Lady Pirates Open 2004 Season Against Nationally Ranked Virginia
August 26, 2004 | Soccer
GREENVILLE, N.C. ? The East Carolina women's soccer team has spent the last nine months in preparing for their first game of the season, which opens this Friday night against nationally ranked Virginia at 7:00 p.m. in Charlottesville, Va., at Klockner Stadium.
The Pirates (7-7-5, 3-4-3 C-USA) got off to a great preseason when they defeated Old Dominion, 1-0, in their only exhibition match of the season on Aug. 18. Since then, the Pirates have turned their focus towards the first game of the 2004 season and No. 7 Virginia.
"We are excited to get things started this Friday," said sixth-year head coach Rob Donnenwirth. "Opening your season against one of the best teams in the country, you have to be totally focused on the task at hand, which is playing a good brand of soccer and coming away with a win."
Since the exhibition game, Donnenwirth has been able to get a glimpse of what the future will look like for his team, especially in the backfield. After losing three starters from last years squad that helped record six shutouts, senior co-captain Megan Scwanke, a two-year starter, will look to lead a young, yet talented group in the backfield.
The starting goalkeeper position is wide open once again this season. Redshirt sophomore Lauren Church has the inside track to get the start against the Cavaliers as she went into last season as the starter before suffering a season ending injury in the season opener. Competing against Church will be junior Lindsi Troxler who started 17 of 18 games, collecting 70 saves, four shutouts and set a single-season record 1.10 goals against average.
The forward and midfield positions are still up for grabs as 15 Lady Pirates are vying for six spots and Donnenwirth has not set a timetable on a concrete starting line-up. Leading the way for Donnenwirth up front will be 2004 Preseason All C-USA pick Meghan McCallion. The junior from Long Island, NY, will look to continue her impressive career at East Carolina as she has slowly become the offensive leader for the Pirates.
Helping out at the forward position will be junior's Melissa Penney, Carmen Calpo and Kate Lowe, along with sophomore Anastasia Nikas.
For the Pirates, the midfield is arguably the deepest position this season with eight returnees with experience. Coach Donnenwirth can play any of 11 players and feel comfortable about the middle of his lineup. Senior co-captain Rachelle Cabeceiras, Sarah Stoltz, Krystel Pabey, Rachel Hils and Calpo will be fighting for one of the three or four midfield spots, depending on the Pirates scheme this year.
The Cavaliers enter the season ranked No. 7 in the nation after a 12-5-4 record in 2003. Virginia participated in the NCAA Tournament for the tenth consecutive season last year, falling in penalty kicks to Villanova in the second round. They are led by Hermann Candidate Kelly Hammond, who led the Cavaliers in scoring with 12 goals and 30 points, while being named second-team All-American.
Virginia opens the 2004 season ranked No. 7 by Soccer America, No. 9 by Soccer Times, No. 10 by NSCAA and No. 13 by Soccer Buzz.
Friday's match marks the first contest between the two schools and the fourth time in a year that the Pirates have faced a non-conference nationally ranked team. Last season, the Pirates fell to No. 9 Texas, 5-3, No. 9 Wake Forest 1-0 and No. 6 Florida 2-1.
Pirate fans can keep up with live in game action by logging on to www.ecupirates.com.
The Pirates' next match will be against instate rival UNC Wilmington on Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. in Wilmington, N.C.
