Athens, WV- (Story by: Tom Bone, Bluefield Daily Telegraph) There's only one way to go from being last year's conference runner-up in women's soccer, according to Concord University coach
Steve Barrett.
“We're talking, getting to the championship game is not enough, now. We've got to win it,” Barrett said, “and we feel that we're more than capable of doing that.”
Barrett is enthused about the talent level of Concord's 13 new players and 12 returnees — and potential star Danielle Pye, who was injured last year.
Concord went 7-0 against West Virginia Conference teams in the 2006 regular season (10-10 overall), before losing in overtime 1-0 to Wheeling Jesuit in the championship match last October.
The Lady Lions lost Leanna Neuner, who scored 20 goals last fall, to graduation. The next highest scorer was Jenny Cleland (7).
Cleland said this year, “Everybody's competing. We've got 26 people competing for 11 spots.”
Laura Ciccone, a co-captain, said, “The depth is something I've never seen in the time I've been here. It's really exciting to see that.”
Megan Davies, another co-captain, said, “These freshmen are really good — the same with the seniors, and everybody else.”
One newcomer is Samantha McCrae from upstate New York. She said, “We do work really well together. Considering the talent's so high, I think we'll go far.”
Barrett said, “With the talent level we've got, we're looking to run key-possession more, be more possession-oriented, though we've tried to be that way (in the past).”
Don't look for major changes, though. “We try to keep it simple,” Barrett said. “It's the skill level, the talent level, that makes the difference no matter what system you play.”
Assistant coach Carol Bonnes said, “The skill level of the girls, we've never had that before so we're able to progress faster with this bunch. We're straight into scrimmaging now. ... It's been a productive preseason.”
The fitness level is also high, she said, stating that the girls arrived already in shape.
Barrett said, “We've been working the girls hard... as hard as they've worked in this heat here, it should make it a lot easier when it cools down — as it will — at some point. Our fitness will really tell.”
“We want to outwork (our opponents), as well as outplay them.”
Cleland said, “In the hot weather, sometimes you're going to get tired. If you can have somebody step in that can play that position as well as the person before them did, that's great.”
Gemma Nortcliffe, a new center forward from Wakefield, England, said, “I think everyone's jelling together. It was difficult to begin with, but the girls are really friendly, and everyone gets on well.”
Bonnes said, “The cohesion within our team is what attracts other girls to us when we're looking at recruits for the upcoming season. They have a close bond on and off the field.
“You need a team that's close off the field, because it comes across when they're playing.”
Ciccone, temporarily sidelined by injury, said, “The chemistry on and off the field is just awesome.”
Midfielder Alyssa Dagg, from the Niagara Falls area of Ontario, said, “When I first came, I was really shy ... now it feels more comfortable, like a family.” She is coping with the jump from high school to college — and to rural southern West Virginia. “It's kind of hard to adjust,” she said.
Sarah Coelho, a junior, said on Friday, “We have another week or so before our first game. We need to use that time to work on the little things. We've kind of been focusing on possession and a lot of the bigger aspects of the game.”
A starter in goal since her freshman year, she said that the game is hard on a goalkeeper physically, but it's gotten easier “tactically.”
She said, “I've learned a lot from Coach (Barrett) and Carol — like how to stay on my feet, and to move my feet more, instead of diving all the time.”
Davies, a sweeper, said, “I'm eager for the season to start. I'm extremely nervous, like I always am.” She said that can convert into a positive thing. “It keeps us on our toes.”
Concord begins its schedule on Friday at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Ky., a soccer power which the Lady Lions upset near the start of last season.
Coelho said, “They're always tough. We always have to come out on top of our game. So it's good we have Bellarmine ... to start off our season.”
The first home match is at 4 p.m. Sept. 4 against Salem International.
