Pirates to Longhorns: Bring it On!

Women start season against No. 5 Texas while men head over to Elon

Men's Preseason Wrap | Women's Preseason Wrap

WEEKLY NOTEBOOKS

By Ron Cherubini
©2003 Bonesville.net

If you are a soccer fan, there is no better place to be than in Cary at SAS Stadium tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tonight, the ECU women’s soccer team kicks off its season in a manner that sets the stage for the ladies to alert the soccer world that they are a contender in 2003.

Katie McBain - a Texas All-America.

The Pirates – who finished third in Conference USA last year – take on Big 12 favorite Texas under the lights. The Longhorns are ranked in the top-10 in all three recognized collegiate soccer polls. They are rated 4^th by Soccer Buzz, 5^th by Soccer America and 9^th in the preseason Adidas/National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll.

And, that is only the beginning for the Pirates in this first week of NCAA soccer action for the 2003 season. The men get under way tonight as well, heading for Elon. On Sunday, the women will host Liberty University, a favorite to contend for the Big South Conference title where they went undefeated last season at 5-0-1. The men round out the weekend slate with another road contest, this one at High Point.

The women, who won their only preseason contest 5-0 over Old Dominion, are expected to finish below their finish last season in C-USA, but are also expected to be a contender. Coach Rob Donnenwirth has settled on Lauren Church to start between the pipes after she won the position in camp. She looked great against ODU in 45 minutes of play.

Texas brings a heady line-up and a reputation for speed and cleanly-executed soccer. Up front they are relentless on the attack and the Pirates backline needs to play to the level that their leader Penny Perrott – a preseason all-C-USA – selection – will most assuredly set anchoring the defense. High-powered forward Meghan McCallion needs to pick up where she left off after her freshman campaign and put a few balls into the twine. Captain Mindy Nixon will anchor the midfield.

Texas returns a solid lineup for last season’s 14^th-ranked squad that finished second in the Big 12 at 15-501 overall. With 16 lettermen back and 8 starters – including 2002 All-Americans Katie McBain and Kelly Wilson – the Longhorns are an ample opponent for a Pirate team looking to get to the big show this season.

McBain, a senior midfielder, racked up 27 points last season on 7 goals and 13 assists, while Wilson, a junior forward, found the twine 8 times en route to a 27 point season. Top scorer Kelly McDonald is also back up top returning with a knack for net. The junior tallied 14 goals to factor a 37-point season. Add to that lineup, junior midfielder Nicole Breger (2 goals, 2 assists) and stalwart junior defender Laura Kram, and the lineup looks difficult to contend with. Both goalies on the roster bring solid resumes. Alex Gagarin registered 55 saves and a 1.12 goals against average in ’02 and Darci Carruthers turned away 22 potential goals while maintaining a 0.37 gaa in 10 contests.

The men my get a tougher than expected test tonight in Elon, a team out to prove that they deserve to have made the move out of the Big South Conference into the Southern Conference. They have a lot of the roster returning.

WEEKLY NOTEBOOKS

East Carolina Men

This Week’s Slate:

Friday, August 29: ECU at Elon, 7 p.m.

Sunday, August 31: ECU at Highpoint, 7 p.m.

Last Week:

UNC-Pembroke 2, ECU 1 (exhibition)

On Saturday, UNC-Pembroke got a goal in the 66th minute to bust a 1-1 deadlock and take the exhibition contest 2-1. Forward Brian Deutsch tallied ECU's lone goal in the 59th minute. The game was not what first-year coach Michael Benn was expecting from his team as the opener approaches. "Our effort was nearly not at the level it needed to be tonight," ECU head coach Michael Benn said. "We're going to correct our mistakes. We're going to go back to work Monday and get ready for Elon."

Duke 5, ECU 2 (exhibition)

In exhibition action on Monday, ACC stalwart Duke held off the Pirates 5-2. The game did show some tenacity from the Pirates who trailed 2-0 before getting goals from freshman forward Adam Combs and senior midfielder Michael Logan. Logan tallied in the 49th minute and Combs found twine in the 71st minute to tie the game at 2. In the battle for goalie, Brian Pope allowed two Duke goals while Chris Hicks gave up three goals. 

Coach Benn says:

"We have a great group of guys. As coaches, we hope to build a program where our work ethic and competitiveness are cornerstones of our program as we continue to improve. We want passionate, energetic, competitive and motivated players to fill our roster. If we can bring a high work rate, work smartly, and defend well, I think we will be a very solid soccer team. These are the qualities we need to build upon to make us a C-USA contender."

Looking Ahead:

In Elon, tonight, the Pirates face a squad returning seven starters, including top scorers Paul Bellacqua (11 goals, 3 assists) and Tim Sullivan (10 goals, 2 assists), The Phoenix is an excited team as the club begins its first season in the Southern Conference after four years competing in the Big South. They would like nothing better than to knock off an in-state foe from a name soccer conference. Defenders Brent McDowell (goal, 2 assists) and Fabyan Saxe (2 goals, assist) return to anchor the backline. Goalie Kyle Ostendorf (2.12 gaa, 96 saves) is also back…On Sunday, it is another road trip, this time to High Point. The Panthers, picked to finish 8^th in the Big South Conference, were blanked 2-0 by Virginia Tech in an exhibition contest. High Point is contending with a season of unknowns as the roster welcomed 13 new players in ’03. Senior midfielder Kenzo Tochiki (5 goals, 4 assists), the team’s leading scorer in 2002, returns to the lineup as does Kirk Rudder (3 goals), Matt Wood (assist), and Richard Hanson (2 goals). Defenders Kyle De Klerk (goal) and Mark Gilbert (goal) are back.

Around C-USA:

On Friday, Cincinnati dropped its exhibition match at home to IUPUI, 1-0, despite racking up 13 shots to just 2 to their opponents...On Wednesday, Charlotte routed Wingate 8-3 in exhibition action. Junior Mira Mupier tallied a hat trick for the 49ers. John Nabers, Juan Munoz-Airey, Chris Arnold, and David Costa each added goals for Charlotte...In other exhibition action on Tuesday, Saint Louis used a tally by sophomore midfielder Cooper McKee in the 82nd minute to salvage a tie with Southwest Missouri State...UAB, touring the United Kingdom, notched its third win against zero losses in taking on the Brits. Jose Rayo scored the game-winner in the 48th minute to down Chester City F.C. 3-1. Angelo Thompson and Rogerio Oliviera also tallied for the Blazers...Charlotte fell 2-0 to 4th-ranked Wake Forest in its exhibition opener.

The Tally Sheet:

The following table lists the top-returning scorers in 2003 with their stats from last season:

East Carolina Women

This Week’s Slate:

Friday, August 29, 2003: ECU vs. Texas, at Cary’s SAS Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, August 31, 2003: Liberty at ECU, 2:00 p.m.

Last Week:

ECU 5, Old Dominion 0 (exhibition)

The Pirates dominated former Colonial Athletic Association foe Old Dominion in ECU's first exhibition contest, blasting ODU 5-0. Five different Pirates tallied in the contest, the first preseason match for both squads. Krystal Pabey found twine on a finish from a service from newcomer Carmen Caplo in the 13th minute. Scoring sensation Meghan McCallion followed that goal up with a quick net after stealing a pass from an ODU defender at the 13:38 mark. Also scoring for ECU were freshman Kate Lowe who tallied on a service from junior transfer Rennice Sherard and veteran Rachelle Cabeceiras who converted a corner kick from sophomore Tracy Fitzgerald. Calpo finished the scoring in the 58th minute connecting on a pass from Allison Howell. "I think overall we did well as a team," said coach Rob Donnenwirth of his team's performance. "We capitalized on (ODU's) mistakes early and it kind of took the wind out of their sails. In the second half, even though we didn't score any goals I thought we produced some good chances."

Around C-USA:

Charlotte will open the season ranked No. 25 in the preseason Soccer America Poll, marking the first time the program has been nationally ranked heading into a season. The program is also receiving votes in the preseason NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) and Soccer Buzz polls…Memphis will play its first two games of the season at Echles fields, the team’s on campus facility while the Mike Rose Soccer Complex in nearby Collierville is renovated.

Coach Donnenwirth says:

“We had our best spring ever. We have a committed group of returners and the seniors are part of my first recruiting class. I feel they are a very special group. Mindy has been a great captain and Penny Perrot and Tina Rivera have always been key players. All three start in the back, giving us a lot of stability. Our other senior, Cristin Bowman, has not seen a lot of time on the field, but she is a great person and is great for team chemistry.”

Looking Ahead:

With Texas on their minds, it would be easy for the Pirates to put off considering what Liberty has in store for them. The Flames are expected to compete for the Big South Conference championship this season. The club returns a number of starters and though their overall record of 7-8-2 is not a whole lot to get worked up about, keep in mind that the team was not beaten in conference. The scoring might come from a bevy of players returning to the Liberty lineup in ’03. Jenny Davis (3 goals), Sarah Foster (3 goals), Sarah Gantner (3 goals), and Katie Woodrow (2 goals, 2 assists) pulse the attack from the midfield and up front. Goalie Christie Goodman-Williams maintained a 2.01gaa average and may find herself watching Natalie Mayer, who held a 1.37 gaa in backup action a year ago.

The Tally Sheet:

The following table lists the top-returning scorers in 2003 with their stats from last season: