MSU faces three teams from the Southeastern Conference, three from the Mid-American Conference, and two from the Missouri Valley Conference in 2009.

"We play three SEC teams, including a home match with Kentucky," said MSU coach Warren Lipka. "I think playing against the highest level of competition we can, will help prepare us for the OVC season. It is also a great opportunity to see where we stand against some of the nation's best programs."

MSU opens the 2009 campaign with a home exhibition against Georgia State on August 22. The regular season will kick off in a round-robin tournament at Ole Miss on August 28 and 30.

The Eagles will host their home opener on September 4, as they host MAC member Akron. On September 6, the Eagles host Evansville before hosting Kentucky on September 9. MSU rounds out the early home stand with Miami on September 11, and Valpo on September 13.

"The goal of a schedule is to play tough competition to prepare you for your conference schedule, and I believe we will accomplish that with this year's schedule," said Lipka. "We have a lot of home matches, and this schedule was kind of set before I arrived here at MSU, but my goal is to build upon this year's schedule and try to have about 50 percent home and away matches each year.

"Having a lot of home matches helps our team not only in being successful on the field but also in the classroom because we have a routine and our kids are not missing as much class time either."

MSU opens conference play on September 15 at Austin Peay. The first home OVC match will be played on October 2 against Jacksonville State. The Eagles host rival Eastern Kentucky on October 9 and round out the season at home on October 23 versus Southeast Missouri State and Eastern Illinois on October 25.

The 2009 OVC tournament will be held on November 3, and November 6-8.

"We are excited about this incoming class," said MSU coach Warren Lipka. "They will provide the depth and talent for us to continue our quest to another OVC championship."

Nacke joins current freshman Devon Jordan as the second Westerville, Ohio native on the team. At Westerville Central Nacke played numerous positions but concentrated on midfield for the UA Eagles club team. She is a Patrick Plant Award recipient, two-time first-team All-Conference, second-team All-District, first-team All District, second-team All-State, second-team Super 12, and an All Star team selection. 

Moriarty posted 42 goals, 33 assists in her career at Hamilton Southeastern High School and was only the third person in school history to score 117 career points. She was named an Indiana Soccer Coaches Association first-team in 2008, third-team in 2007, All-State Academic in 2008 and 2007, and was a three-time All District first-team selection. She was also an Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association All-State first-team selection in 2008 and 2007 and was a second-team honoree in 2006. She was named ESPN Rise Magazine Indiana Top Player for 2008, Indianapolis Star Super Team in 2008, Indianapolis Star All-Metro North First-Team in 2008 and 2007, and a three-time All Hamilton County first-team selection.

Hicks, a two-time all-state tournament selection, will be joining the Eagles after a distinguished high school career at Highlands High School. She was also a member of the Cincinnati Classics Hammer F.C. club team in Cincinnati, Ohio. Among her many accomplishments she was named Second-Team All Northern Kentucky, Academic All-State Honorable Mention, and Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference All- Star Team. She helped lead Highlands to the 2006 state championship and state runner-up in 2008.

Burkley, a four-year varsity starter at North Oldham High School, will be joining the Eagles as a forward in 2009. While at North Oldham, Burkley helped lead her team to the 2006 and 2007 District Championship and the 2006 Regional title. She was named a 2006 All-State nominee, 2006 All-District Tournament Team selection, 2006 Coaches Award winner, 2007 All-State First Team, 2007 Offensive Award winner, 2008 All-Region Second Team, and 2008 Offensive Player of the Year.

Toepfer comes to MSU from Anderson High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. While at Anderson she was a member of two league and one sectional championship team. She was also an all-league selection several times in her career.

Lay joins the Eagles after a successful stint at Seton High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. Lay was an Honorable Mention for the 2008 Second-Team All-League and was a member of her high school student council.

Cousineau is a goalkeeper from Sterling Heights Michigan where she attended Adlai E. Stevenson High School. In high school she was an All-Conference Team selection and an All-State Honorable Mention twice, and an All-District Team selection.

In the first match of the evening the Eagles were able to flex their offensive muscles on their way to a 3-0 win. Erin Adams got the first goal of the match in the first half to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead over Charleston at the half.

In the second half MSU sealed the win with a goal by Jillian Birchmeier and a late goal by Devan Jordan.

In the second match Marshall was able to score off a deflection. The 10-yard shot just got by MSU goalkeeper Lily Meisner and proved the only goal Marshall would need.

MSU will host the third and final spring game of the season Friday at 7 p.m. as the Eagles host Bellarmine.

Kellogg joins the MSU staff after a year of working as MSU head coach Warren Lipka's assistant at Kentucky. Prior to his stint at UK, Kellogg spent three seasons as an assistant at Western Michigan University, two seasons as the head coach at Kalamazoo College, and several seasons working for the US Olympic Development Program in various coaching rolls.

Kellogg was a two-year men's soccer letter winner at Butler University where he earned his Bachelor's in marketing in 2000. Kellogg also earned a M.S. in Sports Administration from Western Michigan in 2005.

He holds a USSF National B License, NSCAA Advanced National Goalkeeping Certificate.

"We are very pleased that Coach Lipka has agreed to take on this new challenge. His experience as a successful head coach in the SEC will aid him in his efforts at Morehead State. He is uniquely qualified to lead our program well into the future," said Hutchinson. "Coming off an NCAA Tournament run in soccer, our future is bright and with Warren leading the program, we expect to continue our success."

