Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Soccer Squad Ready to Contend Again in 2003
8/21/2003 8:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 21, 2003
LEWISBURG, Pa. - There is only one direction for the Bucknell women's soccer team to go. There is no doubt the 2003 squad will be a more focused and determined team than that of a year ago. The Orange and Blue spent the off-season focusing on re-establishing their mentality and sharpening their edge through a strong commitment to tactics and weight training. A winning mentality is not something you are born with, it is an on-going process of desire, grit, and work ethic, which this year's squad hopes to display each day on the field.
The non-traditional spring season produced many positive results. The team understands that at this level, it is each player's responsibility to do "whatever it takes" to be the best player they can be in order for the team to be the best it can be. Head coach Chrissy Findlay is excited to see what happens in the upcoming season as a result of each player's dedication to their own development for the good of the team.
The younger players are not so young anymore. The coaching staff is confident that a better product needs to be put on the field. "I am anxious to begin our season for the mere fact that I want our players to fully realize that Bucknell is competitive not only in the Patriot League, but in the region as well," commented coach Findlay.
For the past number of years, the Bucknell women's soccer program has built itself around effort, responsibility, and chemistry. The squad's character was tested in 2002 with the ups and downs of winning and losing. It exposed the team to trying times and, in turn, made them stronger in many ways because of what was learned. Despite the harsh lessons learned following a championship season, the 2003 team is ready to make Bucknell a household name with another run at the title.
"We will likely change our system to add more punch to the attack, while laying the foundation of defense first. When we decided to instill a whole zonal defending system in the spring of 2002, we knew that we would have some troubles because of lack of experience and so many new faces to the program," said Coach Findlay.
The Orange and Blue coaching staff is confident, however, that with returning experienced defenders this year, and captain Abbey Seaboyer (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendohowa) leading the way, the backfield will contend as one of the strongest in the conference.
Speedy sophomore Beth Darby (Congers, N.Y./Clarkstown) will look to battle for quality time again on the outside back, while junior Isabel Diaz (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep) will look to make her mark on the Bison defense.
The biggest changes to the Bison back line are sophomores Meghan Ferris (Boxford, Mass./Masconomet Regional) and Caitlin Lanctot (Alameda, Calif./Bishop Odowd), who both had solid off-season performances despite both being moved from midfield to defense. Because of her versatility and willingness to attack on the flank, Lanctot could be used on the outside midfield as well. Classmate Courtney Hill (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) had a good spring season and should see time in the Bison backfield as well. Hill has been recognized as a future leader for the Bison. Also joining the defensive line will be second-year player Jacquelyn Vanaman (Wallingford, Pa./Strath Haven).
"We will make every effort to develop an aggressive attacking system that insists on every player defending for the system to work. With this being said, we are looking to play a three-font forward line, as well as seeking our defenders to coordinately attack from the back," commented Findlay. Junior Meghann Chipko (Lexington, Ky./Paul Laurence Dunbar), who scored four goals for the Bison in 2002, will be looked to use her experience on the flank attack, while sophomore Kerry Fitz-Patrick (Washington, D.C./Stone Ridge Country Day) will use her relentless work ethic to gain more time on the Bison forward line.
Speed on the outside will help the Bison get forward quicker than ever. Junior Ashley Dincher (Winfield, Pa./Selinsgrove) has finally found her home on the field, since being moved around, inside and outside, between forward and midfield, for the past two seasons. Fellow junior Michelle Santonacita (Glen Rock, N.J./Immaculate Heart Academy) seeks to make a true mark in the league on both the flank and possibly in the central midfield. Having classmate Megan Farrell (Weston, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) back in the line up following her broken foot injury will be a huge asset to the Bison in 2003. Classmate Alison Cooper (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands Regional) will look to beat more opponents with her consistent and reliable first touch on the flank.
Accompanying Farrell in the central midfield will be sophomore Suzanne Arata (La Plata, Md./Saint Mary's Ryken), who uses her strong two-sided game in the center of the field. With time, Arata could possibly be able to control the pace of the game for the Bison. Classmates Rachel Prowler (Philadelphia, Pa./William Penn Charter) and Lexi Shore (South Orange, N.J./Columbia) will both be anxious to make their marks in the Bison midfield now with a year under their belts.
Thanks to the graduation of four-year starter Kelly Kannen (Suffield, Conn./Suffield) returns with the most experience, posting a 1-0-1 record last season with one shutout. Battling Kannen for playing time will be sophomore Samantha Hecht (Pompano Beach, Fla./Marjory Stoneman Douglas) and freshman Katie Dry (Rochester, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy).
Including Dry, a large freshman class helps round out the 2003 Bison squad. Lauren Bayne (New Paltz, N.Y./New Paltz Central), Shannon Curd (Westtown, N.Y./Minisink Valley), Randi Ginsberg (Morganville, N.J./Marlboro), Jessica Griggs (Woodstock, Ga./Sequoyah), Caitlyn Kuntz (Chatham, N.J./Chatham), Sarah Kurtz (Brooklyn, N.Y./Packer Collegiate Institute), Jennifer Margolis (Englishtown, N.J./Manalapan), Jennifer Mrozek (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson), Lisa Pachence (Hopewell, N.J./Pennington School) and Carolyn Wakulchik (Canton, Ohio/Hoover) will all be vying for time on the field in their initial season.
With a nucleus of talent returning, and a group of eager freshmen entering the mix, the 2003 Bison are in a great position to go the only way that is possible ... up.
