Women's Soccer 2014 Season Preview

Cougars v. Crown College at Mount Mary Invitational - Friday, Aug. 29, 5:00 PM - http://mtmaryathletics.com/sports/wsoc/tournament/boxscores/20140829_9tpb.xml

Cougars v. Blackburn College at Mount Mary Invitational - Saturday, Aug. 30, 1:00 PM - http://mtmaryathletics.com/sports/wsoc/tournament/boxscores/20140830_ps5s.xml
 
The Concordia women's soccer team is coming off a stellar 2013 season in which the team answered high expectations with the best season in the history of Cougar soccer. The team went 12-3-4 and earned a berth in the NACC postseason for the first time in school history!

The team as a whole set 20 team, individual, and career records throughout the 2013 season. These records were both offensive and defensive with 52 goals scored and only 15 allowed through 19 matches. The team's success was recognized by the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference with multiple all-conference and all-freshman selections.

The Cougars achieved not only as athletes, but students as well. They have a team GPA of 3.3 and over 38 all-academic selections over the past three years.

Thomas Goines returns for the 2014 season at Concordia University Chicago as the head coach and is now the winningest all-time coach in CUC soccer history. "It was a lot of fun for us last year being able to surprise a lot of people and learn what we're capable of doing together," says Goines. "The hard work put in by the student-athletes in the women's soccer program is paying off as the team has matured in their preparation and behavior. Their recognition that their desire to have a successful soccer team has turned into the expectation of a successful team is driving them forward."
 
GOALKEEPERS
Callie Hasselbring (Houston, TX/Cypress Ridge) returns for her senior year with three seasons as a starter under her belt. She was honored as an All-NACC performer in 2013 and has set virtually all goalkeeping records the Cougars have. "I feel that Callie may be the best goalkeeper in the conference," said Goines. "She is going to have a good senior year, and we expect her to focus on mentoring the younger keepers on the roster. Her ability and experience is invaluable, and the lessons she can pass along will aid the future of the program."

Sophomore Kim Bower (Wauconda, IL/Wauconda) rehabbed through the 2013 season and looks to take her place in the 2014 season. The two incoming freshman netminders are Paige Trimbur (Manteno, IL/USSA-DUFC Soccer Club) and Ally Krajnak (Griffith, IN/H.S.). Coach Goines was very excited about the upcoming competition at the goalkeeping position.       

"These three young keepers have the unique experience of learning from the best while at the same time forging a bond of friendship through competition. Goalkeepers are a team within the team at the mentally toughest position on the soccer field. We've got a great group of athletes competing to improve themselves."
 
DEFENDERS
The experienced defenders means defense will should be solid this season as experience and organization will lead the way. With the number of upperclassmen in position, integrating and training replacements will be a critical part of this season's mission on the defensive line.
"We really like the abilities of our backline players and their potential to lead the team," says Goines.

Concordia-Chicago will call upon the experience of senior Haley Graner (Waukesha, WI/Waukesha West), junior Nikkie Saucedo (Brookfield, IL/Lyons Township), and sophomore Megan Albregts (Lafayette, IN/McCutcheon) who anchored the line in a 2013 season that only allowed 15 goals in 19 games. "They have excellent leadership abilities and will play a huge role in guiding the development of our young players as we prepare for the future," said Goines.

Returners that will provide assistance are junior Stephanie Brown (Streamwood, IL/H.S.), senior Elise Bicek (Mokena, IL/Lincoln-Way East), junior Emily Ernst (Naperville, IL/Naperville Central), sophomore Sharice Ellenwood (Streamwood, IL/H.S.), and sophomore Kelsey Schwab (Grayslake, IL/Warren Township). The freshman contributors on defense are Kaely Fitterling (St Louis, MO/Pattonville) and Caycee Benesch (Streamwood, IL/H.S.).

Goines said, "The goal for this season on the defensive line is to develop players that are the future of the program. I am looking forward to these young players learning the defensive craft at the college level. Their improvement will be important to our success."
 
MIDFIELDERS
Concordia's youth in the midfield will make many an opposing coach envious and, with just one senior in the bunch, the midfield could be a source of strength for the team over the next couple of years. The returning starters are sophomores Elizabeth Sanders (Manchester, MO/Parkway South) and Christina Kiotis (Park Ridge, IL/Maine South). They are joined by senior Anne Rockert (Kankakee, IL/Herscher) who had an injury plagued junior campaign, junior Gabby Garza (Fenton, MI/Fenton) and junior Alex Wilson (Round Lake, IL/Grayslake Central).

"We gained experience last year from everyone in this group. They all appear ready to pick up from where they left off and build on last year's growth," says Goines.

The freshman midfielders include Bailey Panjkovich (Elgin, IL/Burlington Central), Myrthe Harkinrider (Fort Wayne, IN/Concordia Lutheran), Lauren Chorowicz (Sheboygan, WI/Sheboygan Lutheran), and Allison Kruk (Schaumburg, IL/St. Edward). Goines said about the newcomers, "I think that this can be a very formidable group of young players as they show their quality playing background through the season and their enthusiasm for soccer at the next level."
 
FORWARDS
The forward line will undergo change as the program loses all-time leading scorer Alyssa Soulis."Our offense was a powerful combination of skill and speed that was very difficult for opponents to handle" says Goines. "This year we are excited to look forward to our young players being immediate contributors to the offense."

On the positive side, Hillary Campbell (Dyer, IN/Lake Central) returns to the team after missing the 2013 season to injury. As a freshman, she was the Cougars' leading scorer with 15 goals and six assists. She will join NACC All-Freshman Natalie Weinhold (St. Charles, MO/Lutheran North) on the front line, as well as Alisha Johnson (Coal City, IL/H.S.) who set the CUC school record in the 1,000m during the spring track season as a freshman.
Other returning forwards expected to contribute are sophomore Nikki Anderson (Montgomery, IL/Oswego) and junior Shawna Rembold (Rochester, MI/Stoney Creek).

The new group of which Goines speaks includes freshman Sarah LaCost (Mt. Prospect, IL/Prospect) and Katie Biga (Centerville, OH/H.S.). Goines assesses the incoming forwards thusly, "Sarah is a strong player that can hold the ball up front and punish goalies for stepping off the line. Katie comes from a great program over in Ohio and will provide speed and quickness in the attack, as well as experience with a high level program."
 
SCHEDULE
The Cougar women will open up the 2014 season Aug. 29-30 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the Mount Mary Invitational. The opening game on Friday evening is against Crown College from Minnesota and the Saturday encounter is against Blackburn College from Illinois.
The nonconference schedule returns with a home opener on Tuesday, Sept. 3 against Beloit College and on Sunday, Sept. 7 hosting MacMurray College. They play away at Illinois College a week later on Sept. 13.

The NACC opener is a home game this year on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 11 a.m. against Edgewood College immediately preceding a Cougar home football game. The turnaround is quick as the Cougars also host Anderson University on Sunday, Sept. 21. The tough conference schedule resumes with Aurora University visiting River Forest on Wednesday, Sept. 24.
Senior Day is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 12 when both the men's and women's teams host Lakeland College.

The season draws to a close with an away match against sister school Concordia University Wisconsin on Saturday, Oct. 25 followed by the final home game of the regular season in River Forest and against Division Street rival Dominican University on Tuesday, Oct. 28. The conference tournament commences on Nov. 2 as the Cougars look to repeat their trip to the NACC tournament in consecutive years and fight for the automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament.