2008 Preview
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2008 PREVIEW Last season the Mississippi State soccer squad during their rookie sea- team had a young, inexperienced squad that sons. made tremendous strides during the 2007 sea- The annual preseason son. poll of the conference coaches The Bulldogs lost two starters from that placed the Bulldogs sixth in team — leading goal scorer Treena Ferguson the Western Division. State was and forward Jessica Davis — who combined predicted in the bottom of the to score nine goals and three assists in leading division a year ago and ended the Bulldogs to six victories. up fi nishing fourth, and this The 2008 edition of the Maroon and year's squad hopes to build on White brings back 13 goals and 17 assists, but last season's fourth-place fi n- will once again look to the defense to create a ish after dropping several close solid foundation for attack opportunities. matches. Last season's freshmen earned signifi cant This year's schedule is an- minutes, and they expect to contribute even other challenging slate for the more with that year of Division I play under squad. The team will face seven their belt. teams that advanced to the Neil Macdonald's squad is one of the NCAA Tournament a year ago, most experienced that he's had during his fi ve- including Georgetown as part year career. Six seniors return, and they have of the George Mason Tourna- demonstrated the best leadership ability of ment in Fairfax, Va. the head coach's tenure in Starkville. The team After opening the last two also includes seven juniors, making for 13 up- seasons with four straight road perclassmen who will be counted on in striving matches, the 2008 slate opens for State's fi rst SEC Tournament berth since in the friendly confi nes of the 2004, Macdonald's fi rst year at the helm. MSU Soccer Field with Missis- That run to the postseason could also sippi Valley State followed by hinge on how well a group of 10 freshmen the program's fi rst on-campus adapt to the collegiate level. Macdonald has tournament, the Bulldog Clas- been very impressed with the newcomers dur- sic. ing preseason training, and he sees many of Following non-conference them making signifi cant contributions to the matchups with Nicholls State, M-State junior Ashley Hood is looking to be a factor on the South Alabama, Mem- attack this season after suffering through injuries the past phis and Southern two years. Mississippi, the Bull- Bulldog head coach said. "We are expecting dogs open the SEC slate with home big things from her this season. If she can stay match-ups with reigning SEC West healthy, she can create a lot of opportunities champion LSU and Arkansas. and score some goals for us." State then hits the road to State will deploy an attacking midfi elder challenge Alabama and NCAA par- some this season, and that role is expected to ticipant Auburn before making the be fi lled by fi fth-year senior Kevyn Shelledy Eastern Division trek to face South with help from freshman Kim Pettit. Shelledy Carolina and 2007 SEC champion looks to close with a career year after having Florida. her 2007 campaign sidelined by injury. Having MSU's schedule sets up well for Shelledy's experience at the position will help a late run at a tournament berth as give Pettit the opportunity to make the transi- the Bulldogs host four of their last tion to the collegiate level. fi ve matches, with the one excep- Fellow freshmen Taylor Turnipseed and tion being a trip to Lexington to face Tarah Henderson add depth at the position, Kentucky. and both could utilize their exceptional athlet- ic ability and speed to create scoring opportu- nities for the Bulldogs. FORWARDS "Kim, Taylor and Tarah give us good depth up front," Macdonald said. "Their quick- The front line could be the most ness will help put pressure on opponents' back inexperienced group on the squad lines." this season, but it is not an area lack- Another newcomer, freshman Serena ing in talent. Prendergast, has impressed the coaching staff Junior Katelyn Graben anchors with her ability despite being sidelined most of the unit and returns as the team's the preseason by illness. leading goal scorer after netting a career-best fi ve shots a year ago. Fellow junior Ashley Hood MIDFIELDERS looks to have a break-out season in her third season on campus. The The midfi eld was one area coming into Huntsville, Ala., product battled inju- 2008 that Macdonald and his staff had to ries a year ago to notch three points strengthen. With a nice mix of experience and on a goal and assist, and if healthy, newcomers, Macdonald believes the