2004 Women's Soccer Preview
August 19, 2004 | Soccer
After posting a 7-7-5 overall record and failing to qualify for the 2003 Conference USA Tournament, the East Carolina women's soccer team looks to get back on track in 2004 and stake its claim atop the C-USA standings. The Pirates finished the 2003 season in ninth-place, just missing the tournament with a record of 3-4-3.
At the helm of the Pirates attack in '04 is sixth-year head coach Rob Donnenwirth, who continues the pursuit of a C-USA championship. With four 10-plus win seasons in five years, and a pair of C-USA Tournament appearances, Donnenwirth hopes to guide the Pirates to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in the program's short history.
For the Pirates, accomplishing such a feat will be a difficult task with three key losses to the backfield in Penny Perrott, a three-time All C-USA selection and 2003 Co-Defensive Player of the Year; Mindy Nixon, a two-time All C-USA selection, and Tina Rivera, who started 30 consecutive games as a defender over the past two seasons. Donnenwirth will look to a young, yet experienced returning group along with four new freshman to help rebuild a backfield and guide his vision of a conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
2004 SCHEDULE OVERVIEW
Three games against 2003 postseason participants, including a pair of Atlantic Coast Conference tilts in Virginia and Clemson highlight the 2004 soccer schedule.
The Pirates will be playing three teams that were ranked among the top 10 in their respective regions by Soccer Buzz following the 2003 season ? non-conference foes Virginia and Clemson as well as Conference USA opponent DePaul.
In addition, ECU will take on five in state schools when they travel to UNC Wilmington (Aug. 29), Charlotte (Sept. 24), and Western Carolina (Sept. 26). The Pirates will host Campbell (Sept. 17) and Virginia Commonwealth (Sept. 19) at Bunting Field.
The Pirates will participate in the annual Furman Tournament Sept. 9-11, with matches against Clemson and Furman. Nationally ranked Kansas (No. 13) will also take part in the tournament.
"When you look at our non-conference schedule, we were able to schedule some really good teams," said ECU head coach Rob Donnenwirth. "Our team is young in the backfield and we have some returning players that are not as experienced. These girls will be thrown in the fire early so to speak the first weekend when we're on the road."
Wins against C-USA teams will be crucial for making the tournament for the third-time in four years. ECU will also need to have a strong showing in their non-conference schedule to help strengthen their chances for postseason play.
"Last year I think that we performed well against good opponents outside our schedule. Now we need to get some wins and not moral victories against those good opponents."
Saint Louis has been named the host site of the C-USA Championship Tournament for 2004. And like last year, only eight of the 14 conference teams will earn a spot in the tourney. The winner will gain an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
FORWARDS
Once again for coach Donnenwirth, the forward position will be one of the most exciting positions to watch. Unsure of what scheme the Pirates will use in 2004, a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3, Donnenwirth will rely heavily on experienced line that ranked fifth in goals scored, shots and points in the conference.
Junior Meghan McCallion will look to continue her impressive career at East Carolina as she has slowly become the offensive leader for the Pirates.
McCallion, who ranks fourth on the all-time goals scored list with 20, recorded a team-best 10 goals and collected one assist while starting all 19 games as a sophomore, which earned her first-team All C-USA and third-team NSCAA All-Southeast Region honors. For the 2004 season, she was named preseason first-team all conference.
"Meghan right now is the only lock to start at the forward position," said Donnenwirth. "She is a very dangerous player who will be a handful for anyone to handle. Meghan has the ability to be an All-American if she can continue to put the ball in the back of the net."
For the second straight year, fellow junior Melissa Penney will look to complement McCallion as a dangerous 1-2 punch for the Pirates. Last year, she recorded four goals and four assists in 19 games, 11 of them as a starter, and ranked second on the team with 12 points.
"Melissa Penney got some good playing time last year for us. She has a great shot and is very dangerous when she faces the net." Sophomore Allison Howell will get a look at the forward position for the Pirates. In 17 games as a freshman, she recorded three shots on goal and collected her lone assist in a 2-0 win over instate foe Elon.
"Allison had a tremendous spring. She has a tremendous work-rate and is very active making runs up top."
The Pirates will also look to junior's Carmen Calpo and Kate Lowe, as well as sophomore Anastasia Nikas to fill the void up front. Calpo started all 19 games last season and recorded two goals on 21 shots.
