University of Houston Athletics
2007 Houston Soccer Season Preview
8/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Aug. 28, 2007
HOUSTON -
 | IN COACH BUSH'S WORDS "I am looking forward to my coaching debut this season with this roster and staff because our returning and incoming players feel they have something to prove. It will be interesting to see how our players handle a difficult schedule with a relatively small roster. We are trying to instill a positive atmosphere where our players thrive on competition and welcome challenges. This year will provide just those opportunities. Houston soccer is taking a leap forward and has scheduled a very difficult and challenging schedule for the 2007 campaign. In order for our program to compete at the next level, we must welcome competition like UCLA, Texas and LSU. Key players to watch will be Ali Conrad in the back line, Christine Nieva in the midfield, and Lauri Byrne on the front line. Keep an eye on Jessica Rathweg who will be sure to emerge as a consistent and reliable ball winner and play maker in the midfield. With only eight returning players and 12 newcomers, our roster is young but committed and talented. I will be looking for Ali Conrad to anchor the back line and direct returning player Stephanie Beyelia and newcomers Stephanie Booker, an athletic speedster who can strike an excellent left-footed ball and Brittany Cannon, a feisty and scrappy player from the Dallas Texans Soccer Club. Look for Jessica Rathweg, a tireless ball winner and superb striker of the ball, to tag team with junior Meagan Kiphart in the holding midfield position while Mexican National Team member Christine Nieva controls the center of the field. Nieva will look to combine with returning offensive bulldozer Brittney Pfeiffer, cheeky Islara Rodriguez, and playmaker Nikki Echeverria. Lauri Byrne will look to impact the Cougar team immediately up front with a burst of acceleration and unparalleled vision on the field. Shelby Scott is expected to control the net again this year with competition from Lynn Baker and newcomer from the Sting soccer club Kaylin Stewart-Goodson. Look for Crystal Trevino to also make significant contributions throughout the season. Emma Geyer, Elizabeth West, Izzy Babb, Anne Escobar and Adriana Penaloza will add depth to our roster and will compete for playing time." Susan Bush |
On the heels of a disappointing 9-10 season a year ago which concluded with a crushing 90th-minute defeat to the Rice Owls, the dominoes started to fall for the Cougars.
Bill Solberg, head coach for seven seasons, announced his resignation on March 21, 2007. Eight days later, UH Director of Athletics Dave Maggard didn't have to go far to find his successor in Susan Bush.
Just the third head coach in the program's nine-year history, Bush, a former standout at North Carolina, served as UH's top assistant and recruiting coordinator for the previous two seasons.
She enters her first season at the helm of the program with a roster that was depleted by graduation and defections. Only nine players remain off of last years roster, and they will be joined by a class of 12 newcomers to form the nucleus for a Cougar program that is nearly entering it's second decade of existence.
Maggard, who has found success in naming talented people as head coaches regardless of previous experience, feels that Bush is the person to take the UH program to the next level.
"Susan's been an outstanding student of the game," Maggard said. "She has high visibility and great respect around the country, but especially in Texas. She will continue to be a great asset to our program and soon will have the soccer team in position to challenge for the Conference USA Championship and gain national recognition."
Bush, a Houston native, certainly has the playing chops to back up the high expectations. She was a member of three national championship squads at North Carolina and also has extensive experience with the U.S. National Team.
"My goal is simple," Bush said. "I want to create a positive and winning atmosphere at UH where our players continually improve their abilities on and off the field. I can't imagine a better opportunity than to lead an NCAA Division I program in my hometown."
Bush has surrounded herself with a staff that shares an equally talented pedigree, hiring a nine-year Major League Soccer veteran in Eric Quill and Jenna Huff, the top goalkeeper in the history of UNLV and the Mountain West Conference.
"I think the great thing is that we all compliment each other," Bush said. "Both Eric and Jenna have dynamic personalities that have allowed them to connect with our players and administration in a short time."
All three are young and hungry, which should make for a dynamic staff for years to come.
Change doesn't happen overnight, but Bush is committed to moving UH to the top of the ledger in a deep league like C-USA.
"The University's campus, facilities and personnel are among the best in the nation," Bush said. "There is no reason why this program should not compete on a national level."
LOOKING BACK TO SEE FORWARD
No one on Bush's staff is assuming the road to better times will come easy. UH lost much of its offense in the offseason, including 31 of its 37 goals from a year ago.
Sophia Mundy, whose two-year career on Cullen Blvd. was nothing short of spectacular, scored 10 of those goals last season. She is now playing professionally in Iceland.
Also graduating were program stalwarts Jennifer Dry and Sarah Fisher. Budding stars Courtney Gaines and Jordan Godbolt also departed. The cupboard, however, was not left completely bare.
Goalkeepers Lynn Baker and Shelby Scott return for their junior seasons. Baker has shown steady improvement since last season while Scott gained valuable expereience with the Israeli National Team.
Along with the returning `Keepers, UH's backline remained relatively intact as Stephanie Beyelia, Ali Conrad and Maegan Kiphart all are back after seeing extensive action last season.
Beyelia looks to replace Gaines at the defensive midfielder role, while Conrad and Kiphart will shore up the central defense.
One big loss is that of Ashleigh Williams, who suffered a career-ending eye injury in practice last season and was unable to answer the bell for this year.
Nikki Echeverria is back for her second year in the Scarlet and White and will likely move into a starting role as a wing midfielder after coming off the bench last season.
Islara Rodriguez, who sat out all of last season with a foot injury, looks to see her first game action this season. She's been named a team captain along with Kiphart and will step into an offensive role on this young squad.
Brittney Pfeiffer is the team's leading returning scorer with a pair of goals. The forward, who slimmed down over the summer, has shown great speed in summer workouts and will try to snag one of the starting forward positions after playing off the bench the last two seasons.
A GLANCE AT THE FUTURE
Houston picked up a key transfer in the offseason in junior Christine Nieva. Nieva, who previously played at Arizona State and holds dual citizenship with Mexico and the U.S., has worked her way into the playing rotation of the Mexican National Team and brings a quality of play that will help offset the loss of Mundy.
Freshmen Lauri Byrne and Emma Geyer have impressed the coaches early into fall training. Byrne brings pace and skill to the attacking third while Geyer will add some depth to the backline.
Another freshman to watch is Jessica Rathweg, a strong ball striker out of the Houston area. Midfielder Crystal Trevino looks to crack the starting 11 along with Brittany Cannon and Stephanie Booker.
