COACH SPEAK: Wright State Women's Soccer Preview
Aug. 21, 2008
Wright State women's soccer head coach Pat Ferguson takes time with www.horizonleague.org to preview the Raiders' 2008 season. This year WSU was picked to finish third in the preseason coaches' poll. In three years at Wright State Ferguson has guided the Raiders to 36 wins.
Q: With this being your fourth season at Wright State, how would you say this year's team compares to teams you have coached in the past?
A: "In each of the previous three year's I've been pleased with our team's performance. In fact, I think they over achieved. This year the team came back in the best physical shape of my four years and most of them played consistently throughout the summer. I believe we are starting at a higher level than we have in the past."
Q: What are your expectations heading into this season?
A: "While we are understandably not the favorite to win the Horizon League that is certainly our goal. We play a challenging schedule as always, so we also are striving for quality wins against non-conference opponents."
Q: Last year, your team won 13 games how difficult will it be for your team to duplicate that same type of success?
A: "I'm not so concerned with the number of wins we have. I'm more concerned that our team maximizes its potential in each game. Having said that there are teams on our schedule from top level conferences such as the Big Ten, Big East and SEC. There are also teams from mid-major conferences that are consistently challenging for a league title. So we certainly have difficult task in front of us this season."
Q: What is one thing you have tried to preach to your team in the preseason so far?
A: "We need everyone on our roster to contribute in order for us to be successful."
Q: How comforting is it for you to know that three-time First Team All-Horizon League member Jess Rooma will be back for her senior season?
A: "It's always good to know you have a quality player like Jess coming back to play for you. This is the first summer that she has played and trained during the summer for the fall. In fact, before her freshman year, she hadn't touched a soccer ball for about 12 months. So not only is she a quality player, she is also more prepared than ever. More importantly she has provided leadership for the younger players."
Q: Last year Amber Kasmer and Amy Miller combined to score 21 goals, what do you expect from both players this season?
A: "I certainly hope they will continue to score. I hope they can be more creative in how they produce goals. Having said that, I hope their game evolves to the point where they can bring other players in to the scoring picture."
Q: In your three years at Wright State, the Raiders have held a goals against average of 1.00 or lower, talk a little bit about what you have tried to preach to your team defensively?
A: "Defense wins championships. It takes all 11 players to defend. I don't care about playing attractive soccer, I care about winning games. I would rather walk off the field with a win and having played unattractive defensive oriented soccer as opposed to playing beautiful attacking soccer and lose. The number of passes we string together is not my primary concern."
Q: This year you have brought in a strong group of recruits for this season, how good do you think this freshman class can be?
A: "We have freshman who will contribute in the game immediately and we have some who will contribute in the game during their junior and senior seasons. However, they are all of the level and mentality to help our team in other ways right now."
Q: How have the incoming freshman adapted to the speed of the college game?
A: "It always takes freshman time to adjust to the speed, intensity and physical nature of the Division I game. We have some freshman who have come from top clubs and are accustomed to playing with and against top notch players, so that helps. Overall they have done a good job."
