Setting Its Sights Higher
Women's Soccer Hopes to Build Off First Winning Season,
Opens 1998 Season vs. Hosts in F&M Tournament
SELINSGROVE, (Pa.) - With 13 players who gained starting experience back from a team which posted the first winning season in the program's four-year history, the Susquehanna University women's soccer team believes it can join the Middle Atlantic Conference elite this season under new head coach Jane Wildman.
The Crusaders open the new season this Saturday, September 5, in a 1 p.m. game against the host team at the Franklin & Marshall Tournament. The other game that day will pit Millersville against the College of Notre Dame (Md.). The consolation and championship games are scheduled for 1 and 3 p.m. respectively on Sunday.
"The tournament should be a challenge, which is what I want right away," said Wildman. "We really want to get out there and get focused from the first game on."
A strong start could key the Crusaders fortunes. Susquehanna started 1997 with five- straight losses and were 1-6 through seven matches. The Crusaders came back to win seven of their last eight to finish at 8-7, but were just 3-4 for fifth-place in the MAC Commonwealth League.
"It is important that we have a good start," said Wildman, who was a all-conference goalkeeper at Denison University and a former head coach at Muskingum College. "We need to find our personality as a team. We want to come out in the first game and set the tone for the rest of the season."
On the sidelines, Wildman brings what she calls "a variety of coaching experiences."
"I started at a really struggling program. It was a challenge but I learned a lot about coaching at this level. The past two years I've been at a very successful Division III school where the goal every year is to make the national championship tournament."
THE DEFENSE
Topping the list of returnees are three-year letterwinners and senior co-captains Amanda Roenigk (New Freedom/Susquehannock H.S.) and Megan Walsh (Mahwah, N.J./Mahwah H.S.). The duo represents the cornerstone of an experienced Crusader defense, which allowed opponents 1.86 goals per match last season.
"Amanda is very tenacious in everything she does. She never gives up in going after the ball - she's a strong tackler who is very intense," said Wildman. "Megan is more of a quiet leader. She is technically very strong and she crosses the ball well. We'll probably look to have her play some outside midfield."
Joining Roenigk and Walsh on defense will be sophomores Angela Diskin (Taneytown, Md./Francis Scott Key H.S.), Sarah Franklin (Moscow/North Pocono H.S.) and Karolyn Sadowski (Allendale, N.J./North Highlands Regional H.S.) as well as freshmen Sheryl Highton (Kinnelon, N.J./Kinnelon H.S.) and Jenel Witkowski (Reading/Schuylkill Valley H.S.).
What gets past them will be handled by sophomore Janee Shaner (Hughesville/Hughesville H.S.) and freshman Tammy Walter (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville North H.S.) as goalkeepers.
Shaner spent parts of eight games in the cage for Susquehanna in 1997, compiling a .846 save percentage with a 1.83 goals-against average. Her strength is athleticism, as she displayed in the spring when she became Susquehanna's first women's national champion by winning the javelin at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships.
Walter may also see some time in the crease, but has been slowed by injuries early on.
THE OFFENSE
Amber Emery (West Chester/Downingtown H.S.) and Rachel Williams (Clearfield/Clearfield H.S.) join Walsh and Roenigk in providing the senior leadership for the Crusaders. Emery is a versatile forward/midfielder and three-year letterwinner. Williams provides height and speed up front and is expected to be a strong leader, despite a leg injury in the preseason.
Susquehanna lost career and 1997 scoring leader Kris Riehl (6G, 3A, 15P in '97) to graduation, but has its next three leading scorers back in sophomores Lauren Brown (Glenelg, Md./Glenelg H.S.) and Kristen Gilbert (Troy, N.Y./Tamarac H.S.) and junior Melissa Ruozzi (Braintree, Mass./Braintree H.S.). Newcomer Kim Anderson (Orefield/Parkland H.S.) has also shown early promise to the attack.
Brown is perhaps Susquehanna's most dangerous offensive threat, having shown great field presence and skill while scoring five goals and four assists in starting every game last season.
Gilbert is slated to spend some time at center midfield. As a freshman, she showed versatility in attacking, defending and passing. Gilbert was also the team's top long-range threat, scoring a couple of her five goals last season off of restarts outside of the penalty area.
Anderson "has got explosive speed, excellent skills and great game sense," Wildman said. "She's somebody we're going to look to right away."
Williams and sophomore Lindsay Hayes (Troy, N.Y./Tamarac H.S) round out the probable offensive starters. Wildman expects the speedy Hayes to get some time at outside midfield.
Juniors Christine Catafalmo (Johnstown/Bishop McCort H.S.) and Deb Cline (Mechanicsburg/Mechanicsburg Area H.S.) and sophomore Hanneli Webber (Pella, Iowa/Pella H.S.) are joined by freshmen Katie Sonnefeld (Monkton, Md./Hereford H.S.), Sheryl Highton (Kinnelon, N.J./Kinnelon H.S.) and Jennifer Weirich (Middletown/Middletown H.S.) to round out the midfield corps.
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