There’s a notable change in the CC women’s soccer team’s focus this fall, if not the long-term goal. In years past under coach Geoff Bennett, the Tigers (12-6-2 overall, 8-2-1 league last fall) were focused on qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. This fall, the focus is on winning the Conference USA title first, which would automatically send the Tigers on to the NCAA Tournament.
“I really like that,” said senior forward Tiffany Brown, pictured left. “It’s a short-term goal toward a longer-term one. It’s very attainable.”
The first step toward making a march through C-USA is the nonconference schedule this weekend and in September. CC hosts No. 20 Dayton at 4 p.m. Friday at Stewart Field. Boise State, the WAC tournament champ, plays Air Force Friday and CC at noon on Sunday.
Both qualified for the NCAA tournament last fall, as did Sept. 19 foe Oklahoma State,
Sophomore midfielder Colleen Williams has two goals and an assist to account for all three goals in Dayton’s 2-0 start. Junior defenders Kathleen Beljan and Kelsey Miller also return. For 1-1 Boise State, Shannon Saxton has two assists with goals by Erica Parks and Kati Lucas so far.
The Tigers takes pride in their tough nonconference schedule, hoping it prepares them for C-USA play. CC, the 2009 league runner-up, lost in the semifinals, to 2010 league favorite Memphis, which returns senior forward Ashley Berra and senior midfielder Vendula Strnadova were named to the 45-player watch list for the 2010 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy, the highest individual honor in college soccer. The Tigers have won three-straight C-USA championships.
Central Florida is another top contender despite losing most of its top players and rebuilding with 12 freshmen and two more newcomers. The defense should be sound with three starters – preseason league first-teamer Bianca Joswiak, Lauren Halberd and Christian Petrucco — back along the backline and preseason CUSA goalkeeper Aline Reis.
CC hosts Memphis Sept. 24 and UCF on Oct. 15. The regular season concludes with an Oct. 29 night home game against UTEP followed by the league tournament hosted by UCF on Nov. 3-7 in Orlando.
It will be a trial by fire for the 10 freshmen. They will be counted on heavily to aid the three seniors and four juniors (including one transfer) on the roster.
“A lot of the freshmen are contributing a lot to the team,” junior captain Beth Wright said.
That inexperience has led to a different feel to the preseason.
“It’s a different kind of energy; an excitement,” senior captain Sydney Fetter said. “Everything is completely new for them.”
Senior and junior leadership will be key in laying the foundation for the program’s continued success. CC has reached the conference semifinals three times and the conference title game once in the five years in C-USA. Those high expectations and competitive approach must carry on, Fetter said.
That showed in a good offseason.
“Everyone came back in shape and ready to play,” Bennett said. ”The juniors and sophomores need to contribute (leadership) too. They’ve been around long enough to chirp in.”
It promises to be a tough league as usual with Alabama-Birmingham and Texas-El Paso also expected to challenge.
“Memphis, UCF, UAB and UTEP will be tough,” Fetter said. “They’ll throw the kitchen sink and the bathtub at us.”
I’ve had fun (admittedly, not as much fun as Mr. Krug is having in the picture to the left) delving into the CCHA blogs more this offseason thanks to CC going to the Great Lakes Invitational this December.