"Carmen can play at the center-mid or forward position for us," said Donnenwirth. "She brings back great experience and is a big threat with her playmaking ability.
"Anastasia Nikas will be there as well for us. She also had a great spring and I look for some big things out of her at the center-mid or forward spot.
"Kate Lowe is coming back after knee surgery and we hope that she will be healthy enough to play right away. She has a great nose for the goal and can finish."
As for the other two forward positions, Donnenwirth said it all depends on how the players look when they arrive for practice.
"Any of those players I think are capable to start, which is really positive for us. We are just going to have to find the right mix and rotation that gives us a chance to win."
MIDFIELD
The midfield is arguably the deepest position this season for the Pirates. Coach Donnenwirth can play any of 11 players and feel comfortable about the middle of his lineup.
The Pirates have eight returnees with experience in the midfield. Seniors Sarah Stoltz and Krystel Pabey along with junior's Tracy FitzGerald and Ashley Stopa and sophomore Tara Shaw can play at the outside-mid position. Stoltz came back from an ACL injury her sophomore season and started 13 games scoring one goal on 12 shots.
"Sarah is probably one of our best left-sided players for the 4-4-2 scheme," said Donnenwirth. "She has been one of our most consistent performers over the last three years. She also can be a dangerous player as a center-mid." Krystel Pabey once again will see action as a both a midfielder and forward in 2004. Last season was yet another productive one for the senior from Naugatuck, Conn., as she played in all 19 games, starting five and recording once goal and four assists.
"Krystel is a right midfielder that can also play up front for us, if we play a three front.
"Both Sarah and Krystel have played the midfield for us for three years and their experience and leadership are invaluable to our team." FitzGerald, Stopa and Shaw gained valuable experience in 2003 and will provide good depth for the Pirates.
"Tracy can play the outside-mid and forward position. This spring she scored four goals for us. She is someone that turned it around fitness wise and competitively last spring.
"Tara has worked through some injury problems and is a great left-sided player as a back or at outside-mid.
"Ashley is recovering from another knee surgery and we hope to have her at full strength when conference play rolls around."
At the center-mid position, senior Rachelle Cabeceiras, sophomore Rachel Hils and junior Carmen Calpo will provide a balanced attack offensively and defensively.
Cabeceiras, selected once again as a team captain, played in all 19 games with 17 starts, collected four goals, one assist and was named to the Charlotte Classic all-tournament team.
"Cabeceiras is a real steady presence for us out on the field. With her on the field awareness and good vision, she will set up our offense nicely.
"Carmen can be a dominate player. She covers an unbelievable amount of ground and I think that she is going to be a player to reckon with at forward or center mid."
Sophomore Rachel Hils started seven of her 19 games played scoring two goals on 11 shots. Her defensive ability helped the Pirates record six shutouts and held opponents to a 1.14 goals against average.
"Rachel Hils has become a lot more comfortable and confident in playing at the collegiate level. From the end of the fall through the spring, she has become a dominant player for us. She is a holding midfielder that helps us defensively, is a great ball winner and can distribute the ball all over the field."
DEFENSE
The Pirate defense will be the biggest question mark for Donnenwirth and his staff. After losing three starters from last years squad, senior co-captain Megan Schwanke, a three-year starter, will lead a young, yet talented group in the backfield.
During her career at ECU, Schwanke has started in all 40 games played and has been a part of nine shutouts.
Also returning with Schwanke in the backfield will be sophomore Meghan Glassmacher, who saw action in two games last season.
Newcomers Mary Puckett (Sanford, N.C.), Patty Pierce (Columbia, S.C.), Kat Norris (Houston, Texas), Lindsey DiLuzio (Woodbridge, Va.) and Jami Dickerson (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) all bring national club experience and great understanding of the game and will vie for a starting position in the backfield.
GOALKEEPER
The starting goalkeeper position is wide open once again this season. Junior Lauren Church has the inside track as she went into last season as the starter, before suffering an injury in the season opener against Texas. In her two games for ECU, Church posted a 1-1 record and recorded her first career shutout against Liberty on Aug. 31. In just two years of competition, she currently ranks fifth on the all-time in goals against average (1.64).
