BOB STRICKLEY
PDT Sports Editor
Continuity is the name of the game for the 2012 edition of the Shawnee State women’s soccer team.
The Bears are returning nine of their 11 starters from a squad that went 10-7 (3-4 in the Mid-South Conference) a season ago and lost to the University of the Cumberlands in the opening round of the MSC Tournament.
Among the players returning, the most dangerous offensive weapon is All-Conference Honorable Mention performer Brittney Brooks. As a junior, Brooks led the Bears with 14 goals and five assists. Her goal total made the forward the leader in goals per game in the MSC.
Last season Allison Nagle burst onto the scene as a freshman and provided an offensive counterpart for Brooks. She amassed 12 goals and led the team with assists with eight.
Both Brooks and Nagle will be trying to fill the leadership void created by the departure of graduates Emmy Kennedy, Brooke Warner and Kat Westendorf.
Despite having most of starting lineup return, the Bears, in their seventh season under coach Rob Appell, are flying under the radar in the MSC. The preseason coaches poll had them ranked sixth in the conference out of the 10 competing schools.
The University of the Cumberlands is ranked fifth, Campbellsville University is at No. 4, Cumberland University is ranked third, Georgetown College is at No. 2 and Lindsey Wilson College came in ranked No. 1.
The Blue Raiders have had a strangle hold on the conference for the last dozen years, winning at least a share of the conference title every year of that span.
Bolstering the Bears’ chances of unseating Lindsey Wilson is an incoming freshman class of seven players that has Appell says is balanced.
“This class has a solid combination of offensive and defensive talent,” Appell said in a comments released by the team. “Each of the incoming student-athletes has a little something different to offer to the program on the field.”
SSU’s campaign to dethrone Lindsey Wilson begins Aug. 24 when the Bears host Rochester. Conference play opens Sept. 15 at Georgetown.
Information from Shawnee State Sports Information contributed to this report.
Bob Strickley may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 203, or bstrickley@heartlandpublications.com.
2012 Women’s Soccer Schedule
August
24 2:00 PM vs. Rochester College
28 4:00 PM vs. West Virginia Institute of Technology
Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Day
30 4:00 PM vs. Malone College
September
3 2:00 PM @ University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown Johnstown, Pa.
8 1:00 PM vs. Bluffton College
15 2:00 PM @ Georgetown College Georgetown, Ky.
18 7:00 PM @ Cincinnati Christian University Cincinnati, Ohio
@ Xavier University
22 2:00 PM @ St. Catharine College St. Catharine, Ky.
25 3:00 PM @ Ohio Christian University Circleville, Ohio
30 5:00 PM vs. Lindsey Wilson
October
3 2:00 PM vs. University of Pikeville
9 2:00 PM vs. University of Rio Grande
13 6:00 PM @ Campbellsville University Campbellsville, Ky.
14 4:00 PM vs. Purdue University Calumet
17 2:00 PM vs. University of the Cumberlands
20 1:00 PM @ Bluefield College Bluefield, Va.
23 3:00 PM @ Kentucky Christian University Grayson, Ky.
27 1:00 PM @ Cumberland Univ. Lebanon, Tenn.
Post a Comment
