Putting Best Foot Forward Cougars’ Top Scorer Optimistic About Team After Bout With Doubts

When she scans the field, nothing looks the same as it did the day Deka DeWitt arrived at Washington State University from Fife High School near Tacoma.

Her first college soccer coach, Lisa Gozley, is long gone, abruptly leaving two months before the start of DeWitt’s sophomore season.

And her teammates - what’s left of them - are different. DeWitt was one of six freshmen during the fall of 1997. She’s the only senior on this year’s roster which also lists nine freshmen, five sophomores and six juniors.

She did have second thoughts about staying. She’d have to break in a new coach, get to know new players and go through the growing pains all over again.

“There were a lot of difficulties with the previous coach,” said DeWitt, who did not elaborate.

“I could have went another route. I looked at other options. At times I had my doubts, but I wanted to stick it out and see how it went with Dan (head coach Tobias). And Pullman already was home for me.”

Her comfort zone was made easy. DeWitt’s sister, Shalli, an accomplished midfielder during the late ‘90s, was on the team. But Deka, a forward, has surpassed Shalli’s numbers and most everyone else’s who played before her.

She led the team in goals and assists her freshman, sophomore and junior years. She entered this season with 69 total points, second best in Cougars history behind Kim Lynass (1990-93), who finished with 177.

DeWitt, a compact 5-feet, 4-inches, is second in career goals (57)- far behind Lynass’ 83. She’s already at it again this year with a goal and an assist against Utah on Sept. 2. Her assist gave her 14 in her career, tying her with Vicky Day (1989-91).

“She’s a true gamer and a finisher,” said Tobias, who took over the program about two weeks before the 1998 season.

“She has so much respect in the Pac-10. She knows every game she’s going to get double-teamed and she understands that.”

The respect earned her first-team Pacific-10 Conference honors her sophomore year when she had 26 points and scored 12 goals, four for game-winners. Last year, slowed by a pulled groin, she had 28 points and 10 goals. The Cougars finished a forgettable 1-8-0 in the conference and at times only had 15 players suited for games.

One of the only bright spots was DeWitt, named to the conference’s second team.

But help is on the way, said the third-year coach Tobias.

“It all about recruiting,” he added.

For starters, Tobias already feels a sense of accomplishment after landing players from the prestigious F.C. Royals club team in Tacoma. Among the former F.C. Royals are sophomore Katrina Stroh, who started in all 19 games her freshman year; freshman midfielder Rachel Rodrick, a first-time all-state player her senior year from Curtis High; and freshman midfielder/forward Kim Morgan, a Highline High grad.

Tobias also said he’s counting on freshmen Katelin Jackson, a defender/midfielder from Vancouver, Wash., and Shay Hobby, a Power Bar All-America selectee from San Ramon Valley, Calif.

Add to the mix junior keeper Lindsey Jorgensen, who entered the season with a a 2.03 career goals-against average. All this could mean DeWitt will have help this year.

“We’re looking really good right now. We’ve got good numbers. We’re going to do well,” she said. “I’ve played with such a young class to begin with. It’s all about getting comfortable with your teammates.”

And keeping them around for a while.