Women’s Soccer Team Kicks it into Gear
By Joel Jones
Reporter
The LCCC Women’s soccer team
is off to a bit of a slow start at 1-2, but the season is still young. They
still retain much of the skill that last year’s powerhouse had. Returning to
this year’s squad are Tiffany Everett, Katie Hammon, Kristine Hunsinger, Erica
Luttrell, Maureen Matter, Jessica Vasilhoff, and Christina Withers. There are
nine new players on the roster, two of which are transfer students and seven of
which are freshmen.
When asked about the team’s state, Head Coach Tim Rooney said, “We’re just
having a hard time scoring right now…We’re having a tough time finishing.”
Rooney went on to say that the women are doing everything they need to do.
“We’re creating chances and moving the ball really well. We’re just not
finishing.”
The Trailblazers have out shot their opponents in every game this season.
Rooney added, “We could have scored at least four goals in every game if we had
put our shots away.” What Rooney has done to try to end the scoring drought is
to go over shooting drills in order to make the players more comfortable
shooting the ball.
The experience of the returning players will provide leadership in this time of
adjustment. There are two players that Rooney looks to for team leadership.
Sophomores Jessica Vasiloff (B) and Kristine Hunsinger (MF/B) provide that.
“Vasiloff is a big team leader. She leads by example. Her actions and words
carry weight with everyone,” Rooney states. He goes on to say about Hunsinger
that, “Her on-field efforts are great. She’s quiet, but her actions speak
volumes for us.”
“Wednesday’s game for us showed improvement,” Rooney added. “We’ll see what we
have to work on when we play Sunday.”
Injuries were a
problem that plagued last years Men’s Soccer team. This year that shouldn’t be
the case as the 2002 Trailblazers boast depth that they haven’t had for some
time. Head Coach Tim Rooney said, “The big thing is numbers, not just bodies.
Everyone can play; everyone can contribute…we’re pretty solid all over the
place. This is probably our best group in five years. We have cover in every
position if injuries are a problem. Now we can substitute in six or seven
players and not lose anything…we have a solid game all around.”
Rooney stressed the importance of team defense to their success. “I believe
that team defense is where offense begins,” he said. “We try to create
turnovers, and we try to play on a short field. It’s easier to try to start a
rush from the 30 or 40 than to move the ball 90 yards up field. No one wins big
games with just offense alone. And we’ve done very well at playing team
defense. There really hasn’t been a good goal scored against us.”
Many players have stepped up and done well. “Steve Penn has done an excellent
job at sweeper,” Rooney says. “Danny O’Leary has done an outstanding job at
midfielder. Malloy, Bechtold, Pendleton and Wiedenhoffer are four guys that
cause problems for opposing defenses. Malloy, he’s just a pure goal scorer with
great one-on-one abilities. Bechtold is good with the ball. Kelton (Pendleton)
has great speed and can find the back of the net. Wiedenhoffer brings a great
work rate. All four of these guys bring different things to the table.”
Rooney is confident about the team’s success, and he wants to build on it. He
doesn’t look to far down the schedule. “We worry about the next game. That’s our
biggest game. We take things one game at time.”