Show Women Starting Rich Tradition of Winning By Eric Bresee Sports Staff Writer The women's soccer has suffered through some ups and downs through their six year exis exis- i tence After going through four coaches coach coach- es in three years including the I founder of the club Kim Free the Bruins have found some stability Things came carne together for the Bruins in 1996 under former Head Coach Mike Despain The Bruins made their first ever trip to the National Tournament The Bruins went in to the tournament tournament tournament tour tour- tremendous underdogs as the only year two-year college in the tournament posted a respectable 2 1 record in pool play but missed advancing to the championship brackets by nine points Despite making it to Nationals for the first time in school history Despain left the program and the Bruins turned to one of their former coaches Enrique Velasquez Under Velasquez in the 1997 season the Lady Bruins posted their best record ever at 10 1 and anda a return trip to the National ment In the first game of the tournament tournament ment the Bruins took on Penn State Bruins midfielder Cathy Gardner gave the Bruins a 1 0 lead they would keep until Penn State tied the game late The Bruins took on Dayton University University University Uni Uni- in their second game of the tournament and recorded a 1 0 victory victory victory vic vic- vic vic- tory as Jill Bennion shut out Day Day- ton Melissa Mayo netted the Bruins Bruins Bruins Bru Bru- ins only goal The final game pitted the Bruins against the Kansas easily defeated Kansas 3 0 o as Kelli Davis Mandy Stahl and Mayo were credited with the tal tal- tal lies The Bruins advanced to the sin sin- gle-elimination gle portion of the tour tour- took on the of North Carolina in the quarterfinals of the National Tournament Unfortunately for the Bruins their Cinderella run came carne to an end as Carolina defeated the Bruins 3 1 Although the Bruins took an than expected departure from the tournament the Bruins left a lasting effect at Georgia Southern University Defender Jamie Miller was named to the All All- Tournament team I thought I 1 played well the first year defender said I thought others deserved it too It was an honor The success of the Bruins has carried on to this year as they have posted a 4 1 record to date in league play The Bruins have also secured their third straight bid to the National Tournament The Bruins have had much success success success suc- suc j cess in recent years with their postseason postseason postseason post post- season tournaments For the last four years they have won their league postseason tournament All the success has led to a lot of recognition of the program Several high profile year four-year institutions institutions institutions have inquired about members members members mem mem- bers of the Lady Bruins soccer club Among the programs interested in players have been Dayton Idaho and Boise State This year under the direction of newly appointed head coach Hector Herrera the Bruins are again poised for another run at the national club soccer title in Statesboro GA V V p 4 P 4 V V V V v i sV s- s V A V V V V V qA y 4 44 V ii I 5 I t p V r s S. S 1 4 V L I I c fr c 3 r V 4 4 4 tt Ic 4 S Si i I- I ri g 4 44 4 ru Y 44 2 Photo by Elroy Begay The Salt Lake Community College women's soccer team has a spot reserved in the National Club ent November 22 18 in Statesboro GA V 1 |