2006 Women's Soccer Outlook
Guilford wants to build on its third straight record-setting year which saw the Quakers reach the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Tournament final for the first time in school history. A rugged schedule and heightened expectations face the 13 returning letter winner from last year’s 13-6-3 unit that broke the Guilford record for wins in a season. The 2005 campaign also saw the Quakers’ first-ever regional ranking and victory over a nationally ranked top-10 team, when Guilford toppled previously undefeated and fourth ranked Virginia Wesleyan in the ODAC Tournament semifinals.
Fifth-year coach Eric Lewis has guided the Quakers to three consecutive seasons of at least 10 wins, and owns the record for coaching victories at Guilford with a 45-33-7 record. For the first time in school history Lewis and the Quakers have theirs sights set on challenging for the ODAC title. “We’re going to force teams out of their game,” Lewis said. “By scoring early and putting pressure on our opponents’ defense and goaltender, we’re looking to disrupt the flow of their game and make them play at our pace.”
The Quakers enter the new season minus three key students from the 2005 squad: goalkeeper Danielle Brisotti ‘06, forward Heather Ruggiero ‘06, and midfielder Chelsea Glover ‘06. Brisotti and Ruggiero were both four-year starters for the Quakers, and Glover started every game of her two years at Guilford. The trio combined to start 38 of the team’s 43 matches over the past two seasons. However, thanks to the veterans and a strong incoming class, Guilford has high hopes for 2006. The midfield and forwards should be the strength of Guilford's team, according to Lewis. Their athletic ability and speed lets the Quakers play a high pressure offensive style. This season's club features talent all over the field and should be the deepest in Lewis' five-year tenure with multiple scoring threats.
Senior forward Jennah Carter, the ODAC’s reigning scoring leader, returns and is one of the team’s tri-captains for 2006. A first-team All-ODAC pick in 2005, Carter set a new single-season standard for the Quakers amassing 23 goals and eight assists. She is joined on the front line by Jordan Miller, who returns to the line-up after a medical redshirt season. Both players are projected to be top forwards for the Quakers. Lewis also has high hopes for freshman Jada Daniels, who was a high school All-America selection for Riverdale Baptist (MD).
The Quakers feature senior captains Emily Ott and Rachel Gwin in the midfield. Gwin, an honorable mention All-ODAC performer in 2003, is coming off a strong 2005 season. Ott has started every game of her 64-match career for Guilford ranks 10th among the school’s career assists leaders. One of the team's newcomers projected to see quality minutes is midfielder Myra Miller, who joins the squad from Division II St. Andrews.
Senior Diana Newman and junior Micki Boulineau anchor a defense that only yielded 1.19 goals per game last season. Senior Veronica Zych enters the season as the Quakers’ starter in the goal. Zych saw limited action in her first three seasons as Brisotti’s backup, but started eight games and recorded a 0.90 goals against average. Freshman Ashley Dieck and junior college transfer Jacqueline White (Louisburg) should make immediate impacts for Guilford’s defense.