Midfield Looks to Anchor Women's Soccer Squad
8/20/2008 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Aug. 20, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - For any team the midfield is the command center for what gets done on both sides of the ball. For first-year Alabama head coach Todd Bramble, the midfield looks to be a strength for the young squad as he welcomes some senior leadership to the epicenter of the team.
"In some ways the midfielders have more demands placed on them than any other position because they are the consummate two-way players," Bramble said. "They have a huge responsibility offensively. That is the area of the field where we have to try and establish our possession game against teams.
They have to be good on the ball, under pressure, make good decisions and be accurate passers. Defensively that is where you establish territory. I like to think of the midfield as a line of scrimmage. Generally whoever wins the battle in the midfield has a better chance to win the game."
One of the players that have established herself as a leader and a rock in the middle for Bramble is senior Jessica Deegan. The Centreville, Va. native demonstrated her ability at the spring games at Orange Beach and now during training camp.
"Jessie Deegan has played a lot of different positions during her career here but we felt like we found a good match with her technical abilities and athleticism to be our holding midfielder. I give her a ton of credit to adapting to that role because she is a personality player. She is someone who really wants to have an impact on the game."
Deegan enters her senior campaign after starting 55 games for the Crimson Tide. Deegan has recorded 17 points on three goals and 11 assists, including a team leading five assists last season. In the exhibition match against Jackson State, Deegan tied for the team lead in shots with five.
Two other seniors that have made the point of making their final season in the Crimson Tide uniform special is Kailey Corken and Jamie Zimmerman.
Corken had her best season last year as she tied for the team lead in points with 13 on four goals and a team leading five assists. The Cincinnati, Ohio native has suited up 41 times and tallied 20 career points on six goals and eight assists.
Zimmerman played in all 20 contests last year and handed out one assist. The White Hall, Md. native has two career points on two assists. Both Corken and Zimmerman recorded assists in the Jackson State exhibition match.
One of the players that Bramble is looking to be a key piece in the attack is sophomore Rosaly Periello. Petriello was third on the team in scoring as a freshman with nine points on three goals and three assists.
"Rosaly is just a sophomore but she is a very good soccer player," Bramble said. "She has a good soccer brain. She has got great instincts and can see the game around her. She can handle the ball and turn with pressure and is probably one of the best penetrating passers on the team."
Local product Shannon Lathrop, a signee that didn't commit until the end of May has turned some heads in camp. Lathrop prepped at Oak Mountain High School in Birmingham, Ala. and also played for the Birmingham United Soccer Association.
"Shannon has really come in and established herself as someone who understands the game," Bramble explained. "We will be counting on her to log some quality minutes even in our biggest games. She has already gained the confidence in her teammates and coaching staff to be able to get the job done."
Battling back from injury and in the mix is sophomore Kelly King and freshman Taylor Parks. King played in all 20 games last season and recorded six points on two goals and two assists. Parks comes to the Capstone from the Paideia School in Atlanta, Ga. where she was a four-year starter. She also played for the competitive TOPHAT '08 Gold club team.
The Crimson Tide will officially suit up for the first time under Bramble against reigning Conference USA champ Memphis. The Tide will have to hit the road to play the Tigers on Aug. 29 at 5:00 p.m. at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex in Memphis.
