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2004 Season Outlook The Cedarville women’s soccer program enters their eighth varsity season seeking a fifth consecutive winning campaign. The prospect for success is encouraging with 10 of the top 11 scorers returning for head coach John McGillivray, beginning his seventh year at the helm. McGillivray is guardedly optimistic about his 2004 squad. “We have a talented corps of returnees with several outstanding new players. Our schedule is one of the strongest regular season slates we’ve ever had and we dropped three teams off the schedule that were wins for us last season. The schedule was purposely designed to prepare us for the NAIA and NCCAA post season battles. I am pleased with our depth and talent level at every position and anxious to see how the players respond. Topping the list of returnees is senior forward Jane Adams who is on track to become the school’s all-time leading scorer. The co-captain ranks second all time in goals (32), assists (25), and points (89) and holds several single season records. Adams, an All-AMC South Division Second Team choice, is joined on the front line by Laura Radcliffe. The junior forward started every match last fall and was second on the team with 8 goals and 4 assists for 20 points while also earning All-AMC Second Team honors. Fellow junior Nicole James will also look for another successful scoring campaign after finishing fifth with eight points for the ‘03 squad.
The top returning goalkeeper is Jessica Balser. The senior netminder started 10 matches last fall and registered 50 saves while recording four shutouts. Junior defenders Lauren Sato and Katie Thompson will anchor the defensive unit in front of Balser. Sato was an All-NAIA Region IX Second Team pick and played in all 18 matches last fall. Thompson started 17 contests in 2003 while playing an integral defensive role. Senior co-captain Chelsea Casto will lead a talented group of midfielders for the Lady Jackets. She started every contest last fall and earned All-AMC South Division honorable mention. Three-year starter Katie Walter also returns to the midfield position. She started all 18 matches last season while adding a goal and two assists. Fellow junior and co-captain Candace Jelinek brings experience and talent to the table while classmate Krista Watson hopes to recover from injury last season and make significant contributions this fall. Sophomore Abby Price was the Lady Jackets’ fourth leading scorer last season and is gives a physical presence at the midfield slot.
Two newcomers that will bring a noticeable spark to the group are Amanda McCormick and Kristen Malpass. McCormick, a freshman midfielder from Jackson, MI, is a three-time all-state selection and ranks third all-time at Lumen Christi High School with 30 assists. Malpass, a sophomore defender from Cary, NC, played four years at Apex High School and led them to four consecutive conference titles. When asked about strengths of the 2004 unit, McGillivray commented, “Overall team speed and depth of personnel will be keys to how far we can go into the post-season. The group is especially unified as a result of our pre-season missions trip to Costa Rica. To remind us of our focus the team chose as our team verses Romans 15:5,6 '...be like-minded toward one another....that you may with one mind glorify Jesus Christ.'” The Jackets open the season with back-to-back tournaments at Spring Arbor and at perennial NAIA power Houghton. The AMC South Division schedule includes a date at defending NCCAA champion Mount Vernon Nazarene while the 10-game home schedule features defending NAIA Region IX champion Malone as the Homecoming opponent. | ||||||||
