Aug. 29, 2007

Soccer Looks to Combine Leadership with Talent for Added Success in 2007

  With the help of nine explosive newcomers, in addition to the 10 returning starters, Head Coach Anthony James hopes to add a new dimension to the Youngstown State soccer program. James also considers the 2007 soccer team to be the best team he has assembled in the past three years with the program.
    “This is an extremely competitive class,” said James. “We really want to focus on scoring, and this group will have a tremendous effect on the increased goal production of our team.”
      The squad plans to add to the success of last season by continuing with aggressive defensive tactics in the fall. Since James took over the team in 2004, opponents scoring has nearly been cut in half from 63 goals scored against the team to 32.
    James and assistant coach Greg Mitchell eagerly anticipate combining the leadership and determination of the team veterans with the skills of the freshmen players.
“It’s been a lot of hard work putting this team together and we want to see what happens when these girls get out there and play,” added James.
    The Penguins will look to the experience of sophomore goalkeeper Caitlin Bodzioney to anchor the defense. Bodzioney finished the season with a league-high 133 saves and was named to the Horizon League All-Newcomer Team. She also broke the school’s single-season goals-against average record with 1.88 goals allowed per games. Sophomore Katy Wells, who also runs track for YSU, will add depth to the position as the second goalkeeper. Wells was a standout athlete at Hebron High School where she holds the school’s record for most saves in a game.
    The defensive backfield will rely on the experience of junior Caitlin Lee to help keep opponents out of Penguin territroy. Lee, who has started every game in her two-year career, was the first player to be named to the First Team All-Horizon League in the history of YSU’s soccer program.
Juniors Jenna Fink, Amanda Polles and Keeley Rice will be a key part of guarding the goal and helping to create scoring opportunities for the offense. Nina Pannoni and Kate Bonn will also look to return from injury to solidify the backfield.
Sophomore Mariah Snyder, junior Carrie Wack and senior Britta Snowberger will all make the transition from midfield to defenders this year. The speed of these players will play and important role in guarding opponents. James predicts that the added depth in the backfield will allow even fewer goals to be scored against the team.
    The Penguins welcome four defensive newcomers , Erin Gilmour, Melanie Kiko, Lauren Tandazo-Kendera, and Rebecca Thomas. Gilmour, who is a transfer from Malone, started every game as a freshman and had a shot percentage of .967. Tandazo-Kendera was a First-Team All-Southestern Conference selection in high school and was the 2006 Lorain/Medina Player of the Year. Kiko also earned first-team all-conference honors as a senior at West Branch. Thomas was a four-year letter winner and defensive MVP at Hempfield Area High School.
     The scoring opportunities will rest upon the skills of YSU’s front line of attack. The team brings back four letter-winners and adds new three forwards to help fortify the offense.
Sophomore Jordan Gapczynski, a Horinzon League All-Newcomer Team selection, led the team last year with five goals and 29 shots, including 10 shots on goal. Sophomore Jodi Bowlen played in 16 games and scored one goal for the Penguins. Senior Christi Williams was credited with a game-winning goal last year and one assist. Natalie Brady ended her freshman year scoring a game-winning goal as well.
The group of freshmen forwards are expected to have a tremendous impact on the team’s scoring abitility. Lauren Brennan, from Springfield Ill., was the second leading scorer in her high school’s history with 69 career goals. Sierra Lawson was a key member of her club team, Copa Coca Cola, when it won the international championship in 2004. Taylor Pickens was also a leading scorer of her high school team during her junior and senior year.
    Covering the midfield will be senior Tessa Brookman, juniors Alex Lee, Roechelle Boone and freshman Tara Morey. Brookman had five shots last year, all of which were on goal. Boone attempted three shots that were also all on goal. Morey was an all-conference selection in high school and played a pivotal role in her school’s run as state finalist in 2004. Combining the accuracy of the veteran players with the quickness of Morey will add versatility to offense as well as the defense.
    The 2007 campaign includes a total of 19 regular season games. The Penguins also look forward to hosting a record 11 home contests at Stambaugh Stadium.
The season kicks off with the Penguins playing at Pittsburgh. The meeting with the Panthers will be only the second time the two teams have squared off since 1996.
YSU will then travel to Alabama to participate in the Jacksonville Gamecock Classic before returning home on September 12 to face Robert Morris in the first home game of the season. YSU will also host the Penguin Classic tournament with Howard and first-time opponent, Albany.
    The ‘Guins will face off with Kent State on the road and then return home to play familiar opponents IUPUI, Bowling Green and St. Francis (Pa.). The month of September will close out with the team traveling to Buffalo, New York to pay a visit to Canisius College.
October is comprised entirely of Horizon League match-ups beginning with Green Bay and Milwaukee on the road. Youngstown State will have home field advantage in five crucial league match-ups against Cleveland State, Wright State, Loyola, Butler and new Horizon League member, Valparaiso. The season wraps up at Detroit on October 28.
Tournament play will begin the following Tuesday with each round of finals being hosted on campus sites across the league.