SSU TURNS TO YOUTH MOVEMENT

With 12 returning players and 10 newcomers, the 2004 Shawnee State Women’s Soccer Team will be the most experienced and deepest team in the program’s five-year history.  According to Coach Bryan Smith, the Bears’ added depth could help them get over the hump this year.  “We lost 8 matches by a total of 10 goals last season and tied two other matches.  In a lot of those matches, we just wore down toward the end and gave up easy goals.  At other times, we were too tired to finish on easy chances.  With added depth at each end of the field, we should be able to pull out more of those close games.”  SSU finished the 2003 season with a 5-13-2 (1-6 AMC) record. 

Anchoring the defense for the Bears will be senior goalkeeper Jessica Votaw (Salem, OH).  Votaw is a three-time All-American Mideast Conference honoree.  She earned honorable mention All-American honors as a sophomore.  “Jessica really is the heart of our team,” said Coach Smith.  “She has tremendous work ethic on and off the field.  With some added punch up front, we should be able to utilize her strong punting to add some significant scoring this season.”   

Also returning on defense is junior Courtney Logan (Portsmouth, OH), backup junior keeper Courtney Beaty (Overpeck, OH) and sophomores Amanda Plotts (Circleville, OH) and Julie Mihalik (Hillsboro, OH).  “Julie and Amanda made great strides as freshmen last year.  They both play with a lot of heart and the experience they gained last year will be very beneficial in the coming season.  Courtney has the speed and ability to be a dominating defender if she wants to be.  I really look for her to break out this year.”  Switching from midfield to defense is junior Kim Smith (Cincinnati, OH).  “Kim has been a great player up front for us the past two years.  Her speed should help shore up the defense.” 

New to the Bears’ defense in 2004 is a group of three freshmen and one transfer.  Courtney McKenzie (Sunbury, OH) is a redshirt freshman transfer from Urbana University.  Freshmen Amanda Jay (Dayton, OH), Krista Bettle (Georgetown, OH), and Mary Fawcett (Canton, OH) round out the backfield.  “I expect all of our newcomers to provide an immediate contribution,” said Coach Smith.  “They all have great speed and good knowledge of the game.” 

Shawnee State returns five players at the midfield position.  Senior Jennifer Cummins (Xenia, OH), was an All-AMC performer in 2003.  “Jennifer is the heart of the midfield,” said Coach Smith.  “She’s very physical and has great quickness.  Our success will depend on her ability to control the midfield.”   Sophomores Ashley Fender (Sardinia, OH), Kelly Hatas (Springfield, OH), Lacey Simpson (Hammersville, OH), and Katie Stevenson (Portsmouth, OH) also return at midfield.  “Ashley and Kelly are both very solid players.  Kelly led the team in goals (5) and assists (6) as a freshman and earned All-AMC honors.  Lacey and Katie both showed great improvement as freshmen.  Both will see significant minutes this year.” 

Northland High School teammates Jasmine Dominguez (Columbus, OH) and Shannon McClain join the Bears’ midfield along with Jennifer Ruckel (Winchester, OH).  Dominguez and McClain helped lead Northland to four straight state tournaments.  Ruckel helped lead Eastern Brown to 3 straight sectional championships and recorded a school record 20 assists as a junior.  “All three of these freshmen will see significant time right out of the gate,” said Smith.  “They give us three more solid players at what is already a very deep midfield.” 

Coach Smith will turn to a trio of freshmen to handle the bulk of the minutes at the forward position.  Sarah Koehler (Sardinia, OH), Bethany McGannon (New Richmond, OH), and Brittany Webb (Springfield, OH) join sophomore Beth Eichelberger (Springfield, OH) up front.  “All three of the freshmen will be able to provide immediate punch to the offense,” said Smith.  Sarah and Bethany each scored more than 100 goals in their careers.  Brittany had a great offensive year as a senior.  I really think our scoring will increase dramatically this year.” 

“Overall, I really believe we can achieve our first winning season this year,” said Coach Smith.  “We are deeper and more talented all across the field.  We had great team chemistry last year, and with the strong leaders we have on the team, we’ll see that again this year.  I know we will be expecting a lot out of our freshmen, but we have a really good mix of upper classmen as well, not to mention an All-American keeper in net.” 

Shawnee State opens the season versus Baldwin Wallace on September 3.  Game time is 3:00 p.m. at Shawnee State University Field.