Women's Soccer to Boast a Balanced, Experienced Squad
August 11, 1999 | Women's Soccer
Aug. 11, 1999
The 1999 Boston College women's soccer roster will boast more balance, experience and positional depth than any of Coach Alison Foley's two previous squads. In fact, Foley believes that this season's starting 11 will be the best ever in her brief tenure.
"We are really expecting it to be an exciting year because our last two graduating classes have been really small," said Foley. "We have had some good freshmen, impact freshmen, over the past few years. With a new field and finally being comfortable with the new coach, this is our year, we feel, that we will propel into the Top-20 nationally."
Perhaps the latter ingredient - comfort zone - will constitute the final element in Coach Foley's recipe for success. In 1998, the trust and confidence in Foley manifested into 12 wins, eclipsing the nine-victory total achieved in her inaugural season, while also competing in the BIG EAST conference which touted three teams in the 1998 NCAA tournament and two of the country's Top-5 squads.
Things can only get better for BC. Nine of last season's 11 starters return for the Eagles as well as six additional letterwinners with experience under their belt. Only two of the 13 point scorers from 1998 were lost to graduation, however, the leading four point-getters, who each scored in double digits, will take the field this fall. Moreover, all of last season's 12 game-winners were unleashed by players returning to the1999 roster, headed by last season's leading scorer, Second-Team All-Conference performer and All-Rookie selection sophomore Morgan Page, who accumulated 35 points and five game-winning tallies.
Experience blended with confidence will make the difference in 1999. "Individually each player knows exactly their role on the field. They have fine-tuned it and they do it very well," said Coach Foley.
One player, Sarah Powell, takes her role with the utmost responsibility as she has had to play in three different positions in the past three years. Powell, lauded with 1998 Second Team All-American and BIG EAST honors from her sweeper position, helped an Eagle defense that shut out nine opponents allowing only 42 goals overall. Joining Powell in the back is third-year captain Leigh Cofran, who looks to bounce back from injury. Three-year goalkeeper Courtney Schaeffer will guard the pipes, touting a career 0.91 goals against average to date.
Fellow tri-captains Janice Collein and Mary Guarino will provide maturity in the midfield and forward positions. Guarino, BC's second-leading scorer, dished out 11 assists and seven goals in 1998 while Collein added two goals and six assists, working defensively in the midfield.
GOALKEEPER
The Eagles have two experienced goalkeepers in Courtney Schaeffer and Alice Lehne that have posted impressive numbers in their time at Boston College. Schaeffer earned the starting nod in all 21 games last fall, registering a 12-6-3 record with a 1.01 GAA as a sophomore. However, her average in conference play, where she earned seven of her nine shutouts, dipped below 0.60. She was also 9-6-2, starting all 17 games in 1997 to merit All-Conference Second Team and Rookie Team accolades.
"She's coming off two solid years in goal and I think she feels very confident and that is the biggest attribute you want your goalkeeper feeling: good about themselves and about the team," said Foley.
Lehne, a senior from Michigan, also brings a great deal of experience to the position, having served as backup goalie for the past two seasons. As a freshman in 1996, she played in 12 matches, making 10 starts. That season she finished with a 6-4 record and three shutouts.
BACK
In 1998, Coach Foley made some moves in the backfield that proved to be successful, placing Powell at sweeper and junior Katherine Murphy in the stopper position. BC touted one of last year's most solid and consistent defenses in the BIG EAST, evidenced by Schaeffer's 1.01 GAA, and resilience down the stretch placed the Eagles on top in six of nine matches decided by one goal.
Powell played in her third position (sweeper) in three years last season after having garnered Third-Team Regional All-American honors as a freshman midfielder. This season, she returns as the team's premiere marker, who can also generate an offensive attack from the backfield. She recorded two goals and one assist for five points in 1998 and looks to build upon her Second Team All-American and All-Conference awards.
Murphy, described as the heart and soul of the team, possesses an uncanny knack for reading loose balls and winning 50/50 balls. Her only tally was in the 3-0 shutout of Georgetown, Oct. 25.
Joining them in the defensive third will be senior Kristine Klagges, a hard tackler who has worked hard to improve her technical game.
Finally, Leigh Cofran, whose leadership is equally as towering as her athleticism, returns to the Eagles this fall after missing part of last season due to injury. "Having her on the field, her presence alone, makes everyone else around her better. She demands the most out of each and every player on the team," said Coach Foley.
MIDFIELD
The midfield is an area that Foley believes has enough speed and depth to effectively control the flow of the game. Playing defensively at BC's center midfield position is senior Janice Collein, who is adept at stealing passes and instigating the team's offensive attack. She distributed six assists and netted a pair of goals from that position a season ago. In 1998, Meghan Moore stepped into one of the most difficult positions for a freshman, attacking center midfielder, yet went on to register four goals, five assists for 13 points which landed her third in team point totals.
"She too had a great spring where I think she found consistency and is holding herself up to a higher level to play game in and game out," said Coach Foley.
Junior Jillian Livosi will add a good blend of speed and endurance to the wide midfield position.
Look for Muffin Rueckel to vye for the other flank position after sitting out the majority of last year with mononucleosis. She started all 17 games as a freshman. Fellow flank midfielder, senior Rachael Klemanski, is coming off a great spring and playing with the most confidence that she's ever had. Also contending for playing time is Brandy Manza and Kerri Wright. Manza passes the ball creatively over small and long distances. While Wright, who participated in 18 games, starting five times, has endurance for the position. Newcomers Rachel Parri and Colleen Danaher may also emerge as key forces in the Eagle offensive and defensive schemes.
FORWARD
The missing element -speed - in Boston College's 1997 squad was filled with the addition of Morgan Page in 1998. This season promises a deluge of talent in that area by recruiting freshmen Katherine Halloran and Carolyn Iacobelli .
BC expects to build upon its 120-point total a year ago when two players - Page and Mary Guarino - posted 20-plus season efforts. Page found the back of the net 16 times and fed three to total a team-high 35 points.
"Morgan has some intangibles that separate her from others: one is her explosiveness to goal and the other is her composure to finish and score goals," said Coach Foley.
Equally as impressive, Guarino is an extremely well rounded forward. She can hold the ball and track back defensively. Her seven goals and 11 assists (25 points) placed her second on the team last season as well as first in the assists column.
