Coming off their second Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament birth for the third time in school history, the Fresno State Women̢۪s soccer team hopes that the 2009 season will bring even greater success.
The ̢۪Dogs, who are led by new head coach Brian Zwaschka and are picked to finish third in the conference, are looking to the leadership of senior forward Lauren West and two-time All-WAC selection goalkeeper Kaitlyn Revel to lead them to further heights and make their fourth appearance in the postseason tournament.
Head coach Brian Zwaschka is taking over for Steve Springthorpe, who accepted the same position at North Carolina State. He is left with 20 returning players from last year̢۪s WAC Tournament Championship team.
The Bulldogs are taking to their new head coach and his emphasis on positive attitude and a hard work ethic, which the team believes is the key to winning the WAC regular season title.
“Brian has been phenomenal,â€Â West said. “He is instilling a positive light with us, trying to help us do the right things and have good techniques and his mentality is really reflecting well on us.â€Â
Last year the women̢۪s soccer team started the season 3-7 before rebounding and winning the WAC Tournament title. They were then ousted in the first round of the NCAA tournament by No. 2 UCLA.
With Revel in her third year at keeper, West and preseason WAC First Team selection defender Danielle Solich as the on-field leaders, the ̢۪Dogs hope to advance further in the tournament.
With just one senior on the team, coach Zwaschka doesn̢۪t feel worried about inexperience. He feels that the returning youth on this team is a good thing and will not hinder their chances in the WAC.
“The four freshman have shown some good qualities since I have been here,â€Â Zwaschka said. “They should contribute and get along fine with the rest of the team this year.â€Â
There are certain obstacles that the ̢۪Dogs will face this year while trying to accomplish their goals of winning both the regular season and tournament titles. The team̢۪s two leading scorers from last season, Ali Sill and Nicole Gutierrez, are gone and trying to get offensive production is going to be a struggle.
Also, the team must defend well to get more attacks and get more people involved in the scoring aspect of the team.
The one thing that will be known for sure is that Zwaschka will bring a mentality of work hard.
“Brian’s mentality is leading us to work harder and get stronger, and making us have that desire and drive to be out here,â€Â West said. “He makes us see that fitness can only get you so far but heart and will get us farther.â€Â
The team is looking forward to this season and continuing the success that they have had over the past few of seasons.
“We are stronger in so many different ways and I’m just excited to get started and see how we have grown,â€Â Solich said.