Spring
1999: Part 1 What
if the soccer season started again... TODAY!
Part
1 of a 7-Part Series...
If the
1999 Women's College Cup was played this spring, who would be the
challengers? Which teams would be NCAA Tournament heavyweights? Which
schools would comprise the Top 25? Which squads would be closing in on a
national ranking? And which programs would be falling fast out of the
national spotlight?
Soccer
Buzz takes a look and answers all those questions in this 7 part series
starting today (Friday, Jan 15) through February 9. We'll highlight
teams and their current potential and ranking based on Spring '99
rosters (disregarding incoming freshmen recruits and those players
graduating or leaving the program). It's our fun way to see what would
happen if we had another season right now---depth and position gaps are
two clear indicators here that highlight big recruiting needs for most
schools.
(Note:
This is a look at an hypothetical season and in no way indicates the
Soccer Buzz predictions for the 1999 Fall Season. Some info may be
inexact due to coaching or athletic eligibility changes).
COLLEGE
CUP FINAL FOUR
Santa
Clara The
likely preseason #1 team as 10 starters remain with only Lisa Nanez
graduating. Six rising seniors will be hard for any other team to match
in experience. How explosive will this team be as the top eleven scorers
return while the nation's top freshman recruit in '98, Aly Wagner,
gets her first collegiate field time after redshirting last fall? And
the defense will be as solid as ever after leading the nation in '98
with a .16 GAA. Coach Jerry Smith's team would be the choice for
National Champion today.
North
Carolina Losing
Cindy Parlow, Tiffany Roberts and Siri Mullinix
results in even gaps along the field which can be quickly replaced by
Coach Anson Dorrance. 8 starters, including four current juniors
will give the Heels a shot at another title. Laurie Schwoy and
Meredith Florance will be relied on heavily on the offensive end
which would be the biggest concern in a spring season as Parlow's
departure along with super sub Rakel Karvelsson takes away over
25% of the Heels' scoring. Kristin DePlatchett, heralded as
perhaps the greatest keeper to ever wear Carolina Blue, steps into
full-time goalie duties with Mullinix' graduation. UNC would be a final
four team without question, but would struggle against a more
experienced Santa Clara or Notre Dame without the recruits they need to
fill the gaps.
Notre
Dame The
Irish return to the championship final four even without Coach Chris
Petrucelli. Five top-notch, rising seniors along with preseason POY
favorite Anne Makinen will carry the load lost by Monica
Gerardo and Shannon Boxx. The Irish would be really thin in
a Spring season but the return of Monica Gonzalez (torn ACL last
year) at forward would ease things on the offensive end. Notre Dame led
the nation in scoring in '98 with almost 4 goals a game and even with
Gerardo's graduation, would still be a high powered offense. The Irish
would be a strong #2 in the Spring although they still need a Head
Coach.
Hartford The
surprise pick here if Maria Kun is the only player lost. 9
talented returning starters will push the Hawks into the Top 10 with
ease and would give them the edge for the fourth spot in the
championship round if the Tournament was held this spring. As always
with the Hartford program, players come and go with little regard to the
four years of eligibility since many of them are international students.
However, the Spring season would likely keep the '98 team intact and
cause major problems for opponents. Two talented freshmen, Korbmacher
and Anderson, would be more lethal after a year of NCAA play.
The loss of Maria Kun would be big but the top 3 scorers return and Kate
Reardon is capable of stepping in nicely. Losing Cecilie Gotaas
in the back would be less impactful as four other defenders split
starting time in '98. Coach Krikorian would be guiding the Hawks
to their first final four since '92 and replacing UConn as the best in
the Northeast.
