Murray State University Athletics
Isbell - Racer Seniors Working For More OVC Soccer Championships
8/18/2010 8:21:28 AM | Women's Soccer
The Murray State Women's Soccer team opens the 2010 season Friday with a 3 p.m. game at Bellarmine in Louisville, Ky.
The first game marks the beginning of the final season for seven MSU seniors including Tara Isbell of Mayfield, Ky., who has already placed herself at the top of the list among goalkeepers in the MSU Soccer history that started in 2000.
Isbell starts her senior season already leading the program in minutes in goal (4457:36), goals against average (1.05) and most wins (27).
After transferring to Murray State from Louisville, Isbell couldn't be happier with her decision.
“This has been great to be close to home and have family and friends able to come to our games,” Isbell said. “Plus coming here and playing winning soccer has been a lot of fun, we have a winning attitude.”
In the last two seasons, Isbell and the Racers have won an Ohio Valley Conference regular season championship, in 2008, and last season in 2009, they won the OVC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.
“Since we've started the fall preseason camp, all of us seniors have been talking about getting the double this time, that is winning both the regular season and tournament titles,” Isbell said. “We'll be working for that as the season goes on.”
Isbell has won numerous All-OVC awards in her MSU career including, OVC Defensive Player of the Year and All-OVC First Team in 2008. Last season she was named to the All-OVC Tournament Team after posting three straight shutouts as MSU won the title at Morehead State.
Isbell is part of a senior class that includes: Laken Dirkes (Benton, Ky.), Rebecca Shultz (Ft. Campbell, Ky.), Kalli McCoy (Benton, Ky.), Katie Wilson (Fort Wayne, Ind.), Audrey Wilson (Garland, Texas) and Rachel Longley (Middlesbrough, England).
After Friday's opener, the Racers stay on the road for a Sunday 1 p.m. at Saint Louis.
