's head coach Ian Hennessy said the team has a good sense of its style of play. He said it is more important for his team to be focused on their own game plan than to be worried about Monmouth.

"I'm more concerned at this point in just steadying the ship and paying attention to little details," Hennessy said.

He said he has been happy with the performance of his team so far, although the Hens have suffered a few difficult losses.

"We have been very competitive in three of our four games but we've lost all of our games," Hennessy said.

The Hens opened the season with four straight losses, including an opening day 6-1 blowout at Duke University. However, the next two games were much closer, losing 1-0 to North Carolina State University and Lehigh University on late goals.

The team was overwhelmed by Duke, but Delaware has been extremely well-matched in its last three games, Hennessy said.

Delaware has had trouble scoring this season, finding the back of the net only once. Having suffered two 1-0 losses, Hennessy remains confident in his team's style of play.

"I'm not going to change anything that much, maybe just working on more finishing exercises, more one-on-one exercises and to keep the mood positive and upbeat," he said.

Junior goalkeeper Taylor Thames said confidence and expectations remain high for the Hens. The main goal is continuing to play with intensity.

"We expect [Monmouth] to come out wanting to win the game as much as we do and we just have to match that intensity, which I know we will," Thames said.

The women's soccer team faces off against Georgetown University on the road Sunday.

After suffering a 4-0 opening day loss to No. 17 University of Virginia, Delaware has been on a three-game winning streak and look to make it four.

Head coach Scott Grzenda said he expects a competitive game against Georgetown.

"We expect a good team from the Big East, which is a great conference," Grzenda said.

Although he said he respects Georgetown, Grzenda looks for his squad to dictate the action and flow of the game.

"We hope to impose our game upon the teams we play and not make too many adjustments to what they do," Grzenda said. "We hope to have them make the adjustments to us."

He said his team has done a great job of getting forward and attacking the net. The Hens have done a good job taking care of the ball and not giving up turnovers.

Junior midfielder Kasie Shover said she thinks the offensive speed is a strong point of the team, as the forwards help dictate the pace of the game.

She said the defense is also much improved. Delaware's defense has posted three-consecutive shutouts against Saint Joseph's University, Marshall University and Seton Hall University. Shover said the Hens have played well defensively as a team, utilizing all 11 players on the field.

Grzenda is feeling positive about this weekend's match because of his team's depth, which has been a major strength this season. He said when one player has a bad game there is someone else there to pick it up and teamwork has been key.

"I'm expecting all 11 to have a big game," Grzenda said.