Lipka is excited about the opportunity to remain in the Bluegrass State.

"First of all I want to thank (Morehead State President) Dr. (Wayne) Andrews and Brian Hutchinson for believing in me and giving me a chance to continue to build Morehead State soccer," he said. "I consider myself a Kentuckian now, and I am very excited to continue my career in such a great state. An old friend once said, "It's nice to be wanted" and I feel wanted here."

Lipka began his tenure at University of Kentucky as an assistant with the Wildcat men's program from 1990-92, and then helped to start the women's program in 1991. His first women's team was fielded in 1992 and since that time he was the only coach in the history of the program. He totaled 182 career wins at UK and was 71-56-10 in SEC matches.

In just his second season, Lipka guided the Wildcats to 13 wins, and then in 1995, UK won the SEC championship and he was named the league's Coach of the Year after UK went 17-7 and advanced to the NCAA tournament. Lipka repeated the SEC Coach of the Year honor in 1999 when his team was 16-3-2 - the best record in school history. That team advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament, and he was also named Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year.

He also guided Kentucky to the NCAA tournament in 1996, 1998, 2001, 2002 and most recently in 2006 when the Wildcats won the SEC tournament championship with a 14-7-3 record. He won his third SEC Coach of the year accolade after the 2006 campaign. Twelve of his 17 teams had records of .500 or better and 12 won nine or more matches, which is the Morehead State single season school mark for victories.

During Lipka's tenure, the 'Cats had 30 total selections for All-Great Lakes Region, 33 All-SEC awards, 170 honors for the SEC Academic Honor Roll, three Soccer Buzz All-Americans, two National Soccer Coach's Association of America (NSCAA) All-Americans, and the 1995 SEC Player of the Year.

He also has a bevy of professional experience, as a player, coach and in administration. From 1989-91, Lipka was the general manager and head coach of the Indiana Kick of the National Professional Soccer League. He also played for the Ft. Wayne (Ind.) Flames of the American Indoor Soccer Association from 1986-89. He was the MVP in 1987 and 1988. In 1991, he concluded his professional career with the Detroit Rockers in the NPSL. He was in the United States National team pool in 1987 and participated in the United States Olympic Sports Festival in 1986.

Lipka also was the head coach at Bishop Dwenger High School in Ft. Wayne from 1987-90 and was the head coach at Tri-State (now Trine University) University in 1989.

A native of St. Louis, Mo., Lipka was an outstanding collegiate athlete and goalkeeper at the University of South Carolina and in high school. He was named a Parade All-American in high school and then was the adidas College Goalkeeper of the Year at USC in 1985.

In addition to his collegiate coaching resume, Lipka has been heavily involved in youth soccer programs in Kentucky. He was a member of the Region II Olympic Development program staff, serving as head coach from 1992-94, and was also director of the Kentucky Kickers Soccer Club during that period.

On the international level, Lipka was the head goalkeeping coach for the United States Under-19 and Under-21 national teams in 2003. His Under-21 team allowed just two goals in four matches and won the Nordic Cup title for the fifth time in five seasons.

He holds a USSF "A" license - the highest a coach can hold for that federation - and an NSCAA premiere badge. Lipka has two sons, Warren Christopher and Joshua Michael.

Morehead State Athletic Director Brian Hutchinson said the University would immediately begin a national search for Aubry's replacement.

"We appreciate all that Erin has done for our soccer program," Hutchinson said.  "We wish her the best as she takes over the Razorback program."

Aubry led MSU to its first Ohio Valley Conference Championship in 2008 and to its first appearance in the NCAA College Cup where the Eagles lost 2-0 at Wake Forest.  The 2008 Eagles finished 9-9-3.

Aubry is married to former MSU volleyball assistant Kris Grunwald, now an assistant volleyball coach at Arkansas.

"We couldn't be more proud of the way the team played," said MSU head coach Erin Aubry. "Wake Forest is a quality opponent and unfortunately we came up a little bit short against them but we're not disappointed."

Wake Forest junior forward Jill Hutchinson hit a rolling goal in the 32^nd minute to give the Demon Deacons a 1-0 edge heading into intermission on a forward pass by Eleanor Davidson. The Demon Deacons sealed the win in the 79^th minute when forward Bess Harrington finished a cross from Hutchinson from six yards out.

Morehead State sophomore goalkeeper Lily Meisner posted five saves in 90 minutes of work. The Eagles took eight total shots including five shots on goal that were saved by Wake Forest keeper Laura Morse.

The Eagles came out strong in the first 20 minutes of the match with a pair of shots by senior forward Kimmie Bieting, who led MSU with three shots including a pair of shots on goal.

"I think we actually surprised ourselves in the first 20 minutes," said Meisner. "I think that just has to do with inexperience but I think that we proved that we deserve to be here."

The Demon Deacons outshot Morehead State 22-8 and were led in shooting by Hutchinson with six.

With the loss, MSU's first-ever appearance in the Women's College Cup came to an end. However, Aubry is pleased with the performance of the team in the match and throughout the season.

"I know what to expect with this team (MSU) and the quality of the team and I've had full faith in the quality of Morehead State soccer from the beginning," said Aubry.

Meisner was also hopeful about the prospects for next season.

"When we're back here next season, I don't think we'll surprise ourselves.