Women’s soccer team looks for new direction under new head coach
The Utah State women’s soccer team is looking to move things in a new direction and new head coach Jen Kennedy Croft is planning to lead the way.
“I think we are going to have a good year,” Croft said. “It’s going to be a team effort, even scoring goals. You are going to see more numbers out there with stats.”
The Aggies are hoping to recover from the disappointing 5-12 finish from last season.
Utah State will open the regular season hosting Northwestern and Washington.
“The best thing about our schedule this year is that we are playing some of the top teams in the country and we are playing them at home,” Croft said. “It gives us such an advantage.”
After opening the season at home, the Aggies will take to the road to take on Nevada, Delaware and Wisconsin-Green Bay before returning home. They will then host Idaho State and Wyoming.
Utah State will then travel to Las Vegas for the final two non-conference games before Big West Conference action on the road. The Aggies will start out BWC play taking on Long Beach State and UC Irvine.
The Aggies will then host six of their final eight games, including seven conference match ups and a game against in-state rival University of Utah to finish out the season.
COACH
Croft, who has 11 years of collegiate coaching experience, most recently worked the last two seasons as assistant coach for the Aggies under former head coach Stacey Enos.
Prior to coaching at Utah State University, Croft was an assistant coach for Connecticut (1989), Maine (1990-91), Princeton (1991-92), and Arkansas (1993). Croft also served as head coach of Seattle University from 1994-96. While in Seattle, Croft produced a 33-19-7 record in a three-year period.
Graduating from the University of Connecticut in 1988, Croft earned a bachelor’s degree in English as well as four letters as a defender for the soccer team. In 1987, she was named the teams most valuable player.
FORWARDS
Despite losing Utah State’s career goal and point leader Jayme Gordy to graduation, the team is still expected to have a very strong frontline. Veterans senior Sara Buie Cowley and junior Brigid Turner will look to anchor up top.
“Brigid and Sara are stronger, faster and more fit than they have ever been,” Croft said.
Croft said, both girls work well together.
Currently, Turner is ranked second on Utah State’s career goals (14) and points (29) list. With 17 assists, Cowley is tied for the all-time assists leader.
Also expecting to help the Aggies out on the frontline is Michelle Eversman, who turned in two goals during Saturday’s victory over Southern Utah University. Eversman played in nine games last season, seven of which she started, prior to sitting out the end of the season due to injury.
Incoming freshman Heather Arnell, Lacey Miles, Claire Schend and Becky Ward will be available to fill any necessary gaps up front.
During high school, Arnell was a three-time all-state selection. In 1999, Miles lead the Montana State team with 11 goals and seven assists before sitting out the 2000 season due to injury to become eligible to play for the Aggies.
Schend and Ward will also look for playing time.
MIDFIELDERS
If the Aggies have any weakness at all, Croft said, it would be in the midfield. Croft feels it may be the biggest hole the team has to fill.
Midfielder sophomore Ally Clegg will redshirt this season while recovering from a torn ACL. During her freshman year, Clegg led the team in assists with four, while scoring two goals.
Looking to fill the void of Clegg, Croft will depend on senior Kennon Roeber and possibly junior Lyndy Goodsell.
Roeber played in 15 games for the Aggies last season, scoring her first collegiate goal against Youngstown State. Goodsell played in 10 games while starting six for the Aggies last year.
Two strong midfield candidates returning are junior Katie Seaman Karlson and sophomore Amber Tracy. Karlson started 12 games last season while Tracy played in 11 before being sidelined with an ankle injury.
Incoming freshman Melissa Baggaley and Andrea Romney will also be looked to fill the middle gap. Baggaley, who was a two-time, all-region selection in high school, and Romney, who earned three varsity letters before arriving at USU, will both battle for a starting position.
DEFENDERS
Junior Megan Edge and senior Brittany Baugh will anchor the Aggies in the backfield.
While not filling holes in the middle, Goodsell and Roeber will be able to boost the Aggie defense as they did last season. Sophomore Michelle Murri will also look to find time in the backfield. Murri played four games for Utah State last season.
GOALKEEPERS
Senior Tracy Brady is expected to take over for Michaela Hawes as goalkeeper. Brady, who shared minutes with Hawes last season, recorded 67 saves in 468 minutes of play.
Croft feels Brady has a lot of good leadership skills.
Brady will encounter competition for playing minutes from freshman Megan Mills, a three-time all-state selection, who holds her high school’s records for career saves, saves in a season and saves in a game.