2007 Women's Soccer Outlook

Sixth-year head coach Eric Lewis returns 10 letter winners from last year’s 13-6-3 unit that reached the ODAC Tournament final for the second straight season. The Quakers lost six starters from last year’s squad, including All-America forward Jennah Carter ’07 and starting goalie Veronica Zych ’07. Carter accounted for 52 goals and 24 assists in her three seasons, which means she had a hand in just over half of the Guilford’s goals in her career. Zych set a school record with nine shutouts last year and benefited from the defense of four-year starter Diana Newman ’07, whose eligibility also expired.

In an effort to absorb the loss of experience from last year’s club, Lewis recruited significantly from the junior college ranks and starts the year with seven former junior college students on the roster. The junior college transfers are among 18 students on the roster in their first or second season at Guilford. Goalie Amber Stapler and defender Erin Baker of Anne Arundel (Md.) Community College figure prominently in Guilford’s 2007 plans, as does midfielder Rochelle Bush of Mesa (Ariz.) Community College.

Despite the many new and inexperienced faces, the Quakers’ cupboard is not completely bare. ODAC coaches thought enough of Guilford to select it fifth in the league’s preseason poll. Senior midfielder Micki Boulineau, a Second Team All-ODAC pick in 2006, is the Quakers’ offensive leader. A deft ball distributor, she ranks sixth among Guilford’s career assists leaders and led the ODAC with 11 helpers a year ago. Sophomore Jada Daniel was a dangerous front-runner in her injury-plagued rookie year. She earned honorable mention all-league honors despite appearing in just 15 matchess. Lewis hopes Daniel returns at full strength this fall following offseason knee surgery. Junior Amanda Sperr, a 38-game starter, returns in the midfield.

Boulineau is one of two team captains this year, along with senior Morgan Jones. Jones, a back, joins sophomores Caroline Hemeter (Second Team All-ODAC) and Ashlee Dieck as returning defensive starters. The veteran back line should aid the new goaltender and establish a strength of this year’s team.

Guilford opens the season with a pair of tough tournaments. The Quakers play regional foe Christopher Newport and Carnegie Mellon in an opening weekend event hosted by Johns Hopkins University. Matches with Maryville (Tenn.) and Emory make up Guilford’s opposition in Lynchburg College’s Shellenberger Classic the following weekend. The Quakers play six of their seven home contests consecutively midseason, starting with a Sept. 22 league tilt with Bridgewater.