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By Mike Anderson, NKU Sports Information HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - There are two reasons head coach Bob Sheehan and the Northern Kentucky University women's soccer program can count six Great Lakes Valley Conference titles and an appearance in the national championship game among their many accolades: Great senior leadership and hard work. It's a game plan the Norse will follow again in 2007 as they begin the quest for another title. The senior class of 2007 went through some great challenges as juniors. Sheehan saw it as an opportunity for his team to mature and grow. “For the first time in the 10-year history of the program, we faced some serious issues that we just didn't seem to overcome,” Sheehan said. “But it was a valuable experience. It gave us a chance to review every aspect of the program and see how we can best move forward.” The first step to moving forward for many of the returning players was to heal. All-GLVC honorable mention defender Hope Zinser has worked through an injury that hampered her in the first weeks of 2006. Redshirt sophomore Ashley Warndorf, who lost 2005 to a injury, spent most of 2006 at less than 100 percent. Alex Armstrong and Brittany Anderson were sidelined all of last season due to injuries as well. But perhaps most significant was the situation at goalkeeper. Sophomore Jenna Kramer was injured just seven games into her collegiate career last season, and redshirt freshman Alayna Fontaine was hampered by injury the entire season, keeping her out of the lineup. “It all comes down to work ethic,” said Sheehan, hoping to avoid the injury bug in 2007. “Some of the players still need some work, but for the most part we're ready.”
Getting ready for Bob Sheehan is not an easy task, to be sure. He administers a fitness test to begin each season comparable to the one used by the United States women's national team, which his newcomers were surprisingly ready for. “We had six players pass the fitness test on the first attempt, including four newcomers,” Sheehan remembered of preseason practice sessions. “They've shown a willingness to work hard, and our juniors and seniors have shown them respect for that.” That list includes senior Jayme Light, who led the Norse as an All-GLVC performer last fall after a 13-goal season. Light, along with All-GLVC honoree Cara Alldred, will captain the Norse in 2007. “They have been outstanding leaders both in the off-season and over these two weeks of training,” Sheehan said, also noting that the captains spearheaded the fundraising effort for the team's preseason trip. “They're very mature, very responsible. The youth of our team sees that level of commitment and it can only be beneficial.” That commitment to hard work will be key right from the start, as the Norse take on Tiffin, an NAIA national tournament participant last season, and West Virginia Intercollegiate Atheltic Conference champion Concord in the John Toebben Classic presented by National City. “We don't get a lot of non-conference opportunities,” Sheehan noted as he pointed to the 13-game GLVC schedule, “so we try to play powerful region teams along the way.” Sheehan also pointed to non-conference opponents Ashland and Findlay as key matchups. That's not to discount the GLVC, in which the Norse have been picked to finish fourth.“Honestly, I think that's too high,” Sheehan said. “This is a league with some great teams in it. Drury is always a tough matchup, along with Rockhurst, Missouri-St. Louis and Edwardsville in soccer hotbeds. Quincy is the favorite to win the league this year and Bellarmine, Wisconsin-Parkside, Indianapolis, and Southern Indiana are always difficult contests. “One slip along the way in the GLVC and you lose three or four spots.”So to keep from slipping, Sheehan will look not just to his veteran leaders, but to the youth of the team as well.
Kendall Day, a Lakota East High School graduate, is a front-runner among the newcomers, showing excellent technical ability and great vision. Sheehan also pointed to Kara Costello, who will probably see time in the midfield and at forward, describing her as a “scrapper” with a demonstrated ability to score. In the midfield, Megan Smith will see work as an outside midfielder. Sheehan added, “It's such a hard position due to the range she'll have to cover, but she works hard and will do well.” Brandi Doss has also worked very hard in the preseason and performed well. Defensively, Wisconsin-Platteville transfer Hope Huston will provide good minutes for the Norse, along with Mercy graduate Caitlyn Mueller. “She's listed at 5-9, but she seems a lot bigger than that,” noted Sheehan. “She's good in the air and she runs very well.” The returning cast will be relied upon as well, including forwards Ashley Warndorf, a five-goal scorer last season, and Lauren Franzen, who stands second among returning players with four assists in 2006. In the backfield Sheehan will look to sophomores Hope Zinser and Katie Guinn to shore up the defense. Amy Martini will see time in the midfield and in the defense. But most of all, he will look to all of his players to work hard in the search for a seventh GLVC title.. |
