Women's Soccer Faces Loyola in Preseason Exhibition
8/17/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 17, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC--The George Washington University women's soccer team will take on Loyola (MD), at the Mount Vernon Field at 5 p.m. in an exhibition match on Tuesday, Aug. 18, before opening the regular season at home against Towson on Aug. 24.
The George Washington women's soccer team comes into the 2009 season on a mission to return to a place of prominence in the Atlantic 10 Conference. With five starters among 17 returning letterwinners and one of the Mid-Atlantic region's top recruiting classes, the 2009 Colonials have the lineup to accomplish their goal.
The experience and maturity of 12 upperclassmen combined with incoming freshmen who have competed for, and won, USYSA Regional and National Championships will help bolster this year's team. "After graduating one of our best senior classes, we are encouraged by a strong group of returnees," said head coach Tanya Vogel, who enters her 10th season at GW. "The work that our 18 returnees put into our spring season, including our trip to Italy, will pay off this fall as we take on a strong nonconference schedule in preparation for conference play."
FORWARDS
Despite graduating starting forwards Keara Mehlert and Meg Pyle, the Colonials return a great quartet of proven goal scorers in senior Dara Rosen, junior Cynthia Gamboa and sophomores Brittany Schornstein and Taryn Dietrich. All four forwards scored goals for the Colonials in '08, but Rosen, with her smart positioning on the field and Gamboa's quickness with the ball, both need to help lead the Colonials in scoring as Schornstein and Dietrich gain even more experience at the college level. Additionally, freshmen Adriana Moya (Chile) and Sofia Caceres (Paraguay) each have international experience their youth national teams and bring an added flare to the front line. Kayley Sullivan, from nearby Alexandria, VA, will be a force off the bench with her blend of speed, size and finishing.
MIDFIELDERS
Senior Brittany Eger and juniors Kristen Slack and Ashley Starks are three of the most athletic members of the GW squad and will be responsible for running the flanks, getting into the attacking third and creating goal-scoring opportunities for the Colonials. Junior Libby Osher and incoming freshmen Alycia Lee and Clare Roche will also be competing for time as flank midfielders. With the graduation of starting center midfielders Kerry Philbin and Erica Wright, Vogel looks to senior Misa Eiritz, who tied a career-high scoring four goals in '08, and sophomore Sierra Smidinger to fill the role. "Misa is a fantastic ball handler with outstanding vision," said Vogel. "Sierra excels in the air, both are excellent distributors and are threats to score from outside the box."
DEFENDERS
Seniors Emily Gower and Liz Hillin and junior Jillian Morgan return to a back line that stymied opponents in 2008. All bring maturity and strong communication and organizational skills to the Colonials defense. The remaining defender positions will be filled by junior Michelle Aueron, redshirt freshmen Janine Rotsides and preseason Atlantic 10 All-Rookie selections Molly Bruh and Samie Cloutier. Bruh, besides helpling her Alberson Fury to four New York State Cup championships, she attended the prestigious adidas ESP Camp and a member of Region I Olympic Development Program team, competing in Costa Rica and Florida. Cloutier guided Foothill High to a 21-1-0 overall record and a final ranking in ESPN's Rise Fab 50 rankings of the Fall 2008 season.
GOALKEEPERS
Sophomore Lindsey Rowe returns after a banner freshmen season in which she earned A-10 All-Rookie Team honors after leading the league with 104 saves. Rowe, a quick and fearless netminder, recorded five shutouts last season, the most for a GW freshman goalkeeper since 1987 and third all-time for a rookie in program history. Sophomore Bridget Mahon and junior Molly Jensen will compete for time behind Rowe.
SCHEDULE
The Colonials will mix up their non-conference slate in 2009 with five new opponents on the schedule. New to this year's schedule are rival Georgetown, Towson and UMBC. Robert Morris and Mount St. Mary's have yet to face GW before this season. The home opener on Aug. 24 against Towson will have Hillin face off against her younger sister in a family battle. The sisters played against one another this past spring in an exhibition match at GW that ended in a tie.
GW will host ten opponents, matching a high in 2006, with six home matches during the Atlantic 10 Conference season, including matches against Dayton, St. Bonaventure and Duquesne. The Hoyas and Old Dominion are coming off stellar '08 seasons, both going deep into their conference tournaments. The Colonials open the Conference season at Xavier late in September before hosting four Conference matches at the Mount Vernon Field.
Charlotte, last season's regular and A-10 champion, will host the 2009 Atlantic 10 Conference Championship on Nov. 5-8.
