Women's Soccer Release (2005) - Outlook - Guilford College

      Greensboro, NC (08/10/05) -- Guilford is coming off a breakthrough season in which it set the school record for wins (12) and advanced to the second round of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Tournament for the first time.  Coach Eric Lewis has guided the Quakers to back-to-back winning seasons for just the second time in school history and has his sights set on challenging Washington and Lee, Lynchburg and Virginia Wesleyan for the ODAC title this season.

      The Quakers enter the season with high hopes, thanks to 17 returning letter winners and a strong incoming class.  While the midfield has always been Guilford's strength, this season's club will feature talent all over the field.  The 2005 squad also figures to be the deepest team in Lewis' tenure.

      Leading the way for Guilford will be junior Chelsea Glover, who was selected as the team captain for 2005.  Glover, known for her ability to control play in the midfield and dictate the pace of the game, was a Second Team All-ODAC pick in 2004.  Glover's skills help set up a talented group of forwards.

      The Quakers return nine of their top-10 scorers from last season, including forwards Jennah Carter, Heather Ruggiero, Jennifer Mundy and Trina Scurka.  Carter led the team in both goals (8) and assists (10) last season, with the latter figure placing fourth on the school's all-time list.  Like Carter, Ruggiero and Mundy each scored two game-winning goals in 2004.  Mundy, despite battling injuries during the season, was an honorable mention All-ODAC pick.  While Guilford loses its second all-time leading scorer with the graduation of Kimberly Mullen '05, it adds 5-foot-11 freshman Jordan Miller, who is expected to contribute right away.

      In addition to Glover, the Quakers will feature Emily Ott and Rachel Gwin in the midfield.  Gwin, an honorable mention All-ODAC performer in 2003, is coming off an injury-plagued 2004 and should help solidify the team's left flank.  Two of the team's impact newcomers are midfielders.  Erin Rothweiler joins the squad from Spartanburg Methodist, where she was a Junior College All-American.  Lewis also has high hopes for freshman Amanda Sperr, who scored 25 goals for 2A/1A state runner-up Charlotte Catholic.

      Senior Alissa Van Zee-Phillips and junior Diana Newman anchor an experienced defense that made tremendous strides during the 2004 season.  After they allowed 15 goals in their first eight games, the Quakers finished the season on an 11-1-2 kick, which included six shutouts.  Danielle Brisotti returns for her fourth season in goal.  Her 1.33 goals-against average in 2004 was the fourth-lowest mark in school history and the best among Guilford goalies who logged at least 1,000 minutes.

      In addition to their rugged ODAC schedule, the Quakers play a challenging slate that includes two in-season tournaments and a match with city-rival Greensboro.  The highlight of the schedule is the inaugural Guilford Labor Day Classic, where the squad will face off against Union (NY), which went 19-2-1 in 2004, and Southwestern (TX), which posted a 9-7-3 mark last year.  The Quakers will also participate in the Espirit D-III Tournament in Cary, NC, taking on Meredith and Dickinson.