University of Massachusets Athletics
High Hopes For UMass Women's Soccer
August 18, 2006 | Women's Soccer
Aug. 18, 2006
AMHERST, Mass. - 2005 was the season of "so close" for Minutewomen Soccer. Seven of nine losses were by a single goal. Another tie or win would have meant the postseason.
But the UMass women's soccer team isn't about what could have been or should have been. It's focusing its time and talent on the 2006 season: one of high hopes.
"We are approaching this fall cautiously but optimistically," said Head Coach Jim Rudy. "Last year's team was a wonderful side led by six fine seniors. Attitudes were excellent, training was awesome and there was great concentration and effort. I felt that we played a lot of very good soccer. Our defense improved measurably but we just couldn't put games away when we needed to, losing seven by one goal. Ironically, we got to and around the net more than in the past five years. Anemic finishing was our demise."
The 2006 spring season was a successful one for the Minutewomen, finishing 9-0-1. Included in that march was an indoor tournament title, defeating a highly skilled Japanese squad and four shutouts down the stretch.
"It's the first time that I can recall an undefeated spring," said Rudy. "On top of that the team recorded a combined GPA of 3.4 plus. Eighteen of 21 were at 3.1 or better!"
"The team played very well together and exhibited some serious flair and creativity. Unfortunately, we lost the services of Caitlin Footit who transferred to a California DIII program and Vanessa Lima, who opted not to return."
Enough about spring, this is fall ball! UMass returns 11 from the 2005 team and welcomes eight into the fold. Rudy describes the freshman class as "one of our best ever...they should break in quickly as our new system of play took their abilities into account."
"We feel pretty good about our progress and our incoming people, but we also remember that we fell a game short last fall," said Rudy. "If all our people come in fit and healthy, we have a chance to keep our upward journey going. We'd like to get back to the Atlantic 10 tourney again and the NCAA's as well as part of that trip."
Leadership should not be an issue for the team, as they have the services of Stephanie Barrett and Nadia Villarroel as co-captains. Both are three-year starters for UMass and natural leaders on defense and in the midfield, respectively. Along with the two captains is four-year letterwinner Liz Weinsten and redshirt-junior Kristin Walker, who returns as an All-A-10 honoree in 2005.
Walker will anchor the defense as the only returning goalkeeper, but has a wealth of experience to her benefit. Challenged immensely in '05 as UMass' only netminder, Walker recorded a career-high seven shutouts. She will be joined by Melissa Jubinville and Lauren Luckey. Jubinville has had an extensive hockey career before UMass, while Luckey was a member of the 2005 national champion team from Pope John II.
Working out from goal, the defense looks to continue its dominant ways, as they have helped to consistently lower the team GAA to its four-year low of 0.97 last season. Anchoring this group will be Barrett and Tina Rodriguez, along with Kaelyn Caldwell, who all started most of 2005. Christina Nunes had extended playing time in '05, while now-sophomore Melissa Toulouse has come into her own with a strong finish last fall and a more impressive spring. Amy Ballew is the lone defensive addition, coming to UMass after a season at Tennessee.
The midfield is where UMass' losses will be more pronounced, losing four overall. Rudy will turn to Villarroel on the left, in addition to rookie Katie Ruggles. Weinsten could step up on the right side with frosh Syd Stoll, while the center will be anchored by Jenny Roehrig, Nunes and Toulouse. Rookie Meghan Gould is also in the mix.
The duo of Britt Canfield and Vanessa Patry as seasoned upperclassmen will be counted on to help carry the offensive load. Canfield, slowed by a nagging injury much of 2005, appears to be healthy and fit once again. Patry has made great strides since scoring on her first shot as a frosh and has become a great playmaker as well. In addition, Weinsten could see time up front along with freshmen Cristina Adams, Stoll and Jackie Desjardins.
Overall, the Minutewomen return six of their top ten scorers from a year ago in addition to the wealth of experience gained during the spring season. The translation remains to be seen, but the expectations have been set. Only seventeen games are what stands between this squad and its high hopes.
