2011 Women's Soccer Preview
The Olivet College women’s soccer team looks to be in rebuilding mode following the graduation of 10 seniors from last year’s team, which hosted a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Tournament game for the first time since 1998. Despite the loss of those talented players, the Comets are cautiously optimistic they can maintain that level of play and qualify for the 2011 MIAA Tournament.
The Olivet College women's soccer team looks to be in rebuilding mode following the graduation of 10 seniors from last year's team, which hosted a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Tournament game for the first time since 1998. Despite the loss of those talented players, the Comets are cautiously optimistic they can maintain that level of play and qualify for the 2011 MIAA Tournament.
Some of the talent is in the back line, senior captain Danielle Mellor (Macomb/Regina), junior Marcee Lettinga (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Central) and sophomore Madison Forsyth (Macomb Twp./Henry Ford II) are all returning defensive starters. Mellor has the most experience, playing in 54 games in her collegiate career. She has three goals and four assists for 10 points. Junior Shelby Morley-Janni (Saline/Milan) is another returning defender.
A solid group of midfielders are also returning to help distribute the ball around the field. Included in this group are juniors Becca Gaarde (Parma/Western) and Grace Ross (Adrian/Tecumseh), as well as sophomores Mary Lamp (Alpena), Jenna Mayle (Ionia) and Lindsey Winters (Plymouth/Canton).
Freshmen Patti Groh (Mason) and Kourtney Moore (Vicksburg) are going to compete for the starting job in the net. Groh is not the typical freshman soccer player, as she has been away from the game for several years. Moore was converted to a goalkeeper during her junior year of high school.
Another question to be answered in the 2011 campaign is who will play up top at the forward position. Gaarde and freshman Katie Murphy (Berkley) are both going to get an opportunity to play there.
The rest of the recruiting class, Olivia Gardner (Trenton), Brooke Leach (Clinton Twp./Chippewa Valley) and Kaylee Liddle (Clarkston), have a chance to play in the midfield. Gardner and Liddle are center midfielders, while the rest are outside midfielders. Sophomore Braelyn Ocwieja (Ortonville/Brandon) is also expected to compete for playing time in 2011.
Olivet kicks off its season Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 3-4, when it travels to Tennessee to play in the Rhodes College Classic. On Saturday, the Comets play the host Lynx at 10 a.m., and on Saturday, they play Maryville (Tenn.) College at noon.