midfi eld Macdonald believes she could be a has grown tremendously in mobility and ath- leticism. Junior Katelyn Graben anchors the Bulldog front line this potent option on the attack. season after ranking second on the squad with a career- "Ashley's had a rough ride the "We have added some speed and mo- best five goals as a sophomore. past two seasons with injuries," the bility to the midfi eld this season," Macdonald 6 2008 PREVIEW said. "That should help us transition faster this Freshman Lauren Morgan has season." shown tremendous technical skills Leanna Baldner anchors the midfi eld fol- and the ability to get out of pressure, lowing a stellar freshman season in which she and fellow rookie Sarah Lowdon is logged 16 starts and played in all 19 games. a skilled player for the English ranks State's main ball-winner in the middle of the who has the ability to slow the game fi eld, Baldner adds scoring potential after down with her ball-handling ability. landing two shots in the back of the net a year ago. Junior Heather Buttrey also brings the DEFENDERS ability to win balls at midfi eld, and her versatil- The strongest area for the Bull- ity allows her to also play on the back line. dogs this season should be the back Buttrey provides a solid defensive pres- line with several experienced players ence in the middle along with senior captain back in the mix. Mariclaire Fancher. Fancher a Greenwood, "Defense is an area that we Miss., product, plays an aggressive style and have strengthened," Macdonald does an exceptional job of tackling. said. "We have options back there Another senior, Meredith Jacobson, will and we feel that it is our strongest also play some defensive midfi elder in certain area." systems. Macdonald hails Jacobson has one Senior Bethany Frazier will fo- of the top defenders in the conference, and cus on the left side this season after the Tomball, Texas, native heads into her fi nal seeing some time in the midfi eld a campaign following a break-out junior year in year ago. The Madison, Miss., na- which she set career highs in goals, assists and tive is outstanding at creating scor- points. ing opportunities for teammates, as Sophomore Lauren Host adds depth fol- evidenced by her team-leading and lowing a solid preseason, and Anna Goblirsch SEC fourth-best seven assists a year is a solid passer who reads the fi eld really well. ago. Frazier brings stability and ex- Another second-year player, Hadley Gable, perience to the position after being presents another option in the lineup. The a regular starter all three years of her Texas prep product has added confi dence fol- MSU career. lowing a freshman season in which she played Sophomore Mary Clare Scurria in 17 games and started six. adds valuable depth on Taryn Holland returns in goal for the Bulldogs after the left side behind Fra- stopping a conference third-best and school sixth-best 104 shots last season. zier. Scurria has made tremendous strides dur- GOALKEEPER ing the preseason in learning the position and furthering her knowl- State's most heated preseason battle has edge of the game. come in goal, where returning starter Taryn Another player with plenty Holland and freshman Skylar Rosson have of experience at defender is Mary battled for the starting spot. Kate Ayers. Ayers, an outstand- Holland, a junior, has started 27 of the ing attacker from the back, hopes 30 games she's played in during her two-year to close her career on a high note career. The Franklin, Tenn., native stopped a after injuries limited her to eight career-best and school sixth-best 104 shots a games last season. Ayers is an year ago, an average of 5.47 per game. exceptional player with the ball in "Taryn has to be a leader for us this year," front of her, and she is very good Macdonald said. "She is an outstanding shot- a getting in position for the cross stopper and is very athletic with quick feet. ball. She is constantly improving her leadership and Sophomore Danielle Kite communication in setting up the fi eld." will also see a lot of minutes on Holland enters the campaign with added the right side. The Hornchurch, confi dence following a sophomore season in England, native provides a solid which she held South Carolina to a scoreless passing ability and very good tie and stopped nine shots in MSU's 1-0 upset defensive instincts. She has per- of then-No. 17 Georgia. formed well during training camp She has received a lot of push from Ros- and will present a viable attacking son, who came to Starkville this season fol- option. lowing an impressive prep and club career in Junior Hannah Tyler anchors Oklahoma.