Women’s Soccer Capsules

FROM SPORTS REPLAY (Thursday, September 11, 1997): Replay Gonzaga University freshman soccer player Sara Streufert is a graduate of University High. Her high school was reported incorrectly in Wednesday’s editions.

Washington State

Head coach: Lisa Gozley (fourth year)

Record at WSU (1997 excluded): 24-27-4

1996 record: 8-7-2 (3-4-0 Pac-10 sixth place)

Assistant coaches: Susan Vodicka, Bryan Thorp

Players to watch: Sr. MF Shalli DeWitt; So. D Meagin Donovan; Jr. F Amy Chippendale; Jr. MF Randy Glas

Key newcomers: Fr. F Deka DeWitt; Fr. D Kerie Baker

Corner kicks: The Cougs were 2-2-1 against Top 25 teams last year … WSU is coming off its finest defensive season, allowing just 16 goals. But on the flipside, it only scored 19 times.

Outlook: Defending champion Stanford and runner-up Washington - the Pac-10’s 1996 NCAA Tournament representatives - again have the teams to beat. The Cougars’ career record is 1-5-0 vs. the Cardinal and 2-3-1 vs. the Huskies. … Also look for UCLA (No. 19) to be in the top tier. … Arizona State and Oregon, not included in the in-conference standings last year, now are included.

Eastern Washington

Head coach: Jennifer Martin (first year)

Record at Eastern (1997 excluded): First-year program

Assistant coaches: Teresa Gilman, Tom Martin

Players to watch: Fr. F Katie Bowers; Jr. GK Amy Schmitt; Jr. D Jessica Edelbrock; So. MF Caryn Noel

Corner kicks: Martin played at Washington State (1991-93) and Gonzaga (1994). The past two seasons, she was an assistant coach at Gonzaga. Her husband, assistant coach Tom Martin, played college soccer at Portland. … Eastern got a late start in recruiting because the coaching staff was not put together until May. There are no seniors on the team and several junior-college transfers. That could work in the Eagles’ favor since their inaugural season is strictly a building year.

Outlook: The Eagles are playing a limited, independent schedule in preparation for next year’s first year in the Big Sky Conference. The schedule features a lot of junior colleges. Eastern’s only Division I opponents are Oregon State and third-ranked Portland. Next year, Montana State will be the only Big Sky school that will not offer soccer.

Gonzaga

Head coach: Ric Grenell (sixth year)

Record at Gonzaga (1997 excluded): 7-75-6

1996 record: 1-16-3 (0-7-3 WCC eighth place)

Assistant coaches: Julie Polsin, Shannon Stiles

Players to watch: Fr. F Sara Streufert; Sr. GK Sara Kinsky; Jr. D Shannon Stanford; Jr. F Betsy Platt

Key newcomers: Fr. D Missy Strasburg; Fr. F Katie Carpenter

Corner kicks: Senior keeper Kinsky is off to great start, leading the Western region with 32 saves in four games. The team is 1-3 with a 7-0 win over Whitman. Freshman forward Sara Streufert of Mead scored a record-setting four goals in that game. … Fellow Mead freshman Kelly Leaf broke her arm in the first game against WSU and will be sidelined through this month.

Outlook: The WCC showed it was the top conference in the country last year, sending three of its eight teams to the NCAA Tournament. In this week’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America Top 25, Portland is ranked No. 3 and Santa Clara is No. 7. Both teams were in the Final Four last year and the Pilots lost to Notre Dame in the championship game. That’s all great for the conference, but not so peachy for the Bulldogs, who still are trying to establish themselves after offering women’s soccer for the first time in 1991.

Whitworth

Head coach: Sean Bushey (first year)

1996 record: 16-5-2 (10-2-2 NCIC second place)

Assistant coach: Daman Hagerott

Players to watch: Sr. MF Jennifer Lee; Sr. MF Chrisanna Roseliep; Jr. D Amber Young; Sr. MF Marilyn Piduch

Key newcomers: Fr. GK Stacey Roberts.

Corner kicks: Hagerott (48-33-5) stepped down as head coach so he can focus more on teaching and research. … The team must learn to adjust without 1996 graduate, second-team All-American Jen Tissue, the school’s all-time scoring leader. In addition, All-NCIC player Joy Cullen transferred to UW and sophomore Jennifer Dunford decided to play at Washington State. … The Pirates, ranked No. 16 in the NAIA preseason poll, are off to an 0-2 start.

Outlook: As usual, Willamette (21-2-1, 13-0-1), ranked second in this week’s NAIA Top 25, is the team to beat. Whitman (12-6-1, 8-5-1) and conference newcomer No. 24 Seattle University are expected to challenge. Whitman, however, suffered a big 7-0 loss to Gonzaga last week. … . Because of several key losses, Whitworth’s Pirates are a question mark in the NCIC equation.

Community Colleges of Spokane

Head coach: Cor van der Meer

Record at CCS (1997 excluded): 61-24-13

1996 record: 15-3-4 (15-3-4 NWAACC third place)

Assistant coaches: Kammie Jacobs, Marisa Sheldon

Players to watch: So. F Katie Snow; So. MF Heidi Simmons; So. D Danielle Bruegeman; So. F Danae Anderson; So. M Meagan Michelbook

Key newcomers: Fr. MF Nicole Snyder; Fr. MR Renee Volland; Fr. D Cindy Simpson; Fr. F Keri Nichols; Fr. D Mandy Fitzpatrick

Corner kicks: The Sasquatch are off to a 3-1 start and travel to Southwest Oregon Saturday. … Stacey Vigil (formerly Edwards), who played at CCS in 1990-91, has returned for her sophomore season at age 28. … Former player Sheldon will be a fine addition to the coaching staff.

Outlook: CCS of the Eastern Division lost to Highline of the Northern Division 2-0 in the first round of last year’s NWAACC tournament. The Sasquatch finished fourth overall. … Van der Meer expects even more this year, but the team to beat is expected to be defending champ Tacoma of the Western Division.

, DataTimes