Lady Colonels soccer looks to rebuild and develop young talent
Carlton Holmes
Issue date: 9/16/07 Section: Sports
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Losing seven of his players after expecting to drop only two graduating seniors, doesn't seem to bother the sixth-year women's soccer head coach, John Sumoski. Ultimately, if chemistry isn't happening, changes, even unexpected ones, can be a gift.
Last year, Lady Colonels bowed out of the playoffs in the first round. This was a surprise after being crowned conference champions in 2005, and some have speculated that the early departure happened because of a lack of team chemistry.
Team chemistry may also be the reason why some Lady Colonels decided to retire their jerseys prematurely from last year.
Whatever the case may be, Sumoski has set his sights on the kind of teamwork that builds championships for the 2007-08 season.
With an even split of eleven veterans and eleven freshmen on his roster, Sumoski and the Lady Colonels believe they can return to the glorious days of the 2005 women's conference championship soccer season.
"Everyone is very confident that if we work hard and I do my job of putting the right team on the field, we have a very good shot at winning the conference," said Sumoski. "But everything has to fall together nicely as far as organizing all the newcomers with the returning players."
Senior forward Rebecca Duttry also believes her team can return to the days of 2005 but possibly further.
"This year I think we can go to the Sweet Sixteen," said Duttry, "very easily."
So far, the Lady Colonels are one game above .500 with a 3-2 non-conference record. Their first conference battle will be at home against FDU-Florham (NJ) on Oct. 6.
All of the Lady Colonels' first five games have concluded in shutouts including their 1-0 "moral victory" over former conference rival Scranton University in overtime.
Senior forward Georgina Robertson forced one of Scranton's players to move backwards with the ball allowing Catherine Simone to apply pressure and strip it away. Simone, a junior forward, then kicked the ball down field completing a brilliant pass to sophomore forward Julissa Reed. Freshman Melissa Polchinski, finished the play kicking the ball through the net off a pass from Reed.
Last year, Lady Colonels bowed out of the playoffs in the first round. This was a surprise after being crowned conference champions in 2005, and some have speculated that the early departure happened because of a lack of team chemistry.
Team chemistry may also be the reason why some Lady Colonels decided to retire their jerseys prematurely from last year.
Whatever the case may be, Sumoski has set his sights on the kind of teamwork that builds championships for the 2007-08 season.
With an even split of eleven veterans and eleven freshmen on his roster, Sumoski and the Lady Colonels believe they can return to the glorious days of the 2005 women's conference championship soccer season.
"Everyone is very confident that if we work hard and I do my job of putting the right team on the field, we have a very good shot at winning the conference," said Sumoski. "But everything has to fall together nicely as far as organizing all the newcomers with the returning players."
Senior forward Rebecca Duttry also believes her team can return to the days of 2005 but possibly further.
"This year I think we can go to the Sweet Sixteen," said Duttry, "very easily."
So far, the Lady Colonels are one game above .500 with a 3-2 non-conference record. Their first conference battle will be at home against FDU-Florham (NJ) on Oct. 6.
All of the Lady Colonels' first five games have concluded in shutouts including their 1-0 "moral victory" over former conference rival Scranton University in overtime.
Senior forward Georgina Robertson forced one of Scranton's players to move backwards with the ball allowing Catherine Simone to apply pressure and strip it away. Simone, a junior forward, then kicked the ball down field completing a brilliant pass to sophomore forward Julissa Reed. Freshman Melissa Polchinski, finished the play kicking the ball through the net off a pass from Reed.
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