Aug. 24, 2005
A few goals. For the 2004 Baylor soccer team it was really that simple. Six one-goal losses prevented the Bears from becoming perhaps the third team in school history to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Instead, despite some impressive wins, the Baylor soccer team missed out on the Big 12 Conference Tournament and the chance to advance in post-season play.
Although the 2004 team was unable to meet the goals and expectations set for themselves at the beginning of the year, the team showed glimpses at what may be in store for Baylor soccer fans in 2005. With inexperience likely playing a factor in many of last season's one-goal defeats, the 2005 squad will not have to face the challenge the 2004 team faced of working 15 newcomers into the team system throughout the season.
Unlike last year, the majority of the starting line-up remains intact as the 2005 season begins. Eight starters and 19 letter-winners return from last year's squad that showed flashes of brilliance in victories over Big 12 Conference powers Nebraska and Texas.
In addition, almost the entire batch of returning letter-winners was in town over the summer, taking courses and preparing for the upcoming season. The dedication and desire shown by the returning letter-winners to work as a team over the summer has third-year head coach George Van Linder excited about the 2005 season.
"We showed last year that we were capable of playing with anyone," Van Linder said. "Unfortunately, our inexperience led to moments of inconsistent play and we were unable to close out some games. We were extremely lucky that almost every returning player stayed for summer school and had a desire to train throughout the summer as a team. I think it shows this team is ready to accomplish some of the goals last year's team was unable to accomplish."
With so many experienced players returning from last year's squad, Van Linder will call upon six seniors, including captains Tiffany Boshers and Bethany Vick DuBose, to anchor this year's version of the Bears.
"Our seniors have been through the good and the bad," Van Linder said. "I think they all have a strong desire to leave the program on a strong note. I can tell by how hard they have worked this summer and by the leadership they have shown they are ready to lead this team to some great things."
Baylor's group of 10 sophomores on the 2005 squad should also play a large roll in determining whether or not the team can meet the goals and expectations it has set for itself at the beginning of the season. After most of the sophomore class saw extensive playing time during the 2004 season, Van Linder believes the second-year class will have a tremendous impact on the 2005 team.
"The freshmen last season were the key in a lot of our victories," Van Linder said. "We play a possession-style game, which is a hard style to play. With a year under their belts, I believe the group is ready to perform at a high-level and help us meet a lot of the goals we set for the team at the beginning of the year."
Among the goals for the 2005 squad are a berth into the Big 12 Conference Tournament and the NCAA Soccer Championships. Although the goals may be lofty for a team that has just missed out on the last two conference tournaments, Van Linder believes the team is more than capable of reaching the NCAA Soccer Championships for the first time since 1999.
"With so many returning players, we are excited about the possibilities," Van Linder said. "Throughout the summer, the returning players have done all they can to train and prepare for the upcoming year. I am extremely proud of the dedication they have shown and I think it is a sign that we are heading in the right direction as a program and this year's team can accomplish some great things."
FORWARDS
Despite losing senior Ginny Rosario-Tull, who finished her career ranked fifth on Baylor's career goals scored list, Baylor returns of wealth of experience to the forward position in 2005. Anna Schuch, Missy McConnell and Jessica Hutton return from last year's squad to give Baylor a tremendous amount of depth at the position.
"Anna (Schuch) had a great season for us last year and we expect great things again from her this season," Van Linder said. "Missy (McConnell) and Jessica (Hutton) scored several key goals for us and will definitely play important roles again this season."
Schuch, who earned Big 12 Conference All-Newcomer honors last season, finished last season second on the team with 17 points. The junior transfer from Saint Louis scored six goals last year to rank second on the squad and was tied for the team lead with five assists. Last year, Schuch provided one of the most exciting moments of the Bear's season as her goal just 18 seconds into overtime, the fastest overtime goal in school history, lifted Baylor to a 3-2 win over nationally-ranked Texas.
Although McConnell and Hutton did not start a game last season, the duo provided tremendous depth at the position last year, playing key minutes and producing significant results. In 16 games played, Hutton scored four goals to tie for the team lead among freshmen while McConnell added two goals in 14 appearances.
A pair of freshman should provide the Bears with valued depth at the position as Amanda McGrath and Holley Meyer join this year's team. McGrath, a native of Sugar Land, Texas, earned all-state honors as a junior and senior while Meyer, who hails from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, was an all-district selection at Lake City High School.
MIDFIELD
Perhaps Baylor's strongest position heading into the 2005 season is midfield, where eight players return from last year's squad. Among those returnees is Boshers, who led last year's team with nine goals scored and 19 points. Heading into her senior season, Boshers is fifth on Baylor's career list with 44 points scored.
