2007 Soccer Preview: The Returners
8/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Editors Note: This is the first of a three part preview on rolltide.com for the University of Alabama Women's Soccer Team. Today's feature will focus on the returning players.
The University of Alabama women's soccer team is looking to rebound off a season that was not typical of Alabama Soccer. Head Coach Don Staley returns 14 letterwinners from last years, all of which saw significant action last season and four players who received medical redshirts in 2006.
The Tide lost four players from the 2006 squad, three graduated (Suzanne Baker, Gillian Killburn and Emily Pitek) and junior Chelsea Stang gave up the game because of injuries.
"I think that the experience of our returning players will pay off not only in wins and losses on the field but also in the locker room," Staley said. "The returning student athletes will be called upon to use their experience to help the massive group of new freshman coming in athletically and academically."
Coach Staley's 2007 squad will feature four seniors. Susie Beard will return in the midfield or could slide up to a forward. Natalie Kohn, a strong legged defender from Gurnee, Ill., will return on defense for the Tide.
Seniors Hayley MacDonald and Jordan O'Banion have been selected as the team captains for the 2007 season.
MacDonald is a three year starter for the Tide, she played in the midfield in 2004 and 2005 but moved to sweeper last season to fill a hole caused by the injury to Chelsea Stang. She will make the move back to the midfield this season.
O'Banion is also a three year starter, though her 2005 season was cut short due to a knee injury suffered early in the season. She will be counted on this season to take to create quality shot opportunities from her forward position.
The Tide returns two experienced goalkeepers in Kara Gudmens and Karen Lansden. Gudmens has been the Tide's starting keeper since arriving at the Capstone two years ago. She has a career record of 8-18-2. Lansden missed last season due to a broken hand she suffered in preseason camp. She played in 12 games, five as a starter in 2005.
The Tide will return plenty of experience in the midfield with juniors Kailey Corken, Jessica Deegan, Callie Pike, and Jamie Zimmerman all battling for playing time. An unexpected returner in the midfield is sophomore Ashley Scheidt, who had planned on transferring closer to home and play at the University of Louisville, but elected to stay at the Capstone early in the summer.
Returning on the front line for the Tide in addition to O'Banion is sophomore Kelsey King, from Kingwood, Texas. In addition, Jamie Zimmerman and Jessica Deegan could also slide to the front line from the midfield.
In the backfield the Tide returns experienced juniors Cara Kelly and Colleen Posey along with senior Natalie Kohn.
Alabama will welcome two freshmen back to the field after receiving medical redshirts in 2006, Grace Lawson and Rosaly Petriello. Lawson is a forward that brings good size to the front line and Petriello is a midfielder with an extremely strong left leg.
Up next for the 2007 Alabama Soccer Preview on rolltide.com is a look at the Tide's 12 new players for the 2007 season.
