8/24/2010 6:52:25 PM
Women's Soccer Team Aiming for the Postseason
Heading into preseason practice, the Sewanee Women's Soccer Team has two goals in mind: gain a national ranking and make the postseason. Second year Head Coach Patrick Johnston feels that 2010 could be the year that both of those goals are within reach. Despite a difficult schedule, Johnston knows the Tigers' are up to the task: "This season is as difficult as I can imagine in terms of scheduling and this team needs that type of challenge. In the past two years we have played rigorous schedules and have beaten Top 25 teams on more than one occasion, but in the end we have come up just short. The next step for us is to earn a postseason invitation and when we do, we will be prepared to make a serious run that will put us on the national map in college soccer."
Led by senior captains Kate Willingham and Fritsl Butler, the Tigers look to build on a successful 2009 season that ended with the program's highest ever win-percentage. The team finished '09 with an 11-3-3 overall record and a 5-1-2 record in conference play, earning them a second place SCAC finish. The Tigers ended the year ranked 8th in the NCAA Regional Rankings after a 7-3-2 regional showing.
Johnston and the Tigers will look to build on last year's success and a myriad of returning players, as well as a large group of newcomers, are looking to contribute this year. Butler and Willingham were just two of the six Tigers who were honored by the SCAC in 2009, as several Tigers took home honors from the league.
Butler, a senior midfielder and first team All-SCAC selection in '09, is a three time All-SCAC honoree and will be looking to lead the Tigers as they take the field this fall. Returning junior defender Lilly Barnett was named to the second team All-SCAC squad in 2009 and will be a force for opponents in 2010. Senior defender Willingham was joined on the honorable mention squad by sophomore forward Bess Goodman, sophomore goalkeeper Britt Williams, and defender Lacy Morrison C'10.
Offensively, Goodman led the Tigers in '09 and after recording 5 goals and 3 assists last year, Johnston will look to her to continue to provide an offensive spark. During the season, Goodman was honored as an Offensive Player-of-the-Week by the SCAC in October. Williams and Willingham were both honored as Defensive Players-of-the-Week during the 2009 season as well.
Williams also led the Tigers in '09, making 72 stops across the season and holding opponents to 0.96 goals per game while she was minding the net. Newcomer Grace Saunders looks to compete with Williams for time in the net this season and Coach Johnston welcomes the competition, knowing that it only makes his team stronger: "I have no doubt that our goalkeeper position will be as strong as there is in the country for the next three seasons and I would not have it any other way."
Other newcomers looking to have an immediate impact on the Tiger squad include midfielder Allie White of Athens, Georgia, defender Jenay Lightfoot of Germantown, Tennessee and midfielders Caroline Burkholder of Atlanta and Ellie Quinn of New Orleans. Coach Johnston is excited about the fresh potential hitting the field for the Tigers this fall, explaining that, "These four could be starting for us if they mature and settle in quickly...it is a good position for me to be in."
Despite the depth of his returning players and the promise of the newcomers, Johnston knows that the team will be challenged early and often. A grueling schedule should test the team throughout the fall but the team plans to use that to their advantage, knowing that it can only help them achieve their goal of reaching the playoffs. The Tigers only have seven home matches this year and face five conference opponents on the road. One early season match-up that could challenge the Tigers will come on September 11th as the team travels to Lexington, Virginia to face the Washington and Lee Generals, a team that reached the second round of the NCAA playoffs in '09. Sewanee will also f ace a tough test in October when they travel to San Antonio, Texas to take on defending SCAC champion and NCAA quarterfinalist Trinity University.
Coach Patrick Johnston and the Tigers open the season on September 3rd at 4 p.m. when they face visiting Berry College at home in Sewanee. Sewanee will open up SCAC league play on September 24th when they travel to Danville, Kentucky to take on Centre College.