OCR Text |
Show I Women's soccer team experiences change in roster Christie Porter StafFWriter Last year, Westminster Colleges womens soccer team gained the third seed in the Frontier Conference Tournament, giving them high expectations for this season. However, with the loss of two key starters including Jennifer Pirente, who led the team in goals and assists is it possible for the team to meet the expectations set by last season? According to starting defender, Brinna Bennion, the teams goal this year is to win the Frontier Conference Tournament, not just compete in it. Were confident. Every year we have a better chance, she said. Head Coach Tony LeBlanc brought in many talented recruits this season, Bennion said, and their returning players are only getting stronger. She said, Every time you lose a good player, it has an effect. Bennion said the lost players cant be replaced, but she said their talent has been matched by returning players and new recruits. The teams new players include five freshmen and two transfer students from Division I schools. Megan Maldonado the sister of returning defender, Maddie transferred from St. Marys College in Maldonado California, and Nicole Taylor transferred from Penn. State. Other players returning to the team are Dayna Winter-Nolt- e, the goalkeeper, Maddie Spere, the second-highe- st scorer last season and Michelle Conference defender. Still Erickson, an the Griffins opened the season with losses against Utah Valley University, Weber State University, Hawaii ii. Pacific University and B Hawaii was a fim trip as a team, but soccer-wis- e showed us what we really need to work on, said Bennion. In Hawaii, the womens soccer team faced Hawaii Pacific, BYU-Hawand Chaminade University. After losing to Hawaii Pacific 0-- 2 and BYU-Haw2, the team beat Chaminade 4-- 1. Those bumps have to happen as painful as they g, said Maddie are theyre essential for members the of the Maldonado, one of founding club soccer team that eventually became the official All-Front- ier YU-Hawa- aii aii 1-- team-buildin- Westminster program. After losing in Hawaii, Maldonado said, the team held a meeting where the players resolved to step up their game. With new resolve, the womens soccer team returned to Dumke Field, where the team has traditionally held last the advantage with a home game record of 10-4season. Maldonado said the team has a strong drive to represent when they play at home. Were really protective, she said. The womens first two home games were over Labor Day weekend, playing Kansas Wesleyan University on Sunday and University of Great Falls on Monday. The Griffins first game against Kansas Wesleyan resulted in a 2-- 0 victory. The following game, Westminster hosted Great Falls and added another win to this seasons record of 3 wins 4 losses at the time of -1 Defender, No. 25 Michelle Erickson (Sophomore) publication. We played really well as team, said Bennion. She said Hawaii showed the players they needed to work on their technical skills, and their recent success proves they can come back from early losses. Maldonado agreed with Bennion, she said they and cohesive team. We have a have a tight-kn- it unique group of girls theres no drama, she said. Although theyve definitely had their setbacks, said Maldonado, who tore her ACL. I was lucky enough to come back from it, most people dont, she said. According to Maldonado, the team recently learned they lost Elaina Pappas as well, who tore her ACL for the second time before Hawaii. Maldonado said Pappas will be missed, but this allows another player the opportunity to step up. Our next two big games are Masters and Carroll College, said Maldonado. Everyone needs to come out and support us, said at their games is only Bennion, saying the turn-o- ut modest. The Griffins will face The Masters College and Carroll College on Friday, Sept. 18 and Sunday Sept. 20, respectively, and Rocky Mountain College on Saturday, Oct. 3. Rocky Mountain is our biggest rival, says Maldonado. Were pretty much neck and neck its always a good game. a Forward, No. 10 Maddie Spere (Junior) against NNU Defender, No. 24 Brinna Bennion (Sophomore), and Goalkeeper Dayna Upcoming Womens Soccer Games Winter-Nol- te (Sophomore) New Recruits t Tanisia Wilson Alyssa Hill Lindsay Bekken Lindsay Judd Jennifer Prescott Megan Maldonado Nicole Taylor Schedule Courtesy of Westminster Athletics VOLUME XLIII: ISSUE 2 6 |