The Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) released the results of its annual women’s soccer preseason coaches’ poll, with the Dominican University Stars tabbed to finish second behind the defending conference champions, Aurora University Spartans. The Stars, just two points behind the Spartans in the preseason poll, fell twice in double-overtime to Aurora last season, including a 1-0 loss in the 103rd minute of the NAC Tournament Championship.
After Aurora and Dominican, Concordia Wisconsin, Edgewood and MSOE round out the top five. Marian claimed the sixth spot in the coaches’ preseason poll followed by Benedictine, Concordia Chicago and Alverno, while Maranatha Baptist, Lakeland, Wisconsin Lutheran and Rockford round out the poll.
“The way our season ended last year has really stuck in the back or everyone’s mind,” commented Jeff Halsema, the Stars’ sixth-year head coach. “The team has prepared, this off-season, with higher expectations. Last year we believed we could ‘compete’ for a conference championship but this time around we feel we are ready to ‘win’ a conference championship.”
With 16 letterwinners returning from last season and six talented newcomers, depth will be the key to the Stars’ success in 2010.
“Personal accolades and personal goals aside,” stated Halsema, “we have a demanding conference schedule with most of the tougher opponents on the road. We will need contributions from everyone on the roster to make it through the ups and downs of a long season to reach the greater goal of a conference tournament championship and bid to the national tournament.”
Liz Phipps (Bloomington, Ill.), a 2009 NSCAA Third Team All-Region selection, is back to anchor the Stars’ defense. A 5’5” junior, Phipps is on her way to becoming the most decorated women’s soccer player in Dominican’s history and helped the Stars post a NAC-best 0.36 goals against average in conference play last season.
“Having Liz back in the middle of our back line is huge,” said Halsema. “As her accolades show she is extremely talented, but more importantly she is like having a coach on the field and keeps us organized.”
Phipps will be joined in the back by sophomores Michelle Yeager (Noblesville, Ind.), Jennifer Russ (Downers Grove, Ill.) and Kelly Gerwitz (Florissant, Mo.) as well as junior Kelly Rounce (Downers Grove, Ill.), who returns healthy after missing much of her sophomore season due to injury. Freshman Courtney Smalarz (Lemont, Ill.) will also log minutes on the Stars’ back line.
Offensively, Dominican will turn to a number of scoring threats to put goals in the net. Sophomores Adrienne Ryba (Roselle, Ill.) Elizabeth Ficek (Bloomington, Ill.) and Kelly Petty (Crystal Lake, Ill.) combined for 22 goals as freshmen in 2009 while junior Nallely Arreola (Wheeling, Ill.) returns to the Stars’ roster after logging nine goals and nine assists as a freshman in 2008. Newcomer Ashley Meyer (Evanston, Ill.) will be relied on to bolster the Dominican offensive attack.
“Ashley really has a chance to stand out,” stated Halsema. “Her speed and athleticism is going to make her tough to defend for anyone in the conference.”
The Stars open the 2010 campaign on Wednesday, September 1, with a non-conference tilt with the Elmhurst College Blue Jays. After three more non-conference opponents, Webster, Illinois Wesleyan and North Park, Dominican opens NAC play on Saturday, September 11, when they host the Maranatha Baptist Bible College Crusaders for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff.
“The core to our success over the years has been our work ethic and competitive fire we train and play with,” said Halsema. “If the girls can train like champions on a daily basis then we will be putting ourselves in position to ultimately be where we want to be at the end of the season.”
