Sammie Shanks readies for match with NCC

Women’s Soccer Opens 2024 Season With Two-Game Weekend

Titans travel to Simpson Friday, Aug. 30 before hosting Trine Sunday, Sept. 1

8/29/2024 3:00:00 PM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Illinois Wesleyan University women's soccer team looks to kick off the 2024 season Friday, Aug. 30 with a roadtrip to Indianola, Iowa for a nonconference bout with Simpson College before hosting Trine University Sunday, Sept. 1 for the Titans first home event across all sports. Friday's contest with Simpson is set for a 5 p.m. start at Buxton Stadium while Sunday's matinee with Trine is slated for 1 p.m. on Neis Field.

IWU will sport a new look this season not only in regards to fresh kits, but also in the addition of 11 new faces to the Titan women's soccer roster. The 10 first-years and one junior transfer will join the company of five sophomores, five juniors, and three seniors for the 2024 season.

Head coach Oz Bakirdan enters his third season leading the Green and White and will be aided on the sidelines by assistant coach Chad Jones. Jones served as the men's soccer assistant coach last season and will take on double-duty with both programs in 2024.

Senior Tegan Timerman (Peoria, Ill.-Peoria Notre Dame) and junior Bree Cordray (Bloomington, Ill.-University High) have taken the reins as captains for the upcoming year, both of whom played crucial roles in last season's front line and midfield, respectively.

Sophomore Ava Mapes (Golden, Colo.-Lakewood) returns as the Titans lead scorer from a year ago. Having played in all 18 games, Mapes totaled five points off two goals and an assist. Sophomore Sophie Lampert (Hudson, Ill.-Normal West) is expected to make a big impact for IWU in her second season donning the Green and White, having been the only Titan to start in all 18 games of the 2023 season and serving as the Titans lead shot-taker.

IWU's keeper squad returns sophomore Adriana Ruffolo (Bloomingdale, Ill.-Glenbard North) who started five games last year and recorded 26 saves. Freshmen Grace Kiewiet (Leawood, Kan.-Notre Dame de Sion) and Ella Randall (San Francisco, Calif.-The Bay School of San Francisco) are the latest additions to the goalie roster.

In its short series history with Simpson, IWU holds a 2-1-1 record against the Storm dating back to 2001. Simpson won the most recent meeting, 2-0, on Sept. 1, 2023. Sunday's meeting with Trine will be the first-ever between the Titans and the Thunder.

Live stream and live stats will be available for both contests and can be found on the women's soccer schedule page of iwusports.com or by clicking here.

Print Friendly Version