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Last Updated: Oct 16th, 2008 - 13:33:17 |
Metro women's soccer team doesn't plan to take a break for the 2008 season. Despite losing four valuable seniors and breaking in a new coach, both the players and the skipper are confident that they will uphold the program's lofty goals.
"We're putting together all the pieces to the puzzle," head coach Adrianne Almarez said. "So when game time comes we'll be ready."
The puzzle is a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference champion regular, two years removed from a NCAA championship. Last season the Roadrunners finished the regular season at the top of the conference and were knocked out of the NCAA Tournament in the second round after a shootout.
The glue in last year's team was the defense, at the core was senior All-American goalkeeper Rachel Zollner. The biggest question will be how to replace Metro's valuable goalkeep, and Almarez has two answers; Lisa Jewett and Alee Seehausen.
Jewett is a freshman from Douglas County High School and Seehausen has been waiting in the wings of Zollner for a chance to start. Almarez is excited for the competition, and believes that it is a great chance for both of the players.
"For them it's the mindset that it is my chance now that Zollner is gone," Almarez said how the two goalkeepers feel.
Senior defender Nicole Cito acknwoledged that replacing All-RMAC goalkeeper Zollner is a hard task, but she is confident that the defense won't suffer.
"There will be a new goalie," Cito said. "She'll be stepping into Rachel's role and I think she'll do pretty good at that."
If Zollner represents the biggest hole in the 2008 puzzle, replacing forward Katie Kilbey will present nearly as big of a challenge. Last season the star forward netted 18 goals, second on the team, and a team leading nine assists.
To try and keep up the offensive production of last season, junior forward Becca Mays, 2007's top Metro scorer, will have to take over the role of star striker.
"She's eager and ready to have an even bigger role than she had before," Almarez said. "She is becoming comfortable in her shoes."
If last year's freshman phenomena Madison McQuilliams continues to improve in her sophomore year, she could be the replacement. If not, Almarez believes that at least one or two of the newcomers will be able to make an immediate impact.
"All of them have the ability to come in and earn a spot," Almarez said. "Usually you'll find one or two who really respond and make an impact immediatly."
The coach's top bet to make an immediate impact in the upcoming season is transfer Jen Thomas, a forward from the University of Kansas.
"She played at KU, she's quick," Almarez said. "She knows the game and she works hard."
Of course the change on the sidelines will have the longest lasting effect for the program as a whole, with Almarez as the new head coach and former coach Danny Sanchez now at the University of Wyoming.
And Almarez believes that she can bring about change for the better during her time on the sidelines.
"The thing that I want to see change is to see the girls more committed than they've ever been," she said.
Almarez wants this season to be a new beginning for the program, while keeping up the high standards that Sanchez set. And if Almarez has any problems, she can call on her former coach and mentor for any advice.
"We're really good friends," she said. "He has always wanted what's best for the program. I'm sure I'll be calling him if I ever need advice."
Despite a tough schedule and new faces both in and outside the lines, the women's soccer team is prepared to put together a new puzzle which can go all the way. Based on the program's former success, the promotion of a coach from within the program and a core group of players returning should be a good recipe.
"I don't think there will be a whole lot of change," Cito said. "And I think that will be a good thing based on our past success.
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