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Lakers set for encore after 2006 title
By John Gunther, Sports Editor
Friday, August 31, 2007 | No comments posted.
The Southwestern Oregon Community College women’s soccer team will follow up the best season in school history with a young, athletic squad.
The Lakers play their opener today at Eureka, Calif., against College of the Redwoods. They face Mendocino College on Saturday, also at Eureka.
It’s an annual trip for the Lakers, and one that has proven valuable in the past.
“It’s always a fun trip,” said Southwestern coach Shaun Kohn. “They’re tired of pounding each other in training every day. They want to get to a different area and see some different faces and play.”
Last year, the Lakers won the NWAACC South Region title and advanced to the Final Four for the first time.
Five players return from that club, joined by 10 freshmen.
“It’s an exciting group to work with,” Kohn said. “They work hard every day.”
The veterans are excited for the season.
“It’s a new team,” said sophomore Tasha Sawall. “It’s a new beginning. It’s something different. It will be fun.”
The Lakers have been energized by last year’s season, including the newcomers.
“They want to be part of that experience,” Sawall said.
“For the second-year (players), we want to get as far as we went last year.”
That will be a challenge in the traditionally tough South Region, especially with all the newcomers.
But Megan Franko, another sophomore team leader, isn’t worried about the experience.
“Skill-wise, I’m very confident (in the freshmen),” she said, adding that the new players have outstanding foot skills.
“We’ve got a whole handful of freshmen that are doing great things in training,” Kohn said. “Obviously, they are going to be thrown into the fire this weekend and they’ve got to learn quick.”
That includes in goal, where Anita Cary and Kate Tuers are competing for the job.
“They’re working hard and getting better,” Kohn said.
The Lakers are short-handed this weekend. Freshman Rebecca Fanter, Brittany Huth and North Bend graduate Taunie Martin, the only South Coast player on the roster, are injured and won’t play.
“We definitely are suffering with a couple of injuries right now,” Kohn said. “That’s something we have to deal with and work through.”
Health becomes a big issue this weekend, but so does preparation with the league opener at home against Clackamas next Wednesday in a rare weekday morning game with a 10 a.m. start time.
“There’s some things we need to get better at and we need to see competition other than ourselves to work on those things,” he said.
Kohn will rely on the sophomores — Chelsea Hager, Annie Haaglund and Jennifer Muchmore are the others — to help the freshmen adjust to college soccer.
“Their leadership for all five of them is extremely important on the field, but even moreso off the field,” he said. “That’s always been an important role for the second-year players in this program to be ambassadors and help move the players forward.”
In addition to relatively low numbers, the Lakers don’t have much size. But Sawall doesn’t see that as a problem.
“We definitely play with our heart, not our size,” she said.
Franko said the Lakers are capable of another big season.
“We need to keep working hard, keep everybody’s spirits up and take it one game at a time,” she said.
The Lakers play their opener today at Eureka, Calif., against College of the Redwoods. They face Mendocino College on Saturday, also at Eureka.
It’s an annual trip for the Lakers, and one that has proven valuable in the past.
“It’s always a fun trip,” said Southwestern coach Shaun Kohn. “They’re tired of pounding each other in training every day. They want to get to a different area and see some different faces and play.”
Last year, the Lakers won the NWAACC South Region title and advanced to the Final Four for the first time.
Five players return from that club, joined by 10 freshmen.
“It’s an exciting group to work with,” Kohn said. “They work hard every day.”
The veterans are excited for the season.
“It’s a new team,” said sophomore Tasha Sawall. “It’s a new beginning. It’s something different. It will be fun.”
The Lakers have been energized by last year’s season, including the newcomers.
“They want to be part of that experience,” Sawall said.
“For the second-year (players), we want to get as far as we went last year.”
That will be a challenge in the traditionally tough South Region, especially with all the newcomers.
But Megan Franko, another sophomore team leader, isn’t worried about the experience.
“Skill-wise, I’m very confident (in the freshmen),” she said, adding that the new players have outstanding foot skills.
“We’ve got a whole handful of freshmen that are doing great things in training,” Kohn said. “Obviously, they are going to be thrown into the fire this weekend and they’ve got to learn quick.”
That includes in goal, where Anita Cary and Kate Tuers are competing for the job.
“They’re working hard and getting better,” Kohn said.
The Lakers are short-handed this weekend. Freshman Rebecca Fanter, Brittany Huth and North Bend graduate Taunie Martin, the only South Coast player on the roster, are injured and won’t play.
“We definitely are suffering with a couple of injuries right now,” Kohn said. “That’s something we have to deal with and work through.”
Health becomes a big issue this weekend, but so does preparation with the league opener at home against Clackamas next Wednesday in a rare weekday morning game with a 10 a.m. start time.
“There’s some things we need to get better at and we need to see competition other than ourselves to work on those things,” he said.
Kohn will rely on the sophomores — Chelsea Hager, Annie Haaglund and Jennifer Muchmore are the others — to help the freshmen adjust to college soccer.
“Their leadership for all five of them is extremely important on the field, but even moreso off the field,” he said. “That’s always been an important role for the second-year players in this program to be ambassadors and help move the players forward.”
In addition to relatively low numbers, the Lakers don’t have much size. But Sawall doesn’t see that as a problem.
“We definitely play with our heart, not our size,” she said.
Franko said the Lakers are capable of another big season.
“We need to keep working hard, keep everybody’s spirits up and take it one game at a time,” she said.
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