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2008 UD Womens Soccer Preview
2008 UD Womens Soccer Preview
Christopher Rieman
Published by Chris R
08-18-2008
Smile 2008 UD Womens Soccer Preview

DAYTON (OH) -- It’s fair to say the UD women’s soccer team rediscovered their identity last year. Perennial champions in the Atlantic 10 Conference with seven regular season titles to their credit, the Flyers spent the 2005 and 2006 seasons in relative mediocrity – at least for a program used to being on top. Last season’s 13-4-4 record restored a good portion of UD’s reputation and only a PK shootout loss to Fordham in the A10 semifinals kept the Flyers from playing for an automatic berth into the NCAAs. Where success is only measured in league titles and NCAA bids, it wasn’t quite enough to satisfy all the expectations. Rediscovering the competitive edge however was a major step forward for a program known for stepping up when it matters.
The 2007 Flyers battled several other teams for the top spot in the league race, one of the most competitive years in the A10 in recent memory. After starting 11-3 (5-1) however, UD finished a pedestrian 1-1-3 over the last five matches, relegating Head Coach Mike Tucker’s squad to the 5th spot in the league tourney. The loss of midfielder Colleen Gibson to a broken arm early in that stretch was a key moment, but Dayton rebounded in the A10 tournament to oust St. Louis and outplayed Fordham through 110 minutes in spite of the shootout loss. With most of the offensive firepower back and healthy – including A10 Offensive Player of the Year Mandi Back – Dayton has a chance to take another step closer to their once unchallenged perch at the top.

IN THE ATTACK

Dayton’s young guns have all grown up. The junior trio of Back, Caitlin Proffitt, and Colleen Gibson are now upperclassmen and their junior years should be full of high expectations as playmakers, goal scorers, and team leaders. Back finished 2007 with 14 goals and 2 assists and could match or better that in 2008 if she becomes more physical and demonstrates a target forward mentality. That role has been occupied by Proffitt over the last two seasons. Proffitt has been consistently inconsistent; at times uncontainable in her physical prowess and at other times lost in the play and uninvolved. She has the tools to double up her 3 goals and 1 assist from a year ago and doing so would force opponents to quit cheating defenders toward Back in the attacking half of the field.

The absence of Gibson in the latter portion of the 2007 season was a crushing blow. Sideswiped by a defender on the baseline, she fell awkwardly and broke her arm, leaving the Flyers without a definitive ball control specialist and one-on-one playmaker in the middle third. Perhaps the wheels didn’t completely fall off, but it was a tough reminder of how important Gibson’s presence was and still is to the team. She may or may not improve upon her 2 goals and 3 assists this year, but her role as conduit and distributor remain skills that box scores don’t always convey.

BETWEEN THE 18s

Helping to score goals is fellow junior Lauren MacCormick, a Cincinnati native who tallied 3 goals and 1 assist last year in 13 starts and 20 overall appearances. MacCormick plays like a target forward but works well in the midfield, complementing Gibson’s staccato approach nicely. The loss of All A10 midfielder Kristen Persichini will force MacCormick to play a larger role, but the return of seniors Amanda Gallow and Kim Sacher on the outside will make that transition easier. Sacher missed all of last season while Gallow nearly half. Both players bring solid experience, speed to the flanks, and excellence fitness – something the Flyers lacked at times in their absence. Neither is likely to become a major goal scorer, but remain players who bring game-to-game consistency and make teammates better. Gallow can also spend time as an outside defender if the opposition throws a speedy forward at the Flyers. Both retreat well and help defensively.

Redshirt sophomore Cara Cornacchia brings 8 starts and 19 appearances to the midfield. The Canadian has suffered through injuries thus far, but is now in a position to accept more responsibility and add an element of assertiveness to her game.

The remaining minutes in the midfield and striker positions will be determined from a large group of returnees – mostly underclassmen. Kelly Blumenschein stands the best chance as coaches have indicated she may move from defender to striker – her natural position out of high school. The A10 All Rookie has strong foot skills, good speed, and plays composed like a veteran. Her sophomore campaign could be a big one if she’s ready to assume a healthy portion of the scoring.

Fellow sophomores Allison Giner, Lindy Barber, Jerica DeWolfe and Tori Oelschlager will duke it out for starting positions, the latter two accounting for 14 starts and 38 appearances in 2007. Giner and Barber were energy players off the bench and bring quickness to the field. Their roles should increase.

IN THE REAR WITH THE GEAR

In the back line, Stephanie Wurth will once again keep things organized as the central defender. A big senior year is important and could be the difference in UD getting to the NCAAs. She’s been a career starter and has the pedigree to be the vocal leader on the pitch. Surrounding her are a bevy of players with solid credentials, including RS sophomore Lauren Maybury (14 starts in 2007). Look for junior defender Eileen Hughes to step up and play a much larger role on the left side. Hughes has a solid left foot, good speed, and performs to her abilities. Despite three career starts, she has 29 appearances and could be the replacement for Blumenschein.

