Women's Soccer Looks Forward To Promising 2003 Season
Aug 28, 2003 | Women's Soccer
Aug. 28, 2003
NEW ORLEANS., La. - - At first glance, one might not know what to expect from the Tulane women's soccer team heading into the 2003 campaign. After all, the Green Wave lost seven seniors to graduation whose names can be found all over the Tulane record books. But a closer inspection reveals a 27-player roster - the largest in school history - that has an almost perfect mix of experience, youth and, above all, talent.
"Though we are returning a large group of players who saw action last season, we will have an entirely different team this year," Tulane head coach Betsy Anderson said. "We are bringing in a lot of new people and the level of play is the highest we've had since I've been here. We have a group of veteran players that have set standards that will be expected of the newcomers. One of the things we have discussed with the players coming back is that they have been given ownership of this team. Our goal is to create unity within the team, especially since we have so many players on the roster. And I think our veterans are taking up that challenge and look forward to taking the newcomers under their wings."
 | "We had a really successful spring season. The younger players who might not have seen a lot of action in the fall took their opportunity in the spring and ran with it. They are more than ready to step into the spaces left by last year's seven seniors. And with the freshman class coming in, we really have the best of both worlds. We are extremely excited about getting the 2003 season underway." Tulane head coach Betsy Anderson |
A breakdown of the Tulane roster shows 12 players returning who saw action last year, plus another two with U.S. Youth National Team experience who were with the team but received medical redshirts. Of those 12 returning players, 11 scored at least one point last season, proving the team's tremendous amount of depth. Joining that group is a 13-strong freshman class full of talent that will look to contribute from the outset of their collegiate careers.
Goalkeeper
For perhaps the first time in school history, Tulane will have legitimate depth at the goalkeeping position. Though the Green Wave appear young between the pipes, with two sophomores and a freshman looking to earn the starting nod, the team can boast three talented netminders who could easily see action at any point in the season.
Sophomore Kristin Weegar might have the early edge, if only based on the fact that she started 16 games a season ago as a true freshman. The Texas native made the most of her opportunity, earning a spot on the Conference USA All-Freshman team and a mention on Soccer America's National Team of the Week on Sept. 23. She was also named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week that day.
Tulane could also turn to sophomore Megan Morey, who actually led the Wave in goals against average and save percentage last season. A native of Port Orchard, Wash., Morey allowed just five goals last season and notched her first career shutout in Tulane's road win over Eckerd College.
Pushing the two sophomores will be newcomer Kristen Warren, a freshman from Houston, Texas. Warren helped lead her Texas Wave club team to the 2003 Region III championship, earning a spot at the U.S. Olympic Festival in the process.
"We are in a very nice position where any of our three goalkeepers could start this season," Anderson said. "Kristin Weegar and Megan Morey obviously gained some valuable experience as true freshmen last season and Kristen Warren has a very strong background with her club team. It should be an interesting race, and one that continues throughout the season. The starter in our first game will depend on who has the best preseason workouts."
Defender
With such a large contingent of freshmen joining the midfield, the Green Wave may have to rely on an experienced group of defenders early in the season. Thankfully, Tulane returns four players on the back line who started at least 15 games a year ago, as well as two redshirt players who have had experience in the U.S. National Team pool.
 Asia Simons will help | |
Leading the Green Wave defense will be co-captains Asia Simons and Jacque Gruber. Both return for their senior seasons and both have played several different positions, providing a great deal of leadership and versatility. Simons is perhaps the team's most vocal leader and can play almost anywhere, but will most likely see action in the central defense. Last year, she scored a pair of goals in the win against Nicholls State and provided the game-winning assist in the victory over Conference USA rival Louisville.
Gruber, who began her Tulane career as a forward, has settled in as Tulane's right marking back, though she still shows off her offensive skills on a regular basis. She tied for the team lead in assists last season, while also adding three goals, including strikes against league foes Louisville and TCU.
"We have finally found Asia's true position," Anderson said. "She has become a real leader and our 'coach' on the field, which is something we've never really had before. Gruber is our leader by example. She has such an amazing work rate. She has developed into a top-notch defender, but still has the ability to put the ball in the net when she goes forward."
Also returning to the back line are juniors Kelley Smith and Megan Franich. Smith, along with Gruber, started all 19 games last season, playing mostly as the Wave's left back, and posted three assists on the year. Franich saw action both as a central defender and as an outside back last year and should see time at both positions this season.
