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GIRLS SOCCER PREVIEW: Devilettes still looking for first winning season
The Devilettes’ soccer program has been in existence for almost a decade now, and the girls are still looking for their first winning season.
With a little luck, 2008 could be a record-setting year.
“This is the most talented team I’ve been on,” junior Mandy Martell said. “We’ve got a great group of girls, and we’re going to have a good year. We’re definitely going to be better than we were last season.”
The Blue Devils return several starters from a team that went 5-10-1 in 2007. Leading the charge will be leading goal scorer Melissa Register. With Register, senior Morgan Corbin, and junior Rachel Retz up front, the Blue Devils expect to score more this season.
“We think we have what it takes to be better offensively,” said second-year coach Erick Kalenga. “I expect that we’ll score a lot more goals this season.”
The strength of the club is in the middle. Junior Mandy Martell is an excellent passer and one of the teams’ top scorers. She’ll be joined in the midfield by Megan Chamberlin, another excellent athlete, and first-year player Francesca Gasteozoro.
“We’ve got a real strong midfield,” Coach Kalenga said. “They’re the heart of our team. How they go is how we’ll go.”
Defensively, the Devilettes still have some questions to answer. Nicki Winning will replace Brittany Perryman in goal. Winning played sparingly in 2007, but will be relied on heavily this season.
“Nicki understands the game,” Coach Kalenga said. “She’s been around. It might takeher a few games to adjust, but she’ll be just fine back there.”
Culpeper must also replace top defender Stephanie Willett. Chelsea Sachs and Megan Geisler will try to fill her void.
“We’re strong in all areas,” Register said. “We’ve got a few young girls, but once we get into the season, I’ll think we’ll do just fine.”
Coach Kalenga agrees.
“Seventy percent of these girls showed up to offseason conditioning and that’s going to pay huge dividends, particularly early in the year,” Kalenga said. “Our goal is to be better than we were last year. And I think we can do it. We’re certainly going to surprise a few teams this season.”
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