Boston College Athletics
1998 Women's Soccer Season Outlook
June 21, 1999 | Women's Soccer
August 21, 1998
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - A combination of experience and new talent will make the Eagles a formidable club in 1998. The team is well-balanced with 11 upperclassmen and 12 underclassmen and should be more accustomed to the style of second-year coach Alison Foley.
"We have all had one season to adjust and get on the same page," said Foley. "My expectations are very high for this team. The attitude of all the players this past spring was great with every practice being a battle."
The responsibility to exceed these expectations and keep attitudes positive will fall on the leadership of the four seniors. Two of the seniors, Leigh Cofran and Kiera McKeon, will serve as captains this fall.
Complimeting the seniors is the higly-touted freshmen group. "All five of the freshmen are from successful and competitive high school teams," said Foley. "Each has the potential to contribute immediately and compete for starting positions."
In 1997 the Eagles used a hard-nosed, scrappy style to hold opponents to 13 goals in 17 games. The defense was imposing and the offense was adequate. However, the team seemed to be one attribute away from post-season play.
"The major component missing from a year ago was speed, and I believe that the freshmen will provide us with that extra gear needed to form a more dangerous attack," said Foley. "Combining a more formidable attack with our defense from last year should be a foundation for success for this program."
Four of the five heralded freshmen are forwards and will help improve on the 18 goals scored by the Eagles last season. Emily Jensen and Meghan Moore will be counted on to make an impact from the start.
The Eagles have won nine games in each of the past four seasons. To improve on that total is a tough task competing in the powerful Big East conference. With the Eagles' combination of strength and speed anything is possible.
GOALKEEPER
The Eagles have three experienced goalies that have all posted impressive numbers in their time in net for Boston College. "All three of the goalies have won the respect and confidence of their coaches and teammates," said Foley. "It is going to be a difficult decision to decide which player will receive the majority of the playing time."
In her first collegiate season, Courtney Schaeffer emerged as the top goalkeeper for the Eagles and registered a 9-6-2 record in 1997. Schaeffer started all 17 games last season and recorded seven shutouts. The BIG EAST All-Rookie Team selection was second in the league with a 0.72 goals against average. Schaeffer was also named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team.
Junior Alice Lehne brings a great deal of experience to the position. Lehne played in 12 matches her freshman season, making 10 starts for Boston College in 1996. That season she finished with a 6-4 record and three shoutouts.
Senior Kerin Sikorski missed the entire 1997 season due to illness, but will return to the Eagles this fall. During the 1996 season, Sikorski served as the back-up goalkeeper, playing in seven matches and recording three shutouts.
BACK
The defensive backfield was one of the strongest areas of the team last season. This season Foley will try some new combinations and positions to strengthen the holes created by graduation. "I believe that our backfield was one of the strongest in all of the BIG EAST last season," said Foley. "I think we are only going to get better this year."
Senior co-captain Cofran is a valuable component of the Eagles' backfield with her overall athleticism and leadership skills. Two moves were made over the summer that will strengthen the defense. Sophomore Katherine Murphy will be moved to the stopper position and sophomore Sarah Powell will move to sweeper. Murphy played in 13 games, making 11 starts last season. She has a knack for reading the opposition and is a skilled defender. Powell has been moved to her third position in three years. A forward at Natick High School, she played in the Eagles' midfield as a freshman a year ago, but will move to sweeper this season. Powell's ability to connect on passes out of the backfield will add an important component.
Senior McKeon will receive playing time at outside back. The co-captain has started every game in her first three years at Boston College and is one of the best conditioned players on the team. Juniors Debra D' Alesandro and Kristine Klagges are smart backs that will add depth to the backfield. Freshman Meghan Buckley will challenge for playing time at the outside back position.
MIDFIELD
The midfield is an area that Foley believes has enough speed and depth to effectively control the flow of the game. Sophomore Jillian Livolsi is expected to play at the flank midfield position, where her speed and endurance will be an asset to the Eagles attack. Livolsi started six games a year ago and spent the summer at the Tuichi Soccer Camp in Bolivia. Junior Janice Collein will play at the center midfield position for the Eagles. Last season, she started 15 games for the Eagles and netted two goals. Collein's vision will make her the primary playmaker for the BC attack.
Muffin Rueckel started 17 games in the midfield last season as a freshman. The sophomore is one of the strongest players on the team, and her accurate long ball distribution will aid in pressuring opposing defenses. Juniors Gravity Goldberg and Brandy Manza will compete for playing time at the midfield positions. Goldberg is one of the most athletic players on the team, and Manza was second on the team in scoring last season with eight points. Sophomore Kerri Wright will compete for playing time at the flank midfield position. Wright started eight games as a freshman and played in all 17 a year ago.
FORWARD
Junior Mary Guarino and sophomore Rachael Klemanski will lead the BC forward line. Guarino's role will be to set up the offensive attack for the Eagles. The junior interacts with the other forwards very well and is expected to develop into a playmaker. Klemanski was fourth on the team in scoring last year as a freshman. After a very productive spring she will be expected to serve as the leader up front.
Senior Megan Burns will be used up front to pressure opposing defenses. A scrappy hard-working forward, she started 11 games last season. Four freshmen will contribute to the offensive attack, in addition to Jensen and Moore, Lindsey Marshall and Morgan Page will be counted on for support.
