2005 Women’s Soccer Preview
Golden Eagles Ready To Rebound In 2005
 

        The Clarion University women’s soccer team will look to rebound when it begins its 2005 season Aug. 25 when it travels to Mercyhurst.
        The Golden Eagles will possess a new look on offense while having an even stronger defense than last year as they look to rebound from a 1-16-1 record.
                                                COACH ALONZO FOCUSED ON “TEAM CONCEPT”
        “I am hoping we can come together as a team on and off the field.” Alonzo said. “Instead of playing great soccer and falling short, we need to turn it around and get some wins under our belt.
        “Overall, we are going to focus on more of a team aspect. Our goal is to finish .500 or above, but we are keeping our expectations realistic.”
                                            MELISSA ALONZO LEADS STRONG DEFENSE
        Clarion’s strength will be on defense where the Golden Eagles return four players who saw a ton of playing time in 2004.
Senior Melissa Alonzo, a first-team PSAC-West selection, returns to anchor the defense. Last year, Alonzo netted two goals and scored four points while hepling the Golden Eagles stay competitive in many games.
        Joining Alonzo on defense will be senior Jenna Elwell, junior Devina Borning and sophomore Terria Dotson.
Newcomers to the defense included freshmen Tiffany Mason and Hillary Dieter.
                                            NEW OFFENSIVE SYSTEM HAS HIGH HOPES
        “We have always been strong on defense,” Alonzo said. “This year we need to strive to be strong on offense. Hopefully, with a new offensive system coupled with a good incoming group of freshmen, we will be able to do that.”
Six returning players will pace the offense.
        Seniors Jayme Violi (1 goal, 1 assist, 3 points) and Jessie Zahner (1 assist, 1 points), juniors Michele Glasgow (1 goal, 1 assist, 3 points) and Ashlie Regazzi (1 goal, 2 points) and sophomores Aimee Zellers (1 goal, 2 points) and Heather Kershner (1 goal, 2 points) give the Golden Eagles experience on offense.
                                        SCOTT & CONNELLY WILL IMPROVE OFFENSE
        Joining the returning players on offense will be two freshmen who are excepted to be potential threats.
Nicole Scott from traditional WPIAL soccer power Norwin and Maegan Connelly from Blackhawk will be looked upon to improve the offense.
        “We have a really good freshman class with most of the women being able to step in and help us improve,” Alonzo said. “I am looking forward to seeing a great season out of them.”
        One area where Clarion needs someone to step up and take charge is in goal where four-year starter C.J. Gattens has graduated.
        The Golden Eagles will look toward either sophomore Jessica Reed, who saw just seven minutes of action last season while recording one save, or freshmen Caitlin Dilal and Shaelin Knebel to fill the spot.
“CJ is very hard to replace,” Alonzo said. “But we have one returning player coupled with three competitive freshman vying for the job. Whoever wins the job will do a great job for us.”
GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES: Clarion will started the season with a pre-season trip to Honolulu where they competed and trained ... While in Hawaii, the Golden Eagles took part in four practice sessions and played in two pre-season exhibition games ... In four years at the helm of Clarion, the team’s only head coach, Alonzo is 9-62-3 ... Last season Clarion saw its first true senior graduating class with all the graduates being team members since the programs start ... The Eagles lone win in 2004 came Sept. 5 7-0 at Memorial Stadium. Senior Nicole Bell netted three of the seven goals while Zellers got the win in goal with one save.

By: Ryan Smith

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