Oct. 3, 2003

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - Facing a tough test and the No. 4 ranked team in the Great Lakes Region, the Lewis women's soccer team displayed the progressive success it has been building under new head coach Bill Bruno with a 1-1 tie against Wisconsin-Parkside.

Bruno took control of a program that was mired in a long losing streak and seemingly lost at sea. Since taking the reigns following the resignation of the former head coach five games into the 2002 season, Bruno has steadily built confidence in his young team and allowed them to believe in themselves. That sense of success has translated itself into better showings altogether with much of the same personnel from a 0-13-1 team a year ago.

All of that was evident in a hard fought 1-1 tie with Great Lakes Valley Conference rival Wis.-Parkside (UWP). UWP (7-1-2, 3-0-2 in GLVC) tallied first in the contest when Sara Beebe served a corner kick directly into the net at 5:44.

Lewis answered later in the first half on a corner kick as well. At 39:58, Michelle Sternbauer (Elk Grove Village, Ill./Conant) launched the ball into the goalie box and freshman Jenna Volpi (Chicago, Ill./Immaculate Heart of Mary) smacked the ball out of the air and into the net. The goal was Volpi's team-leading fourth of the season. It also was Sternbauer's team-leading fifth assist.

The teams played scoreless for the remainder of the game with only one legitimate threat each the rest of the way.

Lewis nearly won the game with 15 seconds left in the second overtime when Kylie Bristol (Rockford, Ill./Guilford) knocked a shot off the crossbar.

The tie against a top-tier team from the league and region should give the Flyers (3-8-1, 0-3-1 GLVC) confidence heading into its game with nationally-ranked Grand Valley State October 5; Lewis travels to the No. 7-ranked Lakers for a 2 p.m. kickoff.

10/3/03