Women's Soccer Preview, Part 1: Cleveland State
Aug. 14, 2006
Viking women's soccer coach Derrek Falor is definitely a glass half full kind of guy.
After the Vikings struggled through their first two seasons of collegiate women's soccer without a win, Falor couldn't wait for the 2006 season to get here because, for the first time since coming to Cleveland State four years ago, he knew that the Vikings would be closer to playing without the competitive disadvantage that came with beginning a program more than a decade later than the other schools that CSU competes against.
With the onset of the 2006 season, Falor is proud of the growth that the Vikings have shown on the field over the last two years yet is eager to see that growth translate into victories.
"The process of building this program has not been easy, but it has gone about as expected" Falor said. "You don't start a program from scratch and expect to play at a championship level right away. You have to take things gradually and build with baby steps. I feel like we've done just that
"We started the program with just two players who had ever played in a collegiate game. Two years later, we will bring back 13 players with extensive starting experience. It is an amazing difference, and one that affords us some more options in preparation for our opponents. Not the least of which is the ability to trust ourselves and play with confidence."
Joining the 13 letter-winners -- nine of whom were starters a season ago -- will be 10 first-year players who will help to give the Vikings their most extensive depth yet.
A Choice In Goal
The most interesting battle during the preseason may well come in goal where Ashley Kidwell and Erin Withrow, the starters in 2004 and 2005, respectively, will be competing.
Kidwell, who red-shirted last year in order to concentrate on her academic performance, may have the inside track on the position after a strong showing during spring practice. She holds the school record with 134 saves as a freshman, including five matches of 10 or more saves.
Withrow is ready for the challenge after starting all but one game in the nets last year, finishing with a Horizon League-best 122 saves. Her leadership skills shown through as she gained confidence in goal last year, a trait which may help her secure the starting berth this season.
The addition of freshmen Shannon Saunders and Jillian Stewart, both of whom will need some time to adapt to the speed of the collegiate game, gives the Vikings great depth in the nets.
Three Starters Back On Defense
Like most of the position groups, the defensive unit features good experience, some promising newcomers and a question mark or two.
The squad will be anchored by the trio of sophomores Abbie Kakias, Maggie Pugliese and Natalie Wilson, each of whom has extensive starting experience, while senior Andrea Loejos and freshmen Allie Riczo, Courtney Keith and Danielle Ultican will each factor into the playing rotation at some point.
Kakias, one of the top all-around players on the team last season after missing the entire 2004 campaign following knee surgery, has thrived since moving to the left outside defensive slot after playing at both midfield and forward last season.
Pugliese, the top defender in 2004, returns after suffering a torn ACL in her right knee in the 2005 opener at Kent, is tenacious, and excels at defending in one-vs.-one situations. If fully recovered, she will most likely start as the outside defender on the right side.
Falor expects Wilson to play up to her true ability this year after being limited last season with a nagging knee injury she brought into camp. She had an outstanding spring, showing the athleticism and leadership skills that made her one of last season's top newcomers.
Loejos was one of the true surprises last year, making the team as a walk-on and starting 10 matches on defense. She came on so quickly that she was voted one of the team captains for this season.
Riczo is the leading candidate among the freshmen to earn a starting berth, joining Wilson as one of the two central defenders.
After struggling to keep four healthy defenders in each of the last two seasons, Falor will have the luxury of having Keith and Ultican start the season in prominent reserve roles while taking time to work fellow freshmen Jocelyn Keefer, Janna Pearson and Nekita Shay into the rotation when ready.
"This is the most talented group of defenders that we have had at CSU," Falor said. "They are all athletic and physical, with each of our starters being capable of pushing forward and becoming an offensive threat in our attack. Our depth will let us rotate players throughout the season so that we can stay fresh for the end of the regular season and beyond."
Viking Strength Comes In The Midfield
The midfield area may be the most important group for CSU this year because in order to meet the team goals of both increasing scoring while limiting opponents' offensive opportunities, the Vikings are going to have to control play in the midfield.
