2008 Women's Soccer Season Outlook

Senior Class Hoping to Lead Scots Back Into NCAC Tourney

Defender Kristin McCall is one of seven seniors looking to lead Wooster back into the conference tourney.

The College of Wooster women’s soccer team possesses a wide array of experience entering 2008, as there are seven seniors, five of whom will likely be starters, and 14 newcomers, along with seven others (four juniors, three sophomores). While experience matters, talent does more so, and the Fighting Scots typically do very well in that department, having put together nine consecutive winning seasons, including a 12-5-1 record last fall.

“I think we were very competitive last year and have a strong core intact, and I’m excited about the incoming class,” commented 18th-year head coach David “Geordie” Brown. “Half of the team is going to be new, so it’s hard to say who’s going to be at what position.”

With that being said, it appears two of the top forwards will be sophomore Liz Mott and senior Kate Kiley. Mott broke through for a team-leading 19 points as a freshman, scoring five goals and assisting on nine others for honorable mention on the All-North Coast Athletic Conference Team. Kiley has played every position during her Wooster career and seemed to settle in as an offensive threat last year with four goals and an assist.

The midfield looks like a seasoned and talented unit with three returning starters in Sara Dresser, Chantal Koechli, and Simone DiSalvo. Dresser, a senior and team captain for the second season in a row, hopes to build on her four career goals while also serving as a defensive catalyst. Koechli, the squad’s corner kick specialist, has 14 points (3 goals, 8 assists) through her first two years and DiSalvo is looking to expand on last fall’s three-goal, two-assist campaign.

Junior Nora Simon, who missed most of last season to injury, also will provide the midfielders a lift, as will sophomore Jessica Schumacher.

Stingy defense has always been a staple of Scot teams and 2008 should be no exception, with Kristin McCall leading the way. A two-time all-NCAC defender, including second-team accolades last fall when Wooster gave up just 15 goals – the second-fewest in the conference – McCall will be flanked by fellow seniors Taryn Higgins and Alice Bauman. The trio will also be team captains, along with Dresser. Higgins, a standout for the women’s lacrosse team as well, has started 27 career matches, including all 18 in the backfield a season ago, while Bauman’s career has steadily seen her develop into a force, starting 11 times last year.

At goalkeeper, three players will be looking for increased time between the pipes. Looking to solidify the back end of the Wooster defense will be senior Sara Flannelly, sophomore Alix Hoffman, and first-year Caitlin Zusy.

All together, the Scots have eight players who were regular starters at some point during their careers. If they stay healthy and a few newcomers provide key contributions, as Brown expects, Wooster has a good chance at getting back into the NCAC Tournament (top-four teams from the regular season) after tying for fourth (4-3-1) last year and then missing out via a tiebreaker.

“It’s never easy (in this league),” he added. “We continue to hope that we win more games than you lose … and continue to challenge what is a very tough group at the top of the conference.”