Competing against Church will be junior Lindsi Troxler who started 17 of 18 games collecting 70 saves, four shutouts and established a school-best 1.10 goals against average.
Also looking for some playing time is sophomore Kari McCullough who saw action in six games recording six saves without allowing a goal.
NEWCOMERS
Of the five newcomers to the Pirate program, four are defenders and one is a midfielder. Sophomore Mary Puckett, a three-time All-Conference selection, three-time captain and two-time Team MVP in high school, provides great height in the backfield.
The Pirates have four freshman that will come in and compete for a starting job right away in the Pirate defense. The freshman class consist of Patty Pierce (Columbia, S.C.), a two-time all region selection and Team MVP in 2003 that guided A.C. Flora high school to a pair of Regional Championships.
Kat Norris (Houston, Texas) joins the Pirates after claiming All-District honors three times. As a sophomore, she was named Best Defensive Player and guided Cy-Creek high school to a second-place district finish. In club action, she is one of three players for the Challenge to post a career record of 238-57-53 and has been a part of 10 state championships, two Region III Championships, and placed third in the National Championships.
Lindsey DiLuzio (Woodbridge, Va.) was a four-time letterwinner and earned first-team All-District, All-Region and All-Area as a junior and senior at Forest Park high school. For the PWSI Eclipse club team, she was a member of the 2003 U19 WAGS A Flight, 2002 U17 Raleigh and 2002 U17 WAGS Fall League Championship teams.
Jami Dickerson (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) was a three-sport who lettered in volleyball, basketball and soccer at Roanoke Rapids high school. Over her four-year career, she recorded 198 goals, 115 assists and was named all-conference four time, Offensive and Defensive MVP and the North Carolina Conference Player of the Year and Overall MVP in 2002. She earned a silver medal at the 2003 N.C. State Junior / Senior games and led her club team (CASL Spartan Elite) to three N.C. State Championships and the Region 4 finals.
CONFERENCE USA OUTLOOK
UAB, the 2003 Conference USA regular season champion, has been selected to win the 2004 C-USA Championship by the league's coaches. Junior midfielder/forward Julianna Sitch of DePaul was named the Preseason Player of the Year after earning Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2003. Sitch represented the United States this summer as USA won its sixth straight Nordic Cup in Iceland, the world's premier soccer tournament for the women's under-21 age group. Sitch is also on the 2004 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List.
The Blazers, led by 2003 C-USA Coach of the Year Paul Harbin, compiled a 13-5-1 overall record, 8-2 in conference play, last season on the way to their first C-USA women's soccer championship. Harbin returns First Team All-Conference USA and Second Team All-America defender Briana McCarty and First Team All-C-USA forward Tara Kidwell, both of whom were selected to the Preseason All-Conference Team.
Saint Louis was picked second in the coaches' vote, followed by DePaul as third. Both teams tallied a conference-best 14 wins last season. Senior Billiken Jamie Perry earned a spot on the Preseason-All Conference USA Team and her squad will host the 2004 Conference USA Tournament.
Marquette has been tabbed to finish fourth in the league this season. The Golden Eagles will be seeking their fifth NCAA Tournament bid in six years and their first regular-season and tournaments crowns since 2000.
Charlotte has been picked to finish fifth, in front of TCU. The Horned Frogs return Preseason All-Conference and 2003 Second Team All-Conference USA selection Jessi Moore. The senior forward led TCU's turnaround season with a 9-8-2 record and a No. 2 seed in the 2003 C-USA Tournament, its first tournament bid since joining Conference USA in 2001.
Cincinnati earned the No. 7 spot in the preseason rankings, followed by East Carolina. USF, which placed its senior goalkeeper and co-Defensive Player of the Year Breck Bankester on the preseason all-league team, has been picked to finish ninth. Tulane, Houston, Louisville and Southern Miss fill in the last four slots, respectively.
Rounding out the preseason All-Conference team are Yuiko Konno and Nicky McLeod of Memphis, ECU's Megan McCallion, Houston's Nikki Hawkins and Jamie Craft of Louisville. Craft is the lone sophomore on the preseason team and was the 2003 C-USA Freshman of the Year.
The top eight finishers in the regular season earn a spot in the 2004 Conference USA Tournament, November 3-6 in St. Louis. The league's tenth season kicks off Friday, August 27.
