WOMEN'S SOCCER SEASON PREVIEW

The Limestone College women’s soccer team will host North Georgia College in the teams' season opener on Thursday, August 24 at 3 p.m. at Saints Field in Gaffney, S.C. Limestone is really anticipating the 2006 season after making big strides at being a consistent contender in 2005. The team has jumped from a 9th-place finish in 2003 to a sixth-place finish in 2004 and to a fifth-place finish in 2005. The Lady Saints are poised to take on the challenge of winning the Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference Championship after returning 10 starters and adding a solid recruiting class. Head Coach Benji Walton has his team primed to make a push to be the top team in the CVAC.

Each year under Walton, the Lady Saints have improved their finish in the CVAC and have improved their win totals from the year before. The Lady Saints came out firing in 2005 after finishing 7-12 in 2004, finishing the year 9-10. They produced several big wins including a 1-0 win over Peach Belt-competitor Lander University and a 4-0 victory over Mount Olive College, then the reigning CVAC champion.

In 2006, the Lady Saints take the field hungrier than ever to take on conference and NCAA Southeast Region opponents. They will be led by All-CVAC performers Liz Eichhorn, Lee Cribb, and Ashley Dugan, a 2005 Second Team All-Region honoree. Other key performers include Erin Hoffman, who led the 2005 team with eight goals and six assists, and Kristina Gaylord, who had three goals and six assists.

The Lady Saints return the reins to senior goalkeeper Liz Eichhorn. Eichhorn has been one of the top goalkeepers in the region the past two years. In two seasons, she has earned All-CVAC recognition twice and one Player of the Week award. She has started in 37 games, made 270 saves and has maintained a 1.91 GAA. Competing with Eichhorn for the goalkeeping job will be freshman Brittany Clarke. Clarke, a very athletic keeper, helped York High School to a successful season in the spring.

Limestone’s back line has experience on its side in 2006. The defense will be anchored by two familiar faces in seniors Ashley Dugan and Lauren McKeever in the center. Dugan had an incredible 2005 season, earning First Team All-CVAC honors and Second-Team All-Region Honors. McKeever brings the physical play and ball-winning ability that Limestone will need to squash opposing teams’ attacks.

On the wings will be returning sophomore Amanda Lear and junior Brittany Owen. Both Lear and Owen stepped up in the back as the year progressed in 2005. Their defense and their ability to contribute to the attack with timely runs out of the back will play an important role. In 2005, these four athletes became the first Limestone defense to keep goals-against lower then goals-for as the team scored 44 goals and only gave up 33.

The defense also welcomes several newcomers that will be competing hard to make an impact on the team. Freshmen Jenna Mellon and Mandee Graff will be challenging Lear and Owen for an outside back position, while newcomer Julie Koch will be vying to be a mainstay at the center back or at a center midfield position. All three players bring a lot of energy and athleticism and are a welcome addition to the Lady Saints depth at defense.

The Saints will once again look to senior Erin Hoffman and junior Ashley Vaughan to lead the way in the midfield. Hoffman had a breakout season in 2005, recording eight goals and six assists. She is a hardworking player who really establishes the pulse of the game when she is on the field. Vaughan has been a captain and a consistent performer over the past two years at the center midfield position. Injuries limited her impact in 2005, but she is coming off a great spring and is eager to make up for missed time. Vaughan’s big moment came in a game-winning goal against Lander University in 2005.

The wings will get a spark from the two Kristinas. Senior Kristina Gaylord and junior Kristina Silva will be providing the attack from the flanks. Both women had great offensive seasons in 2005 as they each contributed three goals and six assists.

The midfield will welcome the addition of freshmen Bekki Hagarman, Monica Velez, and Julie Koch. Each will compete for spots in the midfield. Hagarman is a natural center midfielder, but will also compete for time at the forward position.

As the returnees anchor the defense and midfield, the face of the attack will be mainly newcomers. Sophomore Lee Cribb, who tallied seven goals and six assists, will bring back her energy and athleticism to the top for the Lady Saints. She will be joined by redshirt freshman Alexis Brothers, who brings a lot of technique and pure scoring talent. She was a member of the South Carolina Olympic Development Program and a key player at West Ashley High School, where she walked away with three state championship rings. Brothers also brings speed and vision that have been missing from the attack in past years.

The newcomers that will bring the most impact to the forward position will be Hagarman, freshman Jill Pratt, and freshman Savannah Evans. Pratt and Evans bring an amazing amount of speed, athleticism, and an uncanny knack to finish off goals. These three will add a lot of excitement to the front line for the Saints.

Each year, Limestone continues to show improvement and earn respect in the conference and the region. In 2006, they hope to continue this trend and compete for the ultimate goal of being the top team in the CVAC. This is the most experienced group of players that Limestone has assembled in four years with five seniors leading the way. All of the seniors are eager to go out on top and become one of the most successful teams in school history.

-LIMESTONE-