Battling it out between the pipes are Louisville transfer Deana Waintraub and sophomore Lisa Rodgers. Normally a veteran position at UD going back to Stephanie Weisenfeld, Waintraub brings just two appearances to 2008 while Rodgers has yet to see her first minutes in a Flyer uniform. With the departure of A10 Defensive Player of the Year GK Niki Reed, look for the competition to be fierce. Waintraub may earn the opening day nod with her senior leadership and starting experience at Louisville.

NOOBS

A regiment of freshmen will make things interesting. Hanna Griffin (D), Katie Griffin (F), Kelsey Miller (D/MF), Kathleen Beljan (D/MF), Brittany Persaud (MF/F), Josie Grant (MF), Kelsey Owen (MF), and Emily Kenyon (MF) represent five in-staters, one from California (Owen), one from Illinois (Miller) and one from the United Kingdom (Grant). SoccerBuzz rated the incoming class among the Top-75 in the country. We like the chances of Persaud to make an immediate impact with her bazooka foot and regional ODP experience.

FLYER FOES

The schedule is difficult, both inside and outside the conference. The Flyers were picked to finish second behind Charlotte in the A10 race, not surprising considering the 49ers have notched back-to-back Top-25 recruiting classes and took the A10 title in 2007.

UD begins the non-conference portion of the schedule with the season opener at Baujan Field against Indiana. They hit the road for the first time with a tournament at the University of Illinois to take on Pittsburgh and either the host Illini or IowaState. A trip to Ann Arbor against Michigan follows thereafter, followed by three home games against Cincinnati, Duke, and Rutgers -- the latter two being highlights of the non-conference home schedule. Away games at WrightState and BallState round out the non-con and prepare UD for the A10 slate.

Unlike last year, UD’s toughest conference matches are on the road. Key games that could determine the league winner loom at Charlotte, St. Louis, and Rhode Island, along with roadies at Xavier, SJU, and UMass. The home schedule consists of Richmond, SBU, Duquesne, Fordham, and LaSalle.

TALE OF THE TAPE

The Flyers have a chance to be very good at home, while the road schedule is as challenging as it has been in recent years. Dayton must demonstrate a maturation of last year’s improvement and win the matches that UD is clearly favored in. Losses in 2007 to Temple and Fordham cannot be in the 2008 vocabulary. Likewise, UD needs a signature win or two. Duke, Michigan, and possibly Illinois offer that – not to mention a date at Charlotte.

There’s a lot to like about the 2008 Flyers. Offensively, UD has the tools to score. As good as Mandi Back is however, she could use more help. The less predictable and more diverse Dayton becomes, the better their chances. Caitlin Proffitt must step it up and be the kind of player she’s shown flashes of, while Gibson just needs to remain healthy and continue causing havoc between the 18s. Sacher and Gallow returning from injury might be the biggest storyline to watch. Any time you get two starters back from the sidelines, it’s a big deal.

The midfield could use a couple more dynamic playmakers willing to take defenders head-on. At times last season, open space presented itself but a lack of confidence forced players to pass around a weak defensive mark. Better utilization of the dribble and more jukes will free up space more quickly for dangerous attacks. Any number of players could step up and be a serious goal scorer. DeWolfe and MacCormick have the tools, if not the proven ability. Kelly Blumenschein was a prolific goal scorer in HS that earned her prep All-American honors. She’s too good not to yield positive results and her transition from the back line should be seamless.

Defensively, Wurth will remain the glue and Maybury should settle in as well. Hughes can slide into Blumenschein’s former position while solid depth but inexperience rounds out the back line. The biggest question remains in goal where UD must break in a new goalkeeper. Waintraub has the experience, but not in a Flyer uniform. Rodgers is talented and should be in the mix.

Success, like it does every year, largely depends on intangibles. Avoiding injuries, a favorable schedule, and a good attitude go a long way. Dayton must find a way to tackle the major roadblocks away from Baujan Field. It won’t be easy and should determine the A10 order of finish at the top of the standings. Considering UD sat in 1st place in the A10 last season until injuries sidetracked the team, the prognosticators think the UD team from the first half of the season is what fans are likely to see again this year. That’s certainly possible. Charlotte is the clear favorite, but Dayton has a chance to be the toughest challenger. It shouldn’t be difficult for the players or coaches to get ready for the 2008 matchup. Last year’s result cost Dayton a win and a broken arm. Those are the kinds of things competitive athletes never forget.
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  #1  
By College B-Ball Fan on 08-19-2008, 04:03 PM
Talking Womens Soccer Preview

Chris, great summary of the team--preseason. I hope your right and the girls get an early start in Illinios and with home games against the likes of Duke. I'm excited for Coach Tucker and the girls--could be a special year. Go Flyers
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  #2  
By Chris R on 08-19-2008, 04:24 PM
It could be a very good year. I think everyone is hungry to get back to the NCAAs. Its doable if we can get back to winning all the games we should win. In the past, we'd never drop games to Fordham or LaSalle or Temple. We need to polish these turkeys off when we get the chance. No more "ok how did we just lose that" games. Getting off to a good start to the year is key too. We did that last year.

To me, Wurth and Proffitt need to step up and be All-Conference players this year in a big way. We need Wurth to help break in the new GK and we need Proff to be the #2 scoring option consistently. We get that and I think we can go places.
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