2008 Women's Soccer Outlook

Eric Lewis enters his school-record seventh season as Guilford’s head women’s soccer coach after a 7-12 season (7-4 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC)) in 2007. He returns 13 letter winners and adds 18 newcomers, including six transfer students. The Quakers lost five starters from last year’s squad, including two-time Second Team All-ODAC pick Micki Boulineau ’08. Boulineau contributed 23 assists over her career, which ranks second in Guilford history behind All-American Jennah Carter ’07.

Guilford’s 18 newcomers add significant depth to the Quakers’ bench. The depth will especially help the offense as Lewis expects as many as eight competent forwards to improve on last year’s 1.95 goals per game average. Junior Jada Daniel, a 2006 honorable mention All-ODAC pick, is the Quakers’ top returning scorer with 12 career goals and will be strong up top. Senior midfielder Amanda Sperr (pictured) , Guilford’s lone three-year letter winner, returns as the second-leading scorer. The larger roster also allows additional formations and playing styles, which makes the team more diverse and competitive. The squad has an overall higher skill level and is able to posses the ball more on offense than in previous years.

“Team chemistry has drastically improved since last year,” Lewis said. He believes Guilford will be a much more connected team in 2008 and predicts this season’s team will be more competitive in the ODAC than last year’s crew. ODAC coaches selected Guilford sixth in their annual preseason poll.

Another benefit of the larger roster is the addition of a developmental team, which provide additional games for newcomers making the transition to college soccer. Two of Lewis' former students, Kimberly Mullen '05 and Diana Newman '07, joined the coaching staff and will work with the developmental team, which will play mostly against local college club teams.

Guilford returns a strong class from last season’s squad. Sperr is one of two team captains this year, along with midfielder Erin Baker. Redshirt-sophomore Caroline Hemeter, 2006 Second Team All-ODAC pick, returns after a season-ending injury in 2007. A defender as a rookie, Hemeter starts the season in midfield. Senior Amber Stapler, who made 78 stops in an injury-riddled junior season, returns in goal. She is backed up by rookie Kat Adams and junior Bree Vohs, one of three Anne Arundel Community College products on the team.

The Quakers have a tough schedule early in the year with opening matches against nationally-ranked Emory University and Spelman College in the Emory Fall Tournament. Guilford’s first home match is Sept. 10 versus Methodist College. The Quakers face defending ODAC champ Lynchburg College in the second home match of the season Sept. 25.