"We see the midfield position as a tremendous strength for us this season," Van Linder said. "Tiffany (Boshers) is a tremendous leader at the position and has shown the younger players what it takes to be successful at this level."
In addition to Boshers, Jennifer Martin and Brittani Zonker return for their senior seasons and should play significant minutes for Baylor as they close out their career. Martin, who played and started every game last season, returns after scoring two goals and tying for the team lead with five assists. Zonker, who also appeared in every game for Baylor last season, scored two goals an added three assists in 2004 to finish sixth on the squad with seven points.
One of Baylor's most productive freshmen last season, Margaret Kaderli, returns for her sophomore year and looks to have another solid campaign at the position. Kaderli, who started in 16 games for Baylor a year ago, scored four goals and was tied for the team lead with two game-winning goals, posting the game-winning tallies against Cal Irvine and Texas Tech.
In addition to Kaderli, Shea Yates, Gentry Sharp, Laura Brock and Shannon Smith all return for their sophomore seasons to give Baylor valuable depth at the position. Sharp, who scored the game-winning goal in Baylor's win over Nebraska, returns after making nine appearances last season while Yates, Brock and Smith return after making a combined 10 appearances in 2004.
A trio of entering freshman round out the position as Andi Fagan, Carolyn Lynch and Mollie Smith join the squad and should provide an immediate impact for Baylor at the position.
DEFENDER
Baylor also returns a wealth of experience at the defender position in 2005 as Megan Sherrell, Kandyce Farr and Rose Zapata give the Bears three returning starters from a season ago. In addition, co-captain Bethany Vick DuBose returns to help anchor the 2005 defense and will also see time as a midfielder.
"Our defense should be one of the strengths of this year's team," Van Linder said. "Megan (Sherrell) and Rose (Zapata) had great freshman seasons for us and Kandyce (Farr) and Bethany (Vick DuBose) provide tremendous leadership at the position as seniors."
Sherrell, who started and played in every game for Baylor last season, returns after earning Big 12 Conference All-Newcomer honors last season. Farr, who also sees time at the midfield position, also returns after having played and started in every contest last season.
Vick DuBose, who was voted to serve as one of this year's co-captains, appeared in 10 games last season while Zapata made 14 appearances during her freshman year.
Junior Laura Fox and sophomore Pat Roscovius also return to round out a defense that should be one of the best in the conference in 2005.
GOALKEEPER
Heading into the 2004 season, the Baylor soccer team did not have a goalie that had started a single game for the Bears during their careers, leaving the team with a sense of uneasiness about the position at the start of the season. However, after the performances of Ashley Holder and Kristin Weegar throughout 2004, the Baylor team has a pair of experienced players protecting the back of the net for the Bears in 2005.
Holder will likely get the nod at the position after having a stellar freshman campaign. In 2004, she became only the third Baylor player in history to be named Big 12 Conference Player of the Week and established a new single-game school record with 15 saves against Notre Dame. In addition, her performances against nationally-ranked Texas A&M and Texas earned the freshman a spot on Soccer Buzz Magazine's National Team of the Week.
"At times, Ashley (Holder) was inconsistent last year," Van Linder said. "But she performed extremely well considering she was one of the youngest, if not the youngest, goalie in the country last season. I think she showed everyone that she is capable of becoming one of the best goalies in the nation in the years to come."
Weegar also returns for her senior season at Baylor after seeing action in four contests a year ago. Against Oklahoma last season, Weegar showed that she is more than capable of filling in for Holder when she made several diving stops against the Sooners while limiting OU to a pair of goals.
SCHEDULE
The 2005 schedule is highlighted with 10 home games, including a match with annual national powerhouse Portland as well as a pair of contests against Big 10 members Northwestern and Minnesota.
"I think our non-conference schedule gives us an opportunity to see how we stack up against the type of opponents we will face during the conference season," Van Linder said. "With five non-conference home games, we have a great opportunity to build momentum heading into the conference season."
The opening of the Big 12 Conference slate could serve as the highlight of the 2004 schedule, as Baylor will host defending Big 12 Conference champion Kansas on Fri. Sept. 23, at 7:00 p.m.
After playing Texas and Texas A&M at home last season, Baylor will face the two in-state rivals on the road this year, closing out the regular season in College Station, Texas on Friday, Oct. 28, at 7:00 p.m.
Baylor will also face Missouri, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma on the road in conference action while hosting Big 12 rivals Nebraska, Iowa State and Texas Tech.
The Bears regular-season home schedule concludes when Baylor hosts Colorado on Sunday, Oct. 23, at 1:00 p.m.
