After making it back to the National Tournament after an eleven-year absence in 2007, the Crimson Storm women’s soccer team fell just short of their goal of making back-to-back appearances last season. Finishing 14-2-3 in 2008, the Crimson Storm began preparing for their 2009 campaign immediately following a disappointing loss in the SAC tournament semi-finals.
“The goals for the team this year are to work hard, and prepare to get back to the National Tournament where they all want to be, and where they belong,” first year head coach, and long-time assistant coach Julie Duncan said. “I except the girls to work hard day in and day out, and they have already set the tone that they’re going to do that.”
Goalkeeper
In goal, SNU will have a wealth of experience returning as First Team All-Conference goaltender, Erica Brown, is back for her senior season. Brown was brilliant in 2008, finishing with a school record 0.50 goals against average with a 13-2-3 record in goal.
“In the goal, we will have returning senior, Erica Brown, who the past three years has done a tremendous job leading the way. She had eleven shutouts for us last year, and the defense was a huge part of us climbing our way to the number ten spot in the national poll. We look for her to lead the way for us once again this year. She is a solid player and a good leader.”
Defense
The Crimson Storm defense has been a vital part of the team’s success in the past two years, and with three of the four starters from last years group returning, Duncan has confidence in her back line.
Two seniors will fill the outside back positions, as they have for the past two seasons. Megan Ritter, who plays on the right side, has started since her freshman year, and has developed both as a player, and leader. “Ritter is very solid, very athletic, very strong, and competitive in the back” Duncan said of the senior. Although Ritter has not received a lot of attention for her efforts, she has been the backbone of the Storm defense, picking up big stops whenever they were needed the last two years.
Also returning in the back will be senior Alecia Peterson, and her younger sister Amanda Peterson. Alecia, who missed her freshman season after tearing her ACL, has been a standout defender since recovering for her sophomore year. Last season, she was named to the All-Conference team, and she will start for SNU once again on the left side. “She is a solid player, and she is very quick on the outside,” Duncan said. Alecia also has the ability to get up the field into the attack and swing balls into the box.
Amanda will return in the center back position and will hold the defense together with her strength and composer. “She understands the game very well, and does not panic under pressure, finding feet and playing good balls to the midfielders,” Duncan said.
In addition to the three returning starters, SNU will look to familiar faces, and newcomers for immediate help in the back.
Last season, Laura Pearson and Meghan Gebur saw playing time in the defender positions, and they will be looked to once again for help on the outsides.
Whitney Seaton, who will return to the soccer field after taking a year off, will likely fill the other center back position. Her speed and composer will add even more stability to an already solid Storm defense.
SNU will also look to freshman, Kendra Nixon, to get some minutes in the back. “Kendra is more of a utility player, and she will give us depth in the back,” Duncan explained.
Midfield
The midfield will also but made up of familiar faces, and all three starters from last year’s team will return to the field. But Duncan will not rely only on Alanna Mena, Bruna Da Cas, and Beatriz Silva this season. “We have many players that can play in the midfield, and that’s great because I can create all kinds of options in the middle; from four in there to three in there, and we will be solid in the midfield,” Duncan said of the Storm’s depth.
But, the three returners will bring back the consistency SNU had last year. Mena was named Second Team All-Conference as a junior and will return in the center midfield as a senior this year. She is very strong and skilled with the ball, and is also very capable defensively, dropping back into the box often to give support.
Bruna Da Cas, another Second Team All-Conference selection in 2008, will join Mena in the center midfield once again as a sophomore. Da Cas stepped onto the stage last year, making an immediate impact for the Storm. She also has the ability to get forward in the attack and make things happen around the goal.
Also returning after a breakout freshman season will be Beatriz Silva. With great footwork, accurate passing, and a strong understanding of the game, Silva has become an asset to the Storm’s success after just one season. She was named to the All-Conference team, and received Honorable Mention All-American honors last season, and she is expected to contribute a lot in the midfield again this year.
With several different formations being tossed around, coach Duncan is also looking at the possibility of playing with outside midfielders. Several different players on the roster have the ability to play the outside midfield position, including senior, Randi Duncan, sophomores, Kira Sparks and Laura Pearson, and freshman, Kendra Nixon.
Forward
Last season, SNU had little trouble putting the ball in the back of the net, but had little depth at the forward position. This season the Storm will have no trouble finding people to put up top to score goals.
With Rachel Eguren, SNU’s leading goal scorer, All-Conference selection, and Second Team All-American last season returning for her junior year, the Storm will be in good shape once again. Eguren has made a habit out of putting the ball in the goal, and after gaining another year of experience, expectations are high for her this season.
In addition to Eguren, the Storm will look to transfer, Jackie Acevedo for goal scoring this year. Acevedo, who played at the University of Tennessee for two years, and was a member of the U-20 and U-23 Mexico National Teams, joins the Storm roster this season. “We’re really looking for Jackie to help create up top. She is a very quick, talented, and smart player,” Duncan said.
Stephanie Royse, who contributed quite a bit to SNU’s goal scoring last year as a junior, will return for her final season in the Storm uniform and be another threat for the Storm up top. Randi Duncan will also play up top, adding even more depth for SNU.
Wrap-Up
All in all, SNU has a wealth of returning weapons in 2009. The Crimson Storm were picked up fourth in the pre-season SAC poll, but should contend for a shot at the conference title and a trip back to nationals after falling just short in ’08.
“It’s a huge motivation factor because the group of girls we’ve got this year is led by a group of seniors that have worked hard for three years. They have been a huge factor in where the team has come, from not as successful, winning only five games their first year, to making it to the National Tournament their sophomore year, to last year where they fell short of their goals. It was really hard for them, but it’s a lesson learned and I think that will keep them focused throughout the year, and push them to not have that feeling again.”