2007 Women's Soccer Season Outlook

Defensive-Oriented Scots Aiming for NCAC Title After Just Missing in 2006

Laura Ayer will be a key part of the experienced defensive unit for the Scots.

The College of Wooster women’s soccer team heads into the 2007 campaign with some uncertainty. It’s not that the Fighting Scots don’t think they can compete for the North Coast Athletic Conference title, as six starters and 12 other letterwinners return from a squad that came within a victory during last year’s regular season finale of winning the NCAC championship. It’s just that there could be some significant shuffling around of player’s positions.

“It is a season of change,” commented 17th-year head coach David Brown, who guided Wooster to a 12-6-1 record in 2006 – its eighth winning season in a row. “It’s hard to say where people will play because we (lost) our top-three scorers. There’s a question of who’s going to score the goals. I don’t think really anything is decided right now.”

Offensively, the Scots graduated Erin Lustic and Sarah Schostarez, who finished as the program’s No. 4 and No. 7 all-time leading scorers with 72 and 57 career points, respectively. They were two parts of a trio that combined for 29 of the team’s 44 goals last fall and another 20 assists, and now leave sophomore Chantal Koechli as the top returning scorer with eight points.

On defense, Wooster welcomes back most of its key cogs, headlined by seniors Laura Ayer and Angela Evans as well as junior Kristin McCall. Ayer was selected third-team all-Great Lakes Region as a defender, while Koechli and McCall joined her on the 2006 All-NCAC Team (honorable mention) at midfield and defense, respectively. Evans earned second-team all-conference recognition as a freshman and has started every year in the backfield. Which position each of the four will play this season depends on the rest of the squad’s performers.

Potential top contributors on the forward line include senior Kerry Melenovsky and junior Letitia Clark. Melenovsky has totaled four goals and three assists during her career, while Clark has netted two tallies each of the last two seasons.

Complementing Koechli, who notched the majority of her six assists on corner kicks, in the midfield will likely be Sara Dresser, who has been named a team captain as a junior along with Ayer, Evans, and Melenovsky. Dresser has four career goals to her credit, while also playing a significant role defensively. Additional key veteran midfielders include junior Taryn Higgins as well as sophomores Simone DiSalvo and Nora Simon, all of who could factor significantly on defense.

Last season’s backfield group, anchored by Ayer, a three-time all-NCAC standout, helped the Scots hold 14 of their 19 opponents to one goal or less, including seven shutouts. No matter who ends up playing as defenders this year, Brown expects more of the same.

“I think it’s always all about the defense,” he said. “If you can get a solid defensive group, you’re going to be in every game you play.” 

The final line of defense features two returning starters. Junior Staci Alario was Wooster’s primary ‘keeper' a season ago, producing a .760 save percentage and 1.11 goals against average, while senior Kate Kiley returns to the squad after starting 20 matches during 2004 and 2005, combining for a .840 save percentage and 0.80 GAA.

In addition to the 18 veterans, there is a group of 12 others, including nine first-years, who will contend for playing time.