Women's Soccer News

2009 Women's Soccer Season Preview

After a winless season in 2007, the Oglethorpe University women’s soccer team regrouped under new head coach Alan Woods in 2008 to dramatically improve to a 5-11 overall record. Woods was able to guide the team to those five victories despite a slew of injuries at key positions that left the team paper thin on the bench. With those players now healthy and an influx of new recruits, coach Woods believes 2009 could be a season that the Stormy Petrels make some noise in the competitive SCAC.

ACL and MCL injuries decimated Oglethorpe’s back line in 2008, but the team returns to the pitch this season with a healthy complement of defensive players including former All-SCAC selection and team captain, Bonnie Morscheiser.  Anchoring the back line in goal will be another former All-SCAC selection, Sarah Nania, who is coming off a season where she finished 3rd in the SCAC in saves per game with 4.30.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Petrels return All-SCAC Third Team performer from 2008, senior Ryanne Arola, who will share the team captain duties with Morshcheiser. Returning stars Mary Beth Horton and Lexi Vassell will help push the ball up the field and provide scoring opportunities for Oglethorpe in 2009.

Among the new faces, coach Woods expects immediate contributions from first-year players  Courtney Phillips, Jenna Ostuw and Brittany Brotherton, all additions to an Oglethorpe front line that should be ready to attack in 2009.

“We practically had two recruiting classes this year,” said head coach Alan Woods, “the traditional class of freshmen is one and the return to health of four other players who missed the season in 2008 is another.” Woods likes his chances with a deeper bench and more offensive creativity in 2009. “We’re going to sub twice, maybe three times as much times as we did last year with all these new players able to take the pitch. I’m really excited about the prospect of keeping fresh, attacking players on the field this year,” said Woods.

The season gets underway on September 1 at Agnes Scott and hits full swing for the first home conference weekend September 25 versus Centre and DePauw. Home matches the weekend of October 2 are highlighted as Parents Weekend matches versus Millsaps and Birmingham-Southern and should draw nice crowds to Salamone Field.