Jaclyn Benjamin and Blair Trickey both return to the field after a year off due to injuries and are ready to make their contributions to the team. Both have spent time at U.S. Youth National Team camps and are strong defenders.
Joining the returnees is a talented quartet of freshmen hailing from all parts of the United States. Newcomer Leah Peterson joins the Wave after winning three State Cups with Emerald City FC in Washington. Lauren Peek arrives from the opposite coast, coming to Tulane after earning All-State honors at The Bolles School in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Jackie Obert, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, played for the GSE Cardinals club team and also attended Region II camp. Lauren Whalen played with the prestigious Busch club team in St. Louis, winning four State Cups and a pair of Region II championships.
Midfield
The Green Wave will see perhaps the biggest question marks in the midfield, where the team must replace all four starters from a season ago. Though only two players with any appreciable experience return, the Wave will welcome five talented freshmen to the middle of the field.
Returning to the field are sophomores Kristen Tasca and Maren Miller. Tasca saw action in all 19 games last season, finishing with three assists after playing mostly as a wide midfielder. Miller improved noticeably in the spring and should push for time early in the year.
New to the center of the field are five freshmen who could challenge for a starting role from the start of fall practice. Jessica Traver is a speedy wing player who could fill the role left by Mandy Schumacher's graduation. A native of Spring, Texas, Traver won a pair of Region III championships with the prestigious Houston Challenge club team. Rachel Thompson could be the next in a long line of talented Tulane players from the Northern Virginia area, following in the footsteps of 2003 graduates Stephanie Donaldson and Emily McArthur. A three-time member of the Virginia Olympic Development program, Thompson was an honorable mention All-Metro selection by the Washington Post.
Freshman Jill Sharp is a multi-sport athlete who comes to New Orleans after a standout career at Polytechnic High School in Pasadena, Calif. An all-league choice in soccer, track and tennis, Sharp helped lead her soccer team to three championships. Kali Miller joins the Green Wave from the Texas prep ranks, where she was an All-State selection at Marcus High School in Highland Village. She also saw time with the Texas and Arizona Olympic Development programs. Rounding out the midfield newcomers is Toni Schlapprizzi, a newcomer from St. Louis. She won a State Cup and the Region II championship with the Busch club team before moving on to the J.B. Marine club team in 2001.
Forward
The Green Wave will once again have several options on the front line this season, and like at other positions on the field, can combine a group of returning veterans with a talented bunch of newcomers. Leading the front line into the 2003 season will be juniors Lindsay Morris and Brook Parker - two of the Wave's top four scorers from a year ago.
Morris, originally from Seattle, Wash., led the team in goals scored in the fall before turning in a strong spring campaign. Parker was third on the team in the goals scored category and has the ability to play both up front and in the midfield, as she did on several occasions last year.
 Lindsay Morris was | |
Also returning to the forward ranks is senior Tiffany Correia. A native of Fall River, Mass., Correia brings a tremendous amount of speed and a great work rate to the front line. Sophomore Jessica Mendez is back after an injury-shortened freshman campaign that saw her play in just 11 games as a true freshman. However, the Houston, Texas standout showed signs of her promise with a pair of goals, including the only strike in Tulane's 1-0 win over league rival South Florida.
Those four veterans will welcome a group of three freshmen who could help in the goal scoring category. Freshman Makenzie Morris joins the team from the Dallas Inter club team, where she was the Most Valuable Player at the 1998 Gothia Cup in Sweden. Melissa Wheeler, a native of Boca Raton, Fla., has experience at the Region III camp and helped lead her Team Boca Blaze club team to six straight Florida State Cups. Rounding out the forward contingent is freshman Keisha Kennedy, another multi-sport standout from California. She comes to Tulane after a standout prep career that saw her earn All-Sunshine League honors at Notre Dame Academy in Los Angeles.
"We had a really successful spring season," Anderson said. "The younger players who might not have seen a lot of action in the fall took their opportunity in the spring and ran with it. They are more than ready to step into the spaces left by last year's seven seniors. And with the freshman class coming in, we really have the best of both worlds. We probably have five or six freshmen who could challenge for a starting spot almost immediately and all of them will have the opportunity to contribute right away. We are extremely excited about getting the 2003 season underway."