Led by junior Heather Clapacs, a two-time second team All-Horizon League choice, the Vikings return four of the five starters in the midfield which means that Falor expects to see a quantum improvement in production from this group.
Clapacs is expected to be joined in the starting lineup by junior Shayna Back, sophomores Ashley Walchack and Lisa Conway, with junior Samantha Casey and freshman Heather Wagner battling it out for the last spot. The plan is for freshmen Jessica Keefer and Nina Scheidegger to provide time off the bench in the wing midfield slots.
"I would argue very strongly that in Heather Clapacs and Ashley Walchack, we have two of the more dynamic and talented midfielders on the ball in the league," Falor said. "All throughout spring practice and games, they were able to dominate possession, switch the point of attack when needed, and provide scoring threats and runs out of midfield. If they can stay healthy then it is fair to say that we will rely heavily on them to push forward and create dangerous offensive opportunities in the attacking third for us."
Walchack was one of the offensive leaders of the Vikings last year, scoring two goals with an assist in the first 12 games before being sidelined for the final seven contests. She excelled at creating opportunities off set plays and her return will be a big boost to the CSU offense.
Back moves to the midfield after predominantly playing on defense during her first two seasons while Conway returns after also struggling with injuries last year, sharing the team lead with three assists while starting 12 of the 15 matches she played in.
Casey has provided a stabilizing influence over the last two years having started 27 times during her first two seasons. As a regular starter in 2004 and a part-time started in 2005, Sam has consistently given the team solid stretches of possession and quality zonal defending and will be looked to do that same this season.
Wagner, who may be the most explosive of the newcomers after scoring 29 goals with 25 assists at Anthony Wayne High, is the leading candidate to add a significant speed presence to this group.
"The versatility of our midfielders affords us the opportunity to do a number of different things this year," Falor said. "We can match up with well with just about everybody we play and that will be a big improvement for us. I also think that for us to accomplish the things I know we're capable of this season, our mids have to have a positive impact each game right from the opening whistle.
Injuries Affect Forward Game
The Vikings were dealt a big blow in late July when junior Jennifer Wieand, the school's all-time scoring leader, was lost for the season after tearing the ACL in her right knee. Wieand was scheduled to be the starter at the lone forward slot, forcing Falor to reshuffle the lineup to make up for her loss.
Fortunately, Falor can turn to junior Amber Rasmussen to fill the slot. A starter in 37 of the 38 games that she has played in, Rasmussen led the team in scoring in 2004 but split time between the midfield and forward last year. "Amber is tenacious and really gives us a creative quality when combining with our central midfield, so while the lost of Jen hurts us in overall team speed, we can make up for that with Amber's mental speed and game recognition."
Backing Rasmussen up will be sophomore Jillian Lukasko, who red-shirted last season, and freshman Sarah Baker, who played four years on the boy's team at Huron High School.
"Although we will definitely miss Jen this season, the depth and experience that we have on the roster will allow us to overcome her injury better than if it had happened in either of the last two years. The improvement in the play of our midfielders will create more offensive opportunities and Amber is certainly capable of taking over a bigger offensive role."
Schedule Built For Horizon League Play
The biggest change on the field may come during the non-confernce schedule when the Vikings play several teams for the first time.
After facing a Mid-American Conference heavy slate the first two years, Falor has filled the schedule with teams that tend to use the same style of play as Horizon League teams and will serve as much better preparation for the seven-match league schedule.
The Vikings will play nine home contests, the most in school history, including a season-opening match against Delaware State on Aug. 27.
The Vikings will spend most of September on the road, playing seven of their nine contests away from home. Included in that list are matches against Nicholls State and South Alabama in Mobile, AL., a Sept. 1 meeting at future Horizon League member Valparaiso and a Sept. 17 contest at Big East opponent Cincinnati. The lone home games during September are against Akron (Sept. 15) and Indiana State (Sept. 22).
CSU opens Horizon League play with matches at Detroit (Sept. 29) and Butler (Oct. 1), before returning home to finish the regular season by playing six of its last seven matches at home.
Story provided by CSU Office of Sports Information
