Aug. 14, 2009

Soccer Seeking Marked Improvement in 2009 Campaign

     The 2009 season commences a new era in the 14-year history of the Youngstown State women’s soccer program as Head Coach Will Lemke takes over the reigns.

    Lemke, who has won 84 games in just eight seasons as a head coach, inherits a team that returns 17 letterwinners, six starters, five of its top six scorers, a school-record holding goalkeeper and an all-league defender.

    Coupled with seven talented newcomers, the Penguins enter the campaign seeking marked improvement.

    "We are looking to take the experience of the senior class, who has been through some ups and downs, and develop a sense of mental toughness and competitiveness," Lemke said.

"The team worked really hard in the spring and really made some progress."

    Although optimistic about the upcoming season with a multitude of returning talent, the Guins must also recoup the loss of five four-year starters - Brittny Humphrey, Alex Lee, Caitlin Lee, Keeley Rice and Carrie Wack.

    "We need to develop a sense of identity both offensively and defensively," Lemke said. "I also want us to be the best conditioned team on the field.

    "The infusion of the young talent and scoring ability combined with the experience and toughness of the upperclassmen will definitely be beneficial for us."

Goalkeepers

    The Penguins’ last line of defense for the second straight season is senior goalkeeper Mariah Snyder.

    Last season, Snyder set school records for most shutouts in a single season and lowest goals-against average of 1.51 in 2008.

    Snyder also led the team with career-best 131 saves.

    Snyder, who is in just her second full season as a keeper, tallied at least 10 saves four times, including a career-high 16 against Butler. She also posted 10 saves in a 1-0 shutout against IPFW.

    Sophomore Nicole Klein also saw some game action, appearing in five games with two starts.

    Klein turned in an impressive outing collecting 12 saves in a shootout win over Valparaiso first round of the Horizon League Tournament. Klein totaled 23 saves last season.

Defenders

    The defensive backfield suffer a major blow when Caitlin Lee, Rice and Wack exhausted their eligibility after the 2008 campaign.

    However, the Penguins return a key cog in their back line with Horizon League All-Newcomer Team selection Kelsey Kempton. The sophomore from Strongsville, Ohio, was one of four players to start every contest last year and scored two goals and assisted on another.

    Freshmen Amanda Barch, Lea Byers and Brittney Dowd will also be relied upon to shore up the defense.

    Barch was a four-year letterwinner at Bishop Ready High School and earned first-team all-conference honors, while Dowd was a standout at Beaver Local High School.

    Byers was a two-time all-district performer at Boardman High School.

Forwards

    The Penguins' frontline is poised for a breakout campaign with three of team’s top goal scorers from a year ago returning up front.

    Leading the strikers are seniors Jodi Bowlen and Jordan Gapczynski and junior Lauren Brennan.

    Bowlen and Brennan tied for the team lead with fours each last season, while Brennan scored eight goals during her freshman campaign in 2007. Her eight goals is the second-highest single-season total in school history.

    Gapczynski, who has led the team in shots three straight years, tallied two goals and three assists last season. As a freshman in 2006, Gapczynski led the Penguins with five goals scored.

    Senior Natalie Brady is the fourth upperclassman returning up front for the Guins. Last season, Brady picked up an assist and took four shots on goal.

    Other returners to the frontline include junior Taylor Pickens and sophomores Kara Cooper and Hannah Snyder.

    Freshmen Olivia Dressler and Shelby Parks will also be counted on to infuse a scoring punch.

    Dressler, from Garrettsville, Ohio, set the school’s career record for most goals with 137, including a single-season mark of 45 in 2008.

    Parks, who hails from Russellton, Pa., also owns her prep school’s career record for most goals. She was also a four-time WPIAL All-Section pick.

Midfielders

    Like last season, the midfield will be the deepest position on the 2009 roster with nine players listed at that position.

However, the Penguins have three big holes to fill with the loss of Alex Lee, Humphrey and Nina Pannoni to graduation.

    Looking to fill those voids are fifth-year senior Rochelle Boone, who started 12 games last season, senior Kate Bonn, junior Rebecca Thomas and sophomores Jessica McMurray, Kelly Storkel and Geneva Strelka.

    Strelka, who appeared in all 20 games, was one of the team’s top goal scorers with three last season.

    Three newcomers - Lydia Allen, Katie Peterlin and Cori Stark - will also be asked to shore up the midfield.

    Allen was a two-time all-conference pick and Peterlin helped her prep squad to a state runners-up finish in 2008.

    Stark was named all-state as a senior and finished her career as Belle Vernon High School’s all-time leader with 124 goals and 53 assists.