Joseph Edgecomb / Collegian File Photo

Junior goalkeeper Kaitlyn Revel has high hopes for ’09

Entering her third season as goalkeeper for the Fresno State women̢۪s soccer team, Kaitlyn Revel is quickly becoming one of the best players in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).

This two-time All-WAC selection is not only a great player, but a great leader as well. Revel hopes her leadership leads to bigger and better things for her and her team.

Revel has become one of the best goalkeepers in the conference, leading the WAC in goals against average, save percentage, shutouts, and shutouts per game in 2008. She was selected to the All-WAC First Team in both 2007 and the 2008.

Going into the 2009 season, Revel has been voted the preseason WAC Defensive Player of the Year. She does not feel the pressure to live up to the preseason honor.

Revel is looking forward to getting on the field and playing this season. She doesn̢۪t feel any pressure to perform and that her team will help her fulfill the high expectations that the WAC coaches and media have placed upon her.

With two years experience, Revel is considered one of the leaders on the team and helps her teammates in any way she can while she is between the posts.

“I help my team with communication to see what they cannot see while they are on the field,â€Â Revel said. “So definitely, I am a vocal leader and help with communication on my team.â€Â

As far as her teammates are concerned, Revel is the eyes of the team. Her greatest strengths include her height, instinctive dives and the ability to make kicks her teammates can receive to jumpstart their offense.

“She is a really strong leader, especially from the back because she can see the whole field. She communicates really well not only with defense and midfield but all the way up to the forwards,â€Â teammate Lauren West said. “She’s really good in the air diving, to have a tall strong keeper is one of her strengths, but most importantly is her being vocal are her greatest strengths.â€Â

After her soccer career at Fresno State is over, Revel hopes that she may be able to become a professional or continue to play soccer at a higher level.

But right now she is concentrating on helping her team win a regular season conference title and WAC Tournament title – which would put Revel and the Bulldogs back in the NCAA Tournament.

“She is very confident. She’s a vocal leader and focused just what you want at the center of your defense,â€Â coach Brian Zwaschka said of his junior goalkeeper.

“She’s always giving her teammates good instruction and is athletic enough to make the big plays when she needs them,â€Â Zwaschka said. The team respects her for her play and her leadership.â€Â