Goshen, IN — The Goshen College athletic department officially released its 2005-2006 women’s basketball schedule Thursday afternoon, revealing a challenging year for the young squad.

Announced on the same day as senior guard Jennifer Rupp’s ACL injury and subsequent absence for most of the season (click here for article), the Leafs’ schedule is loaded on the front end in hopes of prepping for a strong Mid-Central Conference slate, according to head coach Steve Wiktorowski. With Rupp now sidelined and sophomores Jess Buller and Carly Feldman not available until late-November with volleyball commitments, the start of 2005-2006 just got tougher.

“Our schedule should be very challenging this year, especially with a very young roster like ours and with two players on the volleyball team,” Wiktorowski said. “We’ll see just where we stack up very early on.”

After a home-opener against Andrews University on Nov. 3, it doesn’t take long for the Leafs to start facing off against some of the best teams in the nation. Cornerstone University — a team that finished the 2004-2005 season ranked eighth in the NAIA poll — visits the Roman Gingerich Center on Nov. 8, followed by trips to NAIA Division I power Indiana University South Bend and the run-and-gun style of Indiana Tech.

A difficult tournament at Aquinas College will further road test the Leafs in late November, while a holiday tournament in central Florida (Warner Southern University Invitational) will at least give Wiktorowski’s team a hiatus from the cold, Midwestern winter.

“We’re not hosting a tournament this year, but we will be going to play in two, including the Warner Southern Tournament in Florida,” Wiktorowski said. “I have heard many good things about this tournament and our team is really looking forward to playing and relaxing in Florida before Christmas.”

That may be the only chance to relax for Wiktorowski’s squad, as the MCC portion of the schedule looms tougher than ever. With Indiana Wesleyan University (ranked third in the final NAIA poll), the University of St. Francis (ranked 17th) and Taylor University (ranked 22nd) all returning strong squads, Goshen’s goal of repeating its 2003-2004 MCC Championship will be a daunting task.

“There are not a lot of areas to rest in our schedule this season,” Wiktorowski said. “Our initial games are tough, our conference is one of the best in the country and our pre-Christmas portion of the conference schedule will be very challenging, especially going to play defending champion Indiana Wesleyan the day after final exams (Thursday, Dec. 8). We will practice and prepare as well as we can, though, and it will be our goal to win every time we step on the floor.”

Goshen finished the 2004-2005 season with an overall record of 11-21 and a conference mark of 3-13. To view the Leafs’ 2005-2006 complete season schedule, click here.