Aug. 21, 2001

With the hiring of new head coach Jen Kennedy Croft the Utah State soccer program is headed in a new direction and looking to improve upon a disappointing 5-12 finish from a year ago. Croft has 11 years of collegiate coaching experience and has spent the last two seasons as an assistant at USU.

Croft is excited about the possibilities for her team and feels she has a solid group of returnees that will allow her team to challenge for a top-three finish in the Big West Conference.

"I think we are going to have a good year," said Croft. "I'm excited about the crew that's coming back. Expectations are a little tapered because of what happened last year, but of course you always have expectations that are set pretty high. I think this team is talented enough to be in the top-three in the Big West and that's where I'd like to see us. It will take some work but hopefully people will come back fit and ready to go."

Croft will have the resources of five returning starters and 10 additional letterwinners to depend on, as well as the addition of five outstanding recruits.

Forwards

Despite the loss of USU's career goal and point leader in Jayme Gordy to graduation Croft still expects to field a very strong frontline in 2001. Aggie veterans looking to anchor up top include senior Sara Cowley (Buie) and junior Brigid Turner.

"Brigid and Sara are stronger, faster, and more fit then they ever have been," said Croft. "Brigid was on fire in the spring, they (Turner and Cowley) work well together and I am definitely looking forward to seeing them play together."

Turner is currently ranked second on USU's career goals (14) and points (29) list while Cowley is tied as the school's all-time career assists leader (7).

Also turning in a strong outing in the spring was junior Michelle Eversman who is expected to help lead the Aggies on the frontline this fall. Eversman played in nine games for USU last year, starting seven of those contests, before sitting out the end of the season due to injury.

Croft will also look to incoming freshmen Heather Arnell, Lacey Miles, Claire Schend, and Becky Ward to fill in any holes left on the frontline.

Arnell was a three-time all-state selection in high school while Miles was her teams leading scorer (11 goals, seven assists) at Montana State in 1999 before sitting out the 2000 season to become eligible at Utah State.

"Heather can definitely play up top for us," said Croft. "She's a real dynamite player with great speed and confidence. I think Lacey Miles might also be a big time person for us in this area. Lacey will get a lot of minutes if she is healthy."

Schend and Ward will also be in the hunt for playing time as Schend was a three-time all-conference selection at her high school and Ward earned first-team all-state accolades during her final two seasons.

Midfielders

If the Aggies are lacking in depth in any area this fall Croft feels like it may be in the midfield.

"We are lacking outside midfielders right now and I think that is going to be our biggest hole to fill," said Croft.

The biggest blow to the Aggie midfield came with the loss of sophomore Ally Clegg for the season. Clegg will redshirt this year while recovering from a torn ACL. In her freshman campaign Clegg led the team in assists (4) while also scoring two goals.

Without the services of Clegg to depend on Croft is looking at senior Kennon Roeber and possibly junior Lyndy Goodsell to fill in at that position.

Roeber played in 15 games for USU last year and scored the first goal of her collegiate career against Youngstown State. Lyndy Goodsell returns as one of the Aggies top defenders having played in 10 contests while starting six a year ago.

Utah State does return two strong midfield candidates in junior Katie Karlson (Seaman) and sophomore Amber Tracy. Karlson started in all 12 games in which she played and was credited with the game winning goal against Idaho last season. Tracy played in the first 11 games of the season before being sidelined with an ankle injury that kept her on the bench for the remainder of the 2000 season.

Incoming freshman Melissa Baggaley and Andrea Romney will also be called upon to fill in the middle. Baggaley was a two-time all-region selection in high school and Romney earned three varsity letters before arriving at Utah State. "It's going to be a battle for who starts." says Croft.

Defenders

Utah State will return a strong defense with junior Megan Edge and senior Brittany Baugh anchoring the backfield.

Edge returns as the Aggies' top defender having started all 34 games of her Utah State career.

"Megan will anchor the defense," said Croft. "She has been so solid with her strengths and her leadership. Her never say die attitude is something we need on the field all the time."

Baugh's ample experience in the backfield should compliment Edge as Baugh has seen action in 45 games during her career at USU.

If not filling holes in the midfield returning defenders Lyndy Goodsell and Kennon Roeber, who both saw extensive playing time