(Note:
This is a continuing series on a hypothetical Spring 1999 Soccer season.
We evaluate the current rosters of each Division 1 team as of this
spring, before new recruits are added and assuming seniors are
graduated. We suggest reading at least Article
1 which has an intro to this series which will help you better
enjoy the information below).
Shooting
Stars
Arizona
State
The Sun Devils make a huge jump and could ease into a national ranking
since all 11 starters return. Look for ASU to jump near the top of the
PAC 10 and make the tourney field. Coach Terri Patraw is
beginning to see huge dividends for her recruiting efforts as the roster
remains intact including stars Jennifer Peterson and Stacy
Tullock. These double digit scorers return along with Dawson
and Inoue. Leading the defense will be Wagner, Rivard,
and Scott. Keeper duties were split between Slater and
Reinke. The Sun Devils would be deep and dangerous in a Spring
season. The return of Marjanovic increases ASU's chances of
breaking into the national elite. Regardless of the spring outcome, this
team will be a huge force in the Fall 1999.
Houston
All 11 starters are back for Coach Huston and the Cougars are
determined to top the C-USA and gain a tourney bid this time around.
Houston loses top scorer Lisa Duffus and reliable midfielder
Comeaux but neither were regular starters. The Cougars will look
to Kara Bullinger to move them into the national Top 25. Houston
finished 1998 as the #1 new program in the nation and should quickly
become a player among the nation's top teams. Michelle Denomme
is dynamic in goal while Repp and Sabbe are solid
defenders. Still in the first year of existence, this team has enough
talent to turn heads and would walk right into a tourney berth in a
spring NCAA tournament. However, the big rewards are coming, quickly,
down the road as this is a program on a FAST rise.
Illinois
State
Another team with all 11 starters back, the Redbirds are hot for
national attention and deservingly so with this pool of players. Coach
Pete Kowall has a deep roster with four other players getting
significant playing time along with the starters. If the Redbirds can
get more offensive punch (after scoring only 31 goals in 1998), this
team will be hard to beat. Fedlmann is an all-conference keeper
while youngsters such as Freed, Roth, Bejda,
Mahan and O'Connor dot the lineup to compliment
seasonedveterans Williams and Henkel. Illinois State
would be looking for their first tourney bid ever but this is a program
destined for recognition sooner than later. Kowall will catch some teams
by surprise but no one who respects the MVC should take them lightly.
Navy
A great campaign in '98 fell just short of an NCAA bid but 9 key
players still remain and the Midshipmen could be one of the surprises
here. Nicole Aunapu is a huge loss on defense but Navy returns
Ewers and Refo as well as keeper Wilson. 8 of
the top 9 scorers return for Coach Gabarra with only Kipp
needing to be replaced. This may be the deepest roster of all the up and
coming teams with five other freshmen and sophomores getting significant
playing time in '98. Navy may finally be a step above Colgate in the
Patrio, but above that, may be at a turning point in ther program for
national recognition. While Maryland and some of the CAA schools are on
a downward swing, Navy may be on the top three programs in the
Mid-Atlantic region.
Richmond
The Spiders finally get a strong look at both a Tourney bid and a
national ranking as three consecutive top recruiting classes pay off as
all 11 starters return including 9 rising juniors and seniors. Coach
Peter Albright has several elite players including Cronk,
Sands and Raveia to help Richmond compete with William &
Mary for the CAA title. That distinction always carries with it a high
national ranking and these Spiders shouldn't be dismissed because of
their lack of national exposure. Albright has one of the best
goalkeepers in the nation in Freshman All America Samuhel while
the offense continues to be one of the more explosive in the East.
Richmond is still a young program but this first class heads to its last
year with high expectations. Richmond would be a strong bet for a
national ranking in a mythical Spring 1999 season, and beyond that, this
team has placed itself among the best in the CAA. Look for Richmond to
be a major spoiler in the coming years.
Missouri
Another Big 12 team pushes for a ranking as the Tigers bring back every
starter. This could be the Cinderella team of the Tournament. The Tigers
have an impressive arsenal of offensive talent and the defense will be
much stronger with no seniors departing this team. The goto players for
Coach Bryan Blitz are Nikki Thole and Kristen Boeker
although several other standouts are key. Adamec is reliable in
goal while Russell and Kram are good defenders. Buchheit,
Sallee, Timmerman, Dwyer, Grimsley and
Maunder are all top players in the Big 12. This roster is deep
and will only get better as Missouri still is a young program-just
beginning it's fourth year in 1999. The key for a spring season is the
combination of eight juniors who have been around since the start of the
program along with several youngsters who have gained valuable playing
time. Not only would this team be a likely bet to make the NCAA
Tournament in a mythical spring season, but the Tigers are on their way
to becoming a Top 25 staple this Fall and beyond.
More
schools being added to the Shooting Stars list soon... in this Final
Edition of Soccer Buzz' Spring '99 Series.
