2007 Women's Soccer Preview
Joy
Boswell had about as rough of a season as a first year as a coach could
have, and she is looking forward for a chance at a little redemption.
On top of the normal changes that take place under a new staff, Boswell's first season as Pacific's head women's soccer coach was littered with injuries. At one point midway through the season, as many as eight players sat on the bench injured as the team, literally, limped in with a 3-14-2 record.
Despite the injuries, Boswell saw a lot of growth in her young charges. "Once they started to grasp the concepts that I wanted them to utilize when they played, we definitely saw a difference in style and improvement," Boswell said. "They understood and once they saw some of that success starting to occur, they stuck with it."
The key to success in 2007 will be to build on that progress. Boswell returns 13 players to the fold, including some strong leaders in forward Meghan Fredette (Sr., Vista, Calif.) and defenders Kathy Post (Sr., Philomath, Ore.) and Kaleigh Stubblefield (Sr., Corvallis, Ore.). In addition, a rich group of newcomers have made strong contributions in the first week of practice.
"To their credit, they are a very strong group," Boswell said of the freshman class. "They bring a lot to the field in addition to the returners. The big thing now is getting them to play as a team, trust each other on the field, utilize their strengths and to gel as a group."
The mix is causing a lot of competition for starting positions, which Boswell hopes will result in an increased pace of play and, consequentially, a few more notches in the win column. "I see this year as a program that is building and developing," Boswell said. "As we progress, there is the knowledge of where we want to take the program, and I think everyone is on the same page."
FORWARDS
Fredette managed to avoid the injury bug in 2006, and she was able to develop
into the team's offensive leader as a result. Fredette gained Honorable
Mention All-NWC honors by scoring five goals, including three in the Boxers'
final five matches.
Additionally, Fredette enters 2007 in perhaps the best shape of her career and stands to once again lead Pacific up front. "Meghan will be a force to be reckoned with," Boswell said. "She definitely has improved her vision and touch up top, and her pace speaks for itself."
Boswell will benefit from some versatility at the other forward position with a number of players who could play both up front and in the midfield. Becca Roth (So., Rainier, Ore.) made an impact as a freshman, finishing just behind Fredette with four goals. She was one of only two Pacific players to start all 19 matches. Jenna Johnson-Endo (Sr., Honolulu, Hawaii) saw her time increase as the season progressed, scoring a goal to go along with two assists.
Of the newcomers, Shelley Martindale (So., Yacolt, Wash.) may be the surprise of the preseason. Martindale has been out of the game since 2003, but brings some solid potential and maturity. "Shelley is the type of player that, when she gets her soccer legs and touch back, she will really stand out," Boswell said.
Ashley Kanda (Fr., Kaneohe, Hawaii) could also figure into the mix on top after sitting out the 2006 campaign. Kanda was an all-conference forward her senior year in high school.
MIDFIELDERS
Versatility will be the key for Boswell in the middle of the park. A deep
depth chart will allow a number of offensive players to move back to the
midfield and some defenders to move up.
"We have depth that I don't think we had last year, so we can play a number of people in certain situations," Boswell said. "If we have an injury we can put someone in there who, hopefully, won't skip a beat. There is so much more variety that we have access to. It's a great feeling."
Kelli Ganiko (Jr., Makawao, Hawaii) continued to make an impact in the midfield, starting over half of the Boxers' matches each of the last two seasons. Ganiko's speed and her ability to use her short 5-foot frame well, make her a threat out wide.
Post has the ability to play in the center midfield and will likely see split time between the middle and the defense. Post was limited in action last year due to injuries. Lindsay Vondrachek (Jr., Newberg, Ore.) was a regular starter in the middle. Only Stubblefield played more than Vondrachek's 1,653 minutes.
Fredette and Johnson-Endo could also move back to the midfield to give Pacific a different look. Courtney Ratty (Jr., Central Point, Ore.) will also figure into the mix after providing a spark off of the bench in 2006 with a goal and two assists.
Among the newcomers, Jenny Novak (Fr., Dexter, Ore.) is a potential impact player after a solid high school career. Novak led Pleasant Hill High School to three Oregon state playoff appearances and earned conference Most Valualbe Player honors as a senior.
Allysa Omana (Fr., Salt Lake City, Utah) has potential to figure in as a freshman. Omana played for a strong high school program in Utah, which included a state championship her freshman year. Lauren Kanda (Fr., Kaneohe, Hawaii) will also compete for time after an all-conference high school career in Hawaii.
DEFENDERS
Stubblefield will be depended upon to anchor the defense. The senior has
been a familiar face to opponents on the back line as Stubblefield has
started every possible game in her Pacific career. She earned a goal and
an assist as well, mostly coming off of set plays.
Meaghan Hilson (Jr., Sacramento, Calif.) will look to return to form after a strong start to the 2006 campaign. Hilson started the first four matches of the year missing the rest of the campaign with injuries. Additionally, Post will split time between defense and midfield as will Vondrachek.
Elissa Kane (Fr., Issaquah, Wash.) and Michelle Mitchell (Fr., Modesto, Calif.) both stand to compete for starting spots in their first seasons. Mitchell will see time at defender despite finishing her senior year as a conference offensive player of the year. Kane, meanwhile, played a role for a state championship team at Seattle Christian High School.
GOALKEEPERS
Boswell will depend of a pair of new goalkeepers
with the loss of Shannon Tillman to graduation. Sydney Vincent (Fr., Portland,
Ore.) is in line to start for the Boxers after a solid high school career.
Vincent was an all-conference selection each of her final two seasons.
Anna Beebe (Fr., Veneta, Ore.) will bring four years of solid high school
starting experience to the fold.
"Sydney is a lot more technical and has made her presence known," Boswell said. "Anna has the ability to get in front of a ball and save some things that make you take notice. It's nice to have that comforting feeling that someone is back there that is going to do a good job."