University of Houston Athletics
2005 Soccer Outlook
8/22/2005 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Aug. 22, 2005
HOUSTON - As the University of Houston Soccer program prepares for the 2005 season, head coach Bill Solberg looks to a promising year with even better things to come, thanks to solid proven returning players and an exciting group of newcomers. Six letterwinniners, including three starters, return from the 2004 team, which posted a 5-14 overall record but provided some offensive highlights periodically throughout the year. Although those veterans will join a list of 13 newcomers this season, Solberg said he's not concerned about the relative youthfulness of his team. "We have 13 newcomers coming in," Solberg said, "but the kids that we have coming in are going to be such hard workers." Armed with veterans and young, energetic newcomers, Solberg and his new coaching staff see plenty of hope for the upcoming campaign. "Our goal is to win 12 games," Solberg said. "If we don't win 12 games this season, we as coaches did something wrong." In addition to the new players, Solberg's program will welcome a pair of new assistant coaches in Susan Bush and Josh Walters. In only a few months on the job, the coaching duo already has impressed Solberg with their abilities. "They bring a new level of excitement. They are both dynamic coaches," Solberg said. "Their expectations are extremely high coming into this season, which is what we need. They have a passion for the game. Their new voices are going to help take our program where it needs to get back to."
FORWARDS
Junior Sarah Fisher is expected to lead the Cougar offense in 2005 and enters this season as the team's leading returning scorer. With the loss of All-Conference USA performer and four-year letterwinner Nikki Hawkins, Fisher will be relied upon to shoulder much of UH's offensive load. However, the Katy, Texas, native has proven herself at the NCAA Division I level, tallying four goals with a team-best six assists in 2005. Included in those numbers was a four-assist performance against Texas Southern during the Cougars' record-setting 14-1 win early in the season, setting a new UH single-game record Sophomore Jennifer Dry will make the move from the back to the front after spending much of the 2004 season as a defender. Nevertheless, the Norman, Okla., native recorded a pair of assists against Texas Southern last season Senior Kristin Bay, a four-year letterwinner with the UH Swimming & Diving program, returns to the program after seeing time in eight games as a sophomore in 2002. "We will have more experienced players at the forward spot," Solberg said. The forward position will also be strengthened by the addition of four newcomers. Abby Betlack, Amie Brady and Kristin Carlyle join the team as freshmen, while sophomore Jessica Green looks to make an impact during her first season after transferring from Texas A&M.
MIDFIELD
Junior Heather Williams returns as the elder stateswoman among all Cougar midfielders. A year ago, Williams appeared in 14 games with a pair of starts at North Texas and at South Carolina. Freshmen Courtney Gaines and Maegan Kiphart, as well as Navarro Junior College transfer Shelli Holtzclaw, will challenge for playing time in the midfield. "Our center midfield will be young with the majority being freshmen," Solberg said, "but with that comes hard work."
DEFENDERS
Junior Kristen Cooper and sophomore Ashleigh Williams return in 2005 as the leaders of the UH defense. A year ago, Cooper appeared in all 19 games, while Williams started all but one contest. The two Houston-area products were key parts of a defense which posted shutouts against Prairie View A&M and C-USA rival Southern Miss during the 2004 campaign. Dry also could see time as a defender in addition to her offensive duties at forward. Freshmen Tiare Austin, Brittney Pfeiffer and Christie Stephens look for significant playing time in the backfield during their first collegiate seasons. Carlyle, Green and Kiphart also could see playing time in the defensive third of the field. "Our back line will be young, but we have added speed to it," Solberg said.
GOALKEEPERS
The Cougars lost their two primary goalkeepers from a year ago, but for the first time in three years, the team should be healthy at this position. "This year, we have three goalkeepers who will compete for a starting spot every year," Solberg said. "For the past two years, we were lucky to have one healthy goalkeeper due to injuries." Senior Stephanie Pucek, who began her Cougar career as a forward, makes the transition to goalkeeper after sitting out the entire 2004 season following surgery to remove a tumor behind her right eye. Freshmen Lynn Baker and Shelby Scott also look to compete in 2005.
SCHEDULE
The Cougars will face a new-look Conference USA schedule in 2005 with the addtion of Rice, Marshall, SMU, Tulsa, UCF and UTEP to the league. The new teams bring immediate NCAA Tournament experience to the league. "We have four teams in Conference USA that were involved in the NCAA Tournament a year ago. That is going to help us tremendously. The conference has gotten better adding these teams. It is going to be a much more difficult conference, but that is great for competiton. It helps in recruiting when you play better teams. It helps in recognition when you have more teams make the NCAA Tournament," Solberg said. After opening the season on Aug. 26 at Baylor, the Cougars will enjoy a lengthy homestand with seven straight home contests at the friendly confines of John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium. UH will meet Grambling State, TCU, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, Texas Southern and North Texas. When the C-USA schedules rolls around, the Cougars will play host to Marshall, East Carolina, Rice, UTEP and Tulane. On the road, the Cougars will travel east on Interstate 10 to square off against Louisiana-Lafayette and McNeese State in non-conference action. In C-USA play UH will meet SMU, Tulsa, Southern Miss and UCF in hostile environments. The season culminates in the C-USA Tournament with the Cougars not needing to leave their home city, as Rice plays host to the postseason event on Nov. 2-6.
