YSUsports.com - Thirteen Newcomers Give YSU Reasons For Optimism

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August 27, 2001
Women's Soccer: Thirteen Newcomers Give YSU Reasons For Optimism
     Youngstown, Ohio -- The genesis of the 2001 soccer season has the wheels of change starting to spin for the Youngstown State women’s soccer program.
     The first major change is the complexion of the squad. This season, Youngstown State carries a roster of 26 players, including 13 newcomers 12 of who are freshman. Last year, the Penguins were berated with injuries and were often forced to play short-handed.
     The increase in numbers gives third-year Head Coach Liz Bartley a reason for optimism.
     “Last season was difficult and frustrating with all of the injuries,” Bartley said. “The added depth to the program will help with the everyday wear and tear.
     “It will also give us the opportunity to play everyone evenly, instead of down a player or two, like last season.”
     The second change is the Penguins begin play in the newly-named Horizon League (formerly the Midwestern Collegiate Conference). Youngstown State played in the Mid-Continent Conference during the 1999 and 2000 seasons.
     “The Horizon League definitely presents a challenge to us,” Bartley said. “There are several schools in the league which have a strong tradition of winning and hopefully we can join them.”
     The phrase “defense wins championships” runs parallel along all sports, including soccer. And in soccer defense often starts at your last line of resistance.
     For Youngstown State, goal security is in a group of capable hands led by senior Christine Handte.
     Handte, who led the nation with 10.53 saves per game in 1998, owns most of the YSU goalkeeping records and is coming off a season which saw her finish second in the country with 10.33 saves per game.
     Joining Handte in the net are junior Kate Gigliotti and freshman Mia Railing. Gigliotti saw valuable action last season and finished with 9.56 saves per game.
     Railing, who was a three-time all-state performer in West Virginia, owns her high school record for most shutouts in a season with 13 and fewest goals allowed with 10.
     Last season, one of the most challenging areas on the field for the Penguins was at defender. The injury bug hit Youngstown State hard as Kate McHugh was lost for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and three freshmen - Melanie Berg, Katie Bollinger and Kara White - were thrown into action.
     With McHugh at 100 percent, Berg, Bollinger, and White with a year of experience under their belts, and the addition of freshmen Casey Dick, a first-team all-state performer, and Jenna Thomas, the Penguin defensive backfield should be solid.
     Probably the deepest and most versatile group on the Penguin squad is at midfielder.
     Youngstown State has 10 players listed at midfielder on its roster, including three letterwinners from a year ago.
     Leading the midfield attack is sophomore Jenny Jacobs, who is the team’s top returning scorer. Last season, Jacobs blasted three goals and was credited with two assists during her rookie campaign.
     Along with Jacobs, two-year starter Lauren Roseman and junior Rachel Wilds return to help shore up the midfield.
     Newcomers Laura Ausmundson, Sarah Bartholowmew, Leah Doughton, Diane Fellabaum, Cerid Irvine, Katie Jacobs and Kim Jugenheimer all figure to solidify the middle.
     An area the Penguins need to improve upon is their offensive scoring power and that falls at the feet of the strikers.
     The Penguins were also decimated with injuries at this key position last season when Megan Gibson, who is being redshirted this season, April Pankewicz and Jessica Tait each saw limited action due to injuries.
     Now with Pankewicz and Tait healthy and the supplement of junior Megan Reed, who is a converted goalie, and freshmen Chantel Grooms, Renee Merlo and Hannah Lawther, the frontline attack appears to be fortified.
     The Penguins have a tough task ahead of them, but they also have improved their talent base so it could make for an interesting season with a new league and so many new faces.
     “With a big recruiting class and a solid foundation of returners, we are looking to make strides in the right direction,” Bartley said. “We’ve added speed and precision in our offensive game and built upon our tenacity and composure on the defensive end.
     “We are looking forward to this season.”