Last year’s season included a 17-3 record, a Lone Star Conference tournament championship, and constant re-writing of the record book. This season, the Wildcat womens’ soccer team may rightfully find living up to last year’s standard difficult. But, the 2011-12 Wildcats will rely on depth and experience to serve as catalysts this season in an effort to continue building that resume.
“Expectations around here are high, and that is speaking strictly from a coach’s and player’s point of view, not encompassing anything the media is saying about us or the upcoming season,” Head Coach Casey Wilson said. “But that’s because we know what we’re capable of based on our success last season.”
Success would be an understatement.
In the program’s fourth year of existence, Wilson and his staff led the Wildcats to a 17-3 record, a conference championship, national prominence, and a team that included two All-Americans and four first team all-conference players.
“Last year was the best year in our program’s history,” Wilson said. “The plan is to definitely build upon that this year.”
The team seems to have all the pieces of the puzzle to do just that. The Wildcats return 13 players from last year’s roster, making experience an advantage that they fully intend on taking advantage of, said Wilson.
“We had lots of young players contribute last year, and with a year under their belt now, they have grown in every phase of the game and should reap the benefits of experience,” he said.
If the ‘Cats are going to win, they will have to put points on the scoreboard, and statistically, the numbers are in their corner.
ACU returns 84 percent of their offensive production from last year through returning players.
“We have offensive threats all over the board. From Andrea to Ashley, Lyndsey to Krysta, all of them can make you pay if given the opportunity,” junior midfielder Julie Coppedge said. “If you’re going to focus on one of them, the others will find a way to make you pay. That’s the true definition of teamwork.”
Forwards Andrea Carpenter and Ashley Holton will return as the main scoring threats for the Wildcat offense. Those two combined to score 54 percent of the team’s points last season, and defenses are sure to make them the focus of their game plan.
But there comes a problem with that. And that problem, according to Coppedge, lies simply in numbers.
“That’s fine if defenses key on those two. They have earned that respect. Andrea and Ashley are so great about passing and making opportunities for others around them,” she said. “Everyone on the field is capable of contributing, and it’s all a matter of finding them at the right time.”
Defensively, ACU will be strong as well. The team returns senior goalkeeper Elliott London along with defenders Brie Buschman and Lexi Stirling.
Last year, the defensive unit produced 10 shutouts and allowed less than one goal per game.
The Wildcats lost several players to graduation, including starters Bree Craig and Anastasia Nelson, but Coppedge says while their spots can’t be filled, the incoming class has done well in bridging the gap and adding depth to the roster.
“Freshman-wise, we have some incredible talent. They have already started making a difference and all should see playing time,” she said. “We have a really talented group of girls.”
Wilson echoed Coppedge saying, “We were definitely blessed with a great freshmen class. All bring something to the table and contribute in different ways to the team.”
The No. 21 Wildcats will open their season Thursday at 5 p.m. against Dallas Baptist at the Wildcat Soccer Pitch.
