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2007
SEASON OUTLOOK
University of St. Francis women’s soccer coach Mario Dukovac likes to use a well-worn phrase that most people say after they have just left doctor’s office.
“You don’t have anything if you don’t have your health.”
In terms of the USF soccer team, Dukovac says, “We can be a competitive team, if we can just keep our health.”
The injury bug has bitten the Lady Saints year in and year out but maybe never more than the 2006 season. Just about every key player on the Saints roster either missed playing time last season or played through more than just your normal, everyday, soccer-playing wear and tear.
“We battled through last year, playing in one of the toughest conferences in the country and we did it with kids playing with one healthy leg, bruised ribs, sprained ankles, you name it ….” said Dukovac. “The ladies played with a lot of heart and tenacity and that was the one constant.”
All but graduated goalkeeper Carrie Rojek – who left USF with her name next to several school goalkeeping records – and reserve goalkeeper/midfielder Ashlynne Potts and defender Laura Gosewisch return for the 2007 season.
“We have a good group coming back and they are anxious to battle the great teams in our league again,” said Dukovac.
That group coming back, though, may be short one key player before the season even starts.
Senior forward Kristi Trezek, the leading scorer on the Saints squad in 2006 with five goals and two assists (12 points), is questionable for the 2007 season due to a knee injury. “Kristi is a big part of our offense and her loss would be a big blow,” said Dukovac.
Even if Trezek is unable to play, the Saints do return their next two top scorers in junior forwards Lupe Proa and Toni Giovenco. Proa played just seven games last year due to a number of injuries but still managed to score four goals and add one assist on the season. Giovenco played 14 of the 18 games – missing four due to a concussion – and finished with a pair of goals and three assists.
“Lupe and Toni are the two players that make our offense go,” said Dukovac. “They are our playmakers and are both outstanding leaders on the field.”
Other players upfront and at midfield include juniors Jessica Sabo, Sandra Knezevic, Mandy Cap, Gaby Esparza, and Katie Diamond. The first four are two-year veterans of the program and Diamond is a transfer from Joliet Junior College.
“Those five players will make significant contributions to our success this year,” said Dukovac. “Knezevic and Cap will also play some as defenders. Sabo and Esparza should be two of our better scoring threats and Katie Diamond gives us a new player with lots of speed and versatility.”
Last season’s freshman class proved to be a strong and talented group that played an extensive amount of time in their first collegiate seasons. The group includes Chelsea Wagner, Nikki Faught, Mary Poffenbarger, Caitlyn Byrnes, Ashley Kekelik and Roxy Camacho. All six can play as defenders or midfielders, with Camacho and Poffenbarger also playing up front as forwards.
Wagner, Faught, Byrnes and Kekelik were starters as freshmen. Only Kekelik missed a game among these four as they formed the foundation for Dukovac’s starting group last season. Poffenbarger and Camacho provided relief off the bench, with Poffenbarger scoring one goal on the season.
Two other newcomers from the Joliet area will help the Saints defensively. Grisselda Nava is a freshman from Plainfield South High School and was a high school teammate of Byrnes. Rebecca Ruettiger is a 25-year-old junior transfer that is resuming her soccer and college career after a few years in the working world.
“Nava gives us another tough, gritty defender. We should be very strong defensively with her added to the good group we have coming back,” said Dukovac. “Ruettiger should add some maturity to our team and can also help us as a backup goalkeeper.”
The Saints do have one player returning with some experience in goal. Sophomore Katelyn Skof played in seven games last year in relief of Rojek and notched 16 saves in 149 minutes of action.
“Katie Skof is technically a very fine goalie,” said Dukovac. “She just needs the experience to be effective in goal for us.”
With Potts not returning to school at USF, the Saints are left without any experienced backup to Skof. Walk-on Carissa Smith will be the first in reserve, with Ruettiger being the emergency netminder.
Gosewisch, a starting defender the past two years, will sit out the 2007 season due to an injured back. Also missing once again are Lauren Boyadjian and Courtney Palm. Both of them have missed all or most of the last two seasons due to injuries and will not be cleared to play this year.
“Injuries are part of the game but they have really hit us hard the last couple of years,” said Dukovac. “We have as many as four players out for the year already and can’t afford to lose any more. If we want to compete with the nationally-ranked teams in the CCAC like Robert Morris, Saint Xavier, Judson and the two Trinities (International and Christian), then we have to keep our key people healthy and available.
“I know our kids will play hard,” continued Dukovac. “Our effort will be as good as any other team in the league. And if we are healthy, then we can take aim at trying to move up in the conference standings and take our best shot at some of those great teams.”
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