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August 27, 2004 > Sports > Season Outlook:

Season Outlook:

Defense, team look to better record 2003 season

By Jonathan Yardley | Thresher Editorial Staff

The Owls hope their championship run will start with defense, where the back five — the four defenders and senior goalkeeper Lauren Shockley — started 59 of 60 games last year and allowed a Western Athletic Conference record-low 17 goals in 20 games, while finishing second in goals allowed in conference play. Moreover, Rice held opponents to one goal or less in 17 of its 20 games.

Shockley will start in goal for the second consecutive year after stepping in for then-injured junior Amanda Garrison last August. A second-team All-WAC selection in 2003, Shockley recorded six shutouts last year, a single season school-record, and has established herself as a reliable — and at times spectacular — presence who can dominate her penalty area. Sophomore Amy McClintock will back up Shockley.

Senior sweeper Caitlin Currie has started 54 of the 55 games in school history and was a preseason all-WAC selection and a 2003 second-team all-Central Region honoree by Soccer Buzz magazine. With deceptive speed and the even temperament ideal for a sweeper, Currie will join Shockley in directing the defense.

Junior captain Erin Droeger is a physical presence who often marks top opposing forwards like Hawaii’s U-21 international and two-time WAC Player of the Year Natasha Kai. She will start at outside back along with sophomore Laura Barber, a capable marking back who can attack down the flank — she led the team with four assists last year while starting every game.

Senior stopper Betsy Huete completes the back four as the energetic link between the defense and the midfield. Huete’s contributions rarely show up in the box score, but the coaching staff recognized her efforts by awarding her last year’s Warrior Award for heart and desire. Walk-on freshman Lindsay Jaggers appears to have the edge as the first defender off the bench after seeing plenty of playing time in Friday’s 5-1 exhibition victory over the club team Dallas Sting.

Droeger said interaction between the backline players is the key to a strong defense.

“[It’s just] communication with each other and being able to shift and shut down players 1 v. 1,” Droeger said. “A lot of people have expectations of us, especially the seniors … wanting to end on a championship.”

The midfield is already slightly shorthanded, as senior midfielder/forward Sarah Yoder, Rice’s all-time leading scorer, only returned to practice this week, and senior co-captain Marisa Galvan is questionable for tonight’s match. When healthy, Galvan provides dangerous runs down the left wing, and Yoder combines a knack for goal-scoring with phenomenal fitness — she qualified for the NCAA regional championships in track and field last spring in only her second steeplechase.

Despite the injuries, Rice is deepest in the midfield. More than six players can rotate through the central midfield slots, led by sophomore Vanessa Serrano. The smallest starter at 5-foot-2, Serrano is the offensive catalyst and often plays in a withdrawn forward position. She missed the WAC tournament final against SMU last year with an ankle injury, and Rice struggled to create offense in her absence.

Fellow sophomore Maria Fadool has played on both wings and in the middle, mostly slotting behind Serrano, but provides sturdy ball control and exceptional vision as a playmaker. Fadool said her partnership with Serrano is dictated by the strengths of each individual.

“We just try to combine as much as we can, talk as much as we can and try to get one-twos in,” Fadool said. “Basically I try to find her as much as I can. She does an awesome job of opening up. … We just seem to be able to move the ball between us really well.”

Talented 5-8 freshman Samantha Conn can do the dirty work in the middle to back up Serrano while maintaining the pace and skill to move the ball quickly.

“[Conn] is so physically strong, and she’s outstanding in the air,” head coach Chris Huston said. “What she brings to the team is a lot of composure. When things start to panic, she’s the one we get the ball to that will calm things down and look to switch the point of attack.”

Senior Jackie Rellas and freshman Lennie Waite will see significant minutes off the bench, while senior Becky MacAllister provides a spark as a substitute.

Senior Angela Aaker returns with a new surname after getting married over the summer, but brings the same fight and spark to the central midfield role.

“There might be somebody who’s not in the starting lineup, but we know if we put her in the game in a certain situation, she could make the difference,” Huston said. “Now we’ve got a bunch of those girls sitting there. We’re trying to get the best personnel that works together.”

Like Yoder, senior Ashley Anderson is likely to split time between midfield and forward. Anderson had four goals last year and five in 2001 as a forward but impressed at right midfield Friday.

“I actually played wing midfield all through club [soccer],” Anderson said. “There’s a common denominator between a forward and an outside mid: You have to have this attacking mentality, and I think that’s what I bring to the outside midfielder position, rather than being defensive.”

Freshman forward Clory Martin was also outstanding Friday, notching a goal and an assist, and is expected to start up front.

“She’s earned the respect from all of her teammates because of her work rate,” Huston said. “She likes to take players on, and she’s got a wicked shot. I think she’s going to help us tremendously in terms of goal power.”

Fellow freshman Caitlin Robbins was expected to start at forward but is not yet at full strength. Huston is likely to make substitutions in the midfield and push Yoder and Anderson up front to spell the forwards. Senior Janelle Crowley and sophomore Callye Dannheim are also options off the bench at striker.

Conn, Martin, Robbins and Waite highlight an exciting freshman class that has their teammates raving about the freshmen’s ability to compete at the collegiate level.

“We have a lot of good incoming freshmen who can challenge for positions, so it’s just more intense, and people are ready to go,” Droeger said. “[The freshmen] came in intense, they came in prepared, and they work really hard.”

With all the newcomers, however, comes some adjustment period. Anderson said the Owls will still improve simply by playing together.

“Because we haven’t played with them, we have to get used to playing with them on the field, communication-wise,” Anderson said. “Their skills speak enough for them, but getting them to communicate and blend in with our team — that might take a little while.”

Still, the Owls consider themselves the conference favorites due to their depth and a program-record 30-player roster.

“I would definitely say our depth on this team is one of our strengths,” Anderson said. “We can make a sub at any time and pretty much stay on an even playing level.”

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