2000 Women's Soccer Outlook
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As the start of the George Washington University women's soccer season approaches, first-year head coach Tanya Vogel uses words like "character," "excitement," "untapped potential" and "passion" to describe this year's team. With only two seniors on the roster, Vogel, a '96 GW graduate and four-time letterwinner, will depend on the strong character of the junior class to help provide the leadership in this 2000 campaign.
In addition to true senior Melissa Schreibstein, GW has the services of fifth-year senior Malynda Nichol. Nichol is recovering from a third ACL tear, but should be ready by mid-September. Nichol's passion for winning will serve as invaluable inspiration to a team that will depend on production from its freshmen and sophomores. Schreibstein will be called upon to play as a left midfielder, where GW should benefit from her patented left-footed serves.
GW enjoys more depth at the forward position this fall than in any recent year. Much excitement revolves around the return of redshirt freshman Kim Warner. Warner, a two-year member of the Under-20 Canadian National Team, missed her entire freshman season after tearing her ACL just weeks before the 1999 pre-season. Having fully recovered after a lengthy year of rehabilitation, Warner sets her sights on returning to and surpassing the level at which excelled as a youth player in Canada. Joining Warner at the forward position is last year's leading scorer Tiffany Williams. Williams' versatility is an asset to the program due to the fact that she is capable of doubling as a defender if necessary. Angelica Caramanica's ability to hold the ball up front, and finish if given the chance, will complement Warner and Williams' talents. Caramanica is fully fit coming into the 2000 season, after being slowed last year by a lingering ankle sprain. The physical strength of Caroline Donoghue and the comfort on the ball of Alysa Chin-Shue add viable options to Coach Vogel's attacking repertoire.
The midfield is where the biggest battle for starting jobs will occur. In addition to Nichol and Schreibstein, GW returns and depends on two-year starter Kesha Christoph, 1999's second leading scorer. Christoph's classmate, Jessica Sultzer, enters her third year with heavy on and off-field leadership expectations placed upon her by the coaching staff. Sophomores Kimberly Sanders and Regina Jefferies will provide plenty of fight on the field and positive energy off the field for the Colonials. Freshmen midfielders Nicole D'Hondt and Colleen Ragan provide both talent and experience to coach Vogel's team. D'Hondt has played in the central midfield for the 1999 & 2000 national runner-up Michigan Hawks club team and the 2000 National ODP Champion Michigan State Team. Ragan has played in both central and outside midfield, as well as forward, for the 1999 Region 1 champion and national finalist FC Delco from Pennsylvania. The versatility of freshmen Caite Terranova (member of 1998 national champion Weston, CT, Wild Thing) and Meggan Eckert (Arizona ODP) will be an asset to the program this fall. Both players are capable of playing outside midfield and outside back.
With the loss of Katy McQuillin in the back, the Colonials will depend heavily on the skill and savvy of central back Erin Coppedge. Coppedge should be primed to take command of the team's back 1/3 having played the second half of last fall and the entire spring as GW's central back. Sophomores Alanna Elie and Pirapar (Pra) Patamasucon will flank her. Elie started nearly every game at left back as a freshman. Patamasucon was converted from an outside midfielder to an outside back in the spring, as her speed, quickness and tackling ability are most utilized in that role. Newcomer Molly Sunderdick (Columbia, MD) brings fitness, speed, and intelligence to the Colonials' defense and could challenge for a starting spot. If need be, Vogel could utilize Williams, Terranova or Eckert to add more depth in the back.
Due to the medical red-shirt of goalkeeper Shannon Ashfield, freshman Stephanie Scrivens (Potomac, MD) will most likely be called upon to start. Scrivens has been the starting goalkeeper for the 1999 Maryland State Cup Champion Columbia Majestic. Her high school team, Stone Ridge, won the 1999 Independent School League Championship. Scrivens will receive competition from fellow freshman Christine O'Malley from Davis, CA.
To prepare for the challenging Atlantic 10 Conference schedule, GW will face stiff competition in the first half of its season. Included in the non-conference schedule are games at local rivals Georgetown, Virginia, Maryland-Baltimore County, and Maryland. When GW travels to Maryland it marks the first time that Coach Vogel meets her former coach, Shannon Cirovski. GW will travel to Princeton over Labor Day weekend to take on the Tigers. Later in September they will face Rutgers and Syracuse at the Rutgers Classic before heading south to take on Old Dominion and Virginia Tech.
The only time GW's women's soccer team has played in the NCAA Tournament was in 1996, which coincidentally was Vogel's final year as a player in the program. That destination is exactly where she plans to take this year's team after winning the Atlantic 10 Championship.