Bulldogs finding their niche

With league changes, soccer sets its sights on WAC crown one year after new head coach takes over

By Maggie Thach
The Collegian

Head soccer coach Steve Springthorpe can relate to new head volleyball coach Ruben Nieves. After all, Springthorpe was in the same position just last year.

Like Springthorpe, Nieves will have to get used to players and have the players get used to his system.

Last year, Springthorpe also had the responsibility of integrating 11 freshmen and getting them to make the big jump in competition from the high school level to college. Which is why the women’s soccer team predicted to finish second in the preseason Western Athletic Conference poll in only Springthorpe’s second year at the helm, was such a big surprise.

“I think this will boost the player morale,” Springthorpe said. “I think it’s good for everybody in the conference. SMU has ruled the conference for 10 years. Only two out of the top six teams in last year’s conference are back. At least we know there’s going to be a new champion.”

The team’s second-place prediction is a big jump from last year’s preseason fifth-place forecast. The new look of the WAC has affected women’s soccer the most. That’s because Southern Methodist University, who won the WAC championship the last four years, Rice and UTEP, last year’s third- and fourth-place team, respectively, has also left the league. Utah State, Idaho and Louisiana Tech have taken their place. All three new teams have been predicted to finish near the bottom of the preseason poll.

“I liked the competition of the old league,” said junior Rochelle Jagdeo, the preseason WAC defensive player of the year. “I would say we have the best chance of winning the WAC than any year before.”

Senior midfielder Barbara Davis adds: “Our confidence is up. We’ve beaten them before.”

Davis is referring to Hawaii, who placed ahead of Fresno State with 49 points. The Bulldogs had 43 and one first place vote. To make up for the loss of competition in SMU, Rice and UTEP, the Bulldogs will play Santa Clara University and Big West champions UC Santa Barbara.

Kortney Lewis, a senior who has had 24 goals and 14 assists in her career, thinks the team’s improved level of fitness will also help the Bulldogs this season.

“We train hard. Coach has prepared us well,” Lewis said. “We train harder than any other team in the WAC.”

Springthorpe has also seen the improvements. The Bulldogs have won their two exhibition games easily, handing CSU Stanislaus a 2-0 defeat and beating Fresno Pacific, 4-1.

Springthorpe says the team is a step ahead of where they were at this time last year because of better team chemistry and the majority of the players have had at least one year of playing experience.

“We’re in a good position,” Springthorpe said. “It’s all about getting ready for the conference. We’ve had a good preseason. Last year, there were a lot of unknowns but there’s a different focus. There’s a true commitment to winning. They want success and they have a good chance of getting it.”