COACH SPEAK: Butler Women's Soccer Preview
Aug. 21, 2008
Butler women's soccer head coach Tari St. John takes time with www.horizonleague.org to preview the Bulldogs' 2008 season. This year BU was picked to finish fourth in the preseason coaches' poll.
Q: After a 5-3 record in League play last season, what are your expectations heading into this season?
A: "We want to be better. The number one driving force for this team the last couple of seasons is to make ourselves individually better and make our team better. This team has never rested upon past laurels and I don't see that happening until we win a national championship. It's a great environment to be a part of as long as you don't mind feeling uncomfortable from time to time."
Q: With nine starters returning this year do you feel your team is on the cusp of making a big jump in wins this season?
A: "Perhaps if we had the same schedule as last year and all of our opponents stayed the same talent-wise, I might have that feeling. We've put together an incredibly challenging non-conference schedule and our conference just keeps getting more competitive. With that realization, it has pushed our team to new limits as far as their preparation coming into preseason. Anything can happen and there will undoubtedly be some unanticipated challenges, but I do believe by the end of preseason, we will have put ourselves in the best possible position to have a successful season. "
Q: With this being your third season at Butler how does this year's squad compare to teams you have coached in the past?
A: "Based on last spring and the physical and mental state of our players coming into preseason , this is the first season we have felt that we have had a total buy-in into our program and where we are going. The atmosphere that the team has created is inspiring."
Q: This year your team begins the season with three of its first five games at home whereas last year you began the year by playing your first five games on the road. Do you think that will help your team get off to a fast start this year?
A: "I'm not sure if it will help; our team is pretty indifferent to where we play. In fact, some of our most significant wins last season came on the road. We do have a great facility and it is always nice to take advantage of that."
Q: In 2007 your team finished out the season by winning seven of its last nine games, including a win over Oklahoma on the road, how much confidence do you think your team gained during that stretch?
A: "The Oklahoma game was a turning point in our season and quite possibly our program. Our team needed to figure out that it wasn't good enough just to prepare to compete. Istead, we need to prepare to win no matter who the opponent. From Oklahoma on, we went into a game with the expectation that we would do anything to come out on top at the end of 90 minutes. We have no doubt that mentality has carried over into this fall. In fact, we believe it has become a part of our culture."
Q: How have the incoming freshman adapted to the speed of the college game?
A: "One of the drawbacks to having a fall season is that the adaptation time for freshmen is so short. It takes a special freshman to be able to adjust quickly and have an impact right away. Lucky for us, we are not in a position that we need them to perform right away, but I do think we have a couple of freshmen that have the potential to be special."
