 With
a new coach and a new system Lock Haven University Women’s
Soccer is looking to return to the top of the Pennsylvania
State Athletic Conference in 2005. A large group of
returning players will help head coach Heather Kendra hit
the ground running this fall. Along with the talented
core, five incoming recruits will be added to this
season’s roster to help work towards the conference
championship.
Goalkeepers
The
Lady Eagles have two goalkeepers coming into the 2005
season with collegiate experience. Returning from last
years squad is sophomore Emily Wagner who recorded
three shutouts for LHU. Emily is one of the hardest
working players on the team and looks for a strong
competition from fellow net minder Amie Barcikowski.
Barcikowski is a junior transfer from Community College of
Baltimore County-Cantonsville. While at Cantonsville she
only allowed three goals her sophomore year to lead all
National Junior College Athletic Association Division I
goalies. She also led the nation in goals against average
with 0.212.
“Both goalkeepers will
battle it out for the starting job,” said Kendra, “which
will only benefit the team.”
Defense
The LHU defense will
have a whole new look in 2005. The traditional
sweeper-oriented defense is switching to a more zonal look
for the upcoming season. Along with the new scheme there
will also be more new faces. The Lady Eagles lost two
starters from last year and coach Kendra expects every
player to compete for time in the backfield.
Sophomore defender
Jamie Cranmer moved from center to outside defense
over the spring. She came on strong at the end of their
spring season and looks to provide depth to the defensive
line. Joining Cranmer is fellow sophomore Lynnette
Reitz. She had a tremendous spring season and is
expected to compete for a starting spot on the defensive
squad for LHU.
A returning senior,
Kim Thompson looks to provide strong depth for the
2005 squad. A new face on the squad, sophomore Jenny
DeGeorge, joined the team at the beginning of the
spring season.
“She’s an awesome
player and I expect her to do great things.” said Kendra,
“Jenny is as tough as nails.”
 Rounding
out the defense for LHU are redshirt
junior Rachel Springer who missed most of the
spring due to injury but came on strong at the end
and redshirt freshman Rebekah Stonecypher.
She is very athletic and adds depth.
Stonecypher is capable of playing both middle and outside on the
defensive line. Freshman Lindsey LaChance brings a
great physical presence to the defensive line.
Mid-Field
The 2005 mid-field
will play host to all three captains for the LHU squad.
These include returning points leader junior Holly
Homsher as well as classmate Caitlin Martz. The
final captain is senior Monica Mangual who returns
for her final season at Lock Haven. Homsher, regional
All-American in 2004, is the top returning mid-fielder and
impressed Kendra from day one on and off the field. One
familiar face for Kendra was Martz who previously played
on Kendra’s U-16 PaWest ODP team.
“Martz was an awesome
player then and it was exciting to see her name on the
roster,” said Kendra. “I expect her to battle for a
starting spot.”
Mangual had a great
spring season for Kendra and is said to be a natural
leader on and off the field. She also is extremely fast in
the mid-field and is vying for a starting spot in 2005.
Senior Erin Walsh plays in the middle and is a
smooth and steady player on the field. She’s very
tenacious and will compete for playing time throughout the
season. The second returning scorer sophomore Sam
Engard played great throughout the spring and is
always a threat due to her left foot. One of a few left
sided threats in the PSAC.
 A
set of twins will appear on the 2005 squad. One returns
for her second season at LHU while her sister transfer’s
into Lock Haven from Wilkes University. Kyleigh Roth
returns for her sophomore season and comes in with speed
from the mid-field. Her sister Kami Roth comes in
after leading Wilkes in scoring last season as well as
taking co-rookie of the year honors for the Freedom
Conference.
Returning after
missing her freshman year is redshirt freshman Jenny
Finocchiaro, Kendra has yet to see Jenny at 100
percent and is excited for the upcoming season to see what
she brings to the table. The final piece in the mid-field
is sophomore Missy Blazina who joins the team for
her first season. She will play in the middle or in the
forward position. She has great defensive skills in the
mid-field and is crafty on the other side of the ball as
well.
Forwards
The
forward positions are wide open for the 2005 season.
Colleen Kafka returns for her sophomore season and is
expected to put the ball in the net. Kafka is very
competitive and is not afraid of the physical part of the
game. She will be joined by junior Diane Wall who
is an extremely hard worker on the field.
“Diane is a force on
the field,” said Kendra. “Goals happen when she’s out
there due to her sheer will to make them happen.”
Senior’s Cheryl
Runko and Caiti Sultzbach come in for their
final season at LHU and bring leadership and experience to
the front line. Runko is a very crafty forward who has a
strong desire to win. Sultzbach brings great size to the
forward position which gives her an opportunity to win the
battle for headers inside the box. She is very composed
and finishes well inside the 18.
 Junior
Heidi Hawryluk will play out wide mostly and brings
a great attitude to the field. She is joined by two
freshmen Stephanie Fisher and Lindsey Blessing.
Fisher comes in after leading her high school league in
scoring and taking the state championship. She is
extremely talented and is expected to make an immediate
impact on the field. Blessing comes in to the college game
ready to compete physically. She will adapt well from high
school into the university level. |
