NA
WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM HAS 14 NEWCOMERS AND A
NEW OUTLOOK
Despite the loss of seven starters from his
2007 team, University of North Alabama
women's soccer coach Graham Winkworth is
anything but pessimistic about the Lions
chances for a solid season in 2008.
The Lions will have a unique roster with
just one senior, who sat out last season;
two juniors, five sophomores and 14
freshmen. Winkworth feels the combination of
experienced players and newcomers could be
the right mix for UNA and he said he expects
the players to buy into his system
immediately.
“Some of the
girls will not be used to the way I want the
game to be played," Winkworth said. "I
expect them to work hard during the
preseason both on the field and in our
classroom sessions. I want to create a
winning mentality here.
"The thing about this squad is that there is
now competition for every position for the
first time," Winkworth added. "We do
not have any superstars here and everyone
will have the chance to prove that they
deserve to be playing."
One of the toughest competitions will be at
goalkeeper. Carly Rhodes of Franklin, Tenn.,
returns for her sophomore season after
starting every game as a freshman. She
recorded 132 saves for the Lions last
season. Freshman Alex McLay will compete
with Rhodes after a very successful high
school and club career in Naples, Fla.
"This battle
will be fascinating from a coaching
standpoint," Winkworth said. "Both players
are very different from one another. They
are both extremely competitive and it will
be interesting to see who wins that starting
role."
On defense, UNA returns right back Stacey
Lewis of Birmingham, Ala., and center backs
Kelli Coffman of Warrensburg, Mo., and Sarah
Robbins of Sarasota, Fla. "It is my hope
that these three young ladies will return in
great condition and help lead us at the
back," Winkworth said. "There will be a lot
of competition to play across the back four
with the addition of six freshmen
defenders."
Rebecca Zeller of Plantation, Fla., will
compete primarily for time at the right back
position. Stephanie Bradshaw of Lincoln,
England, should provide balance at left back
and has a very dangerous left foot,
according to Winkworth. Beth Spurr of
Louisville, Ky., is a very composed player
who is extremely versatile. "I have seen
Beth play pretty much all over the field but
think that coming into preseason she will
make a very composed center back," Winkworth
said. Lauren Stevens is a tough tackling
defender from Memphis, TN.
Chelsea Ross of
Parkland, Fla., comes from the same club as
Zeller and will compete for time at center
back.
Chelsea Sall of Springdale, Ark., will add
extra depth to the squad.
"We must create a tough mentality at the
back for such a young back line," Winkworth
said. "I will be looking for our outside
backs to get forward at every opportunity
and we must have leaders in the middle. For
us to have a successful season we must
eradicate the silly mistakes that cost us so
many goals last season. I hope that the
extra competition for places will help aid
this."
The UNA midfield will look very different
this year with the loss of five seniors from
this position. Returning will be junior
Paige Hess of Conway, Ark., and sophomore
Callie Pederson of Sarasota, Fla. Hess
played most of last season wide left and had
four goals and one assist. This year she is
expected to compete for a spot in the
middle. "She is a danger going forward to
any defense," Winkworth said. Pederson spent
most of last season at right back and
Winkworth hopes to move her up to her more
favored central midfield position where she
can hurt defenses with her accurate passing
ability and long shots.
Joining Pederson and Hess at midfield will
be three freshmen. Hollie Loud of Bristol,
England is a very smart player that is
composed on the ball and Winkworth expects
her to dictate the pace of the game from her
holding role in front of the back four.
Danielle Vaughan of Centerville, Ohio, will
provide extra bite to the midfield. "She is
not afraid to put tackles in and can create
chances for her forwards with very clever
through balls," Winkworth said. Jamie Takala
of Naples, Fla., was a late addition to the
squad. She is another versatile player that
Winkworth expects to contribute on both the
offensive and defensive ends. "I have high
hopes for her career here," he said.
"I am very
excited about this midfield. Last season we
were very lightweight here with players who
liked to go forward but lacked physical
presence. These girls not only give us the
ability to win the ball more but I feel that
they also offer us that creative spark in
the offensive third. I am very much looking
forward to them battling it out this season
for playing time," Winkworth said.
In the forward position UNA has two
returnees. Heather Smith of Clarksville,
Tenn., is the team's lone senior and she
took a year off in 2007. Winkworth hopes
that she will provide competition in the
wide area of the field.
All-Gulf
South Conference selection Tassia Augusto
of Sao Paulo, Brazil also returns after
setting school records last season for most
goals in a season (17) and most points in a
season (42).
"It is exciting
to have a player of Tassia’s potential on
the team," said Winkworth. "She is very
capable of creating goals out of nothing.
Despite her success last season, I am
convinced we are still yet to see the best
of her. I hope that with an increased
fitness level for 2008, she will be setting
many more records."
Joining Smith and Augusto at forward are
four freshmen. Adrienne Aragon of Lakeland,
Colo., is a fast and tricky player that
should fight for time in the wide forward
position. Also fighting for time in this
role will be Melissa Brown of Miami, Fla.,
Meghan Brown of Tupelo, Miss., and Denise
O’Donnell of Paisley, Scotland.
Melissa Brown
is a very fast athletic player that can
finish with either foot. Meghan Brown is
another player that can set the pace and is
also a strong finisher. O'Donnell is a
natural lefty that Winkworth feels will
contribute in a lot of areas this season.
"This front line is very talented," said
Winkworth. "We have different types of
players available and I think the fight for
playing time will be fun to watch."
UNA opens its
season on August 29 at home against
Cumberland at the Lions' new ProTurf field
on the North Alabama campus.
The Lions will
play eight games before opening Gulf South
Conference play on September 21 at Ouachita
Baptist. North Alabama will play 10 home
matches, highlighted by GSC battles with
Christian Brothers (Oct. 7), West Georgia
(Oct. 12), Harding (Oct. 17) and West
Florida (Oct. 24).
The Lions
finished the 2007 season with a 7-12-1
record. UNA was 1-6-1 in conference play and
finished eighth in the GSC. North Alabama
has been picked to finish seventh this
season in the pre-season poll by league
coaches.
