Women's Soccer Preview, Part 8: Loyola

Aug. 30, 2007

After taking the Horizon League by storm last season and racing to its second tournament title in the last four years, the Loyola women's soccer team enters the 2007 season looking to maintain that level of success and continue to make a name for itself at the national level.

Nine starters return from last year's squad, including 11 of the 12 players who scored a goal last season, and they are joined by another critically acclaimed recruiting class as the Ramblers look to continue their improvement.

FORWARDS
Loyola entered last season knowing it had to improve on its 2005 season total of 25 goals in order to be near the top of the Horizon League and improve it did, as an explosive offensive attack generated a school-record 42 goals en route to a program-record 14 wins. All but one member of the strike force returns, with a pair of sophomores leading the way.

Sophomore Cynthia Morote-Ariza returns looking to better her performance from last season, which was only the most prolific offensive season in program history. Morote-Ariza finished with single-season record totals of 27 points and nine assists while matching LU's record with nine goals and was named Second Team Freshman All-America by SoccerBuzz in addition to earning All-Horizon League First Team and Horizon League Newcomer of the Year distinction.

Working closely with Morote-Ariza was classmate Jackie Vera, another Chicagoland product who impressed in her rookie season. Vera finished third on the team in scoring (17 pts, six goals and five assists) and came through with a number of clutch goals, including the opening tally in the Horizon League championship against Detroit. Vera joined Morote-Ariza on the All-Horizon League First Team and the two seem poised to continue to get better.

Coming off one of her best seasons, senior Katie Heidenreich also returns to give the Ramblers size and experience up front. Heidenreich finished the season with three goals and four assists (10 points), with two of her goals coming in the last 10 minutes of regulation in 1-0 Loyola wins against DePaul and Detroit.

Junior Alexia Murray, who was limited to 13 appearances last season due to injury, also returns. She made an impressive return at the end of the season to notch assists in two of LU's Horizon League tournament wins.Senior Stephanie Pauli is also back. Pauli has 11 career goals to her credit and has proven she can score at this level.

Joining that explosive group are a pair of freshmen who could help increase Loyola's goal-scoring haul this season. Lauren Gerbick (86 high school goals) and Leah Ponticello (102) will look to compete for playing time immediately and help give Loyola plenty of quality depth up front.

MIDFIELDERS
While Loyola's strikers were busy scoring goals, the Rambler midfield put together a terrific year controlling the game and distributing the ball. Such production should continue this season, with the potential for improvement growing with the return of Julie Kenkel.

Senior Heather Lau has been an anchor in the middle of the field for Loyola for the last three season and she returns for her senior season.A First Team All-Horizon League selection last year, Lau brings toughness to the pitch and put together her best offensive season last year with two goals and four assists.

Three sophomores also return after gaining tremendous experience last season. The trio of Ashley Morawski, Selina Hunt and Sarah McPartlan added toughness and skill, as all three played key roles down the stretch. Morawski scored a pair of goals in the Horizon League tournament, including the championship-winner against Detroit, while Hunt and McPartlan combined for three goals and three assists.

Perhaps Loyola's most important "addition" this season will be the return of Kenkel, who missed all of last season with an injury. The 2004 Horizon League Newcomer of the Year, Kenkel brings great vision and skill and is a true playmaker in the center of the pSenior Amy Lomas, with 11 career goals, leads a group of returnees looking to gain playing time in the midfield. Classmate Anne Sommer, junior Selina Thanadabouth and sophomore Becca Hughey will also compete for playing time. The quartet will also battle with a talented bunch of freshmen.

Brooke Schuppan, a two-time Missouri all-state selection, has the tools necessary to contribute immediately while Cara Morawski, Nikki Staton, Ashley Funk and Maggie Doe will also be in the mix.

DEFENDERS
While Loyola's offensive fireworks received most of the attention last season, the Ramblers were also setting records on the other end of the field, as evidenced by posting a school-record eight shutouts. While Loyola must deal with the loss of keeper Emily Peick to graduation, all four starting defenders return.

Two of Loyola's most experienced players hold down the outside-back spots, as senior Amanda Ward and Caitlin Brown continue to produce. Ward has started all 63 matches of her Loyola career while Brown has done the same in her first two seasons. Their durability and leadership in the back will be a key for the Ramblers this season.

It was that leadership that helped Loyola's defense excel, despite having two freshmen in central defense last season. The duo of Casey Berrier and Julie Colhoff were among the best in the Horizon League last season, performing beyond their years. Berrier was named to the All-Horizon League Second Team last year while Colhoff was a rock in the middle. Their partnership is one that should be a boost to Loyola's defense for the foreseeable future.

Loyola has both depth and experience as well, in senior Laura Heidenreich and sophomore Allison Hammond. Heidenreich was limited by injury to just 13 appearances last season while Hammond was pushed into action for Loyola's run through the Horizon League tournament and made the transition flawlessly.

Freshmen Laura Trevillian, Miranda Wiley and Allie Roufus are three talented youngsters who will compete for playing time as well.

GOALKEEPER
Perhaps the preseason's biggest competition will be at the keeper position, as the Ramblers must replace the graduated Peick, who holds nearly every Rambler goalkeeping record. Junior Lauren Sommer is the only keeper with any collegiate experience on the roster, having played well in nine appearances in 2005. Freshman Colleen Dougherty and sophomore Sara Maness will battle Sommer, with the possibility that all three could see playing time at some point during the season.

Story provided by Loyola Office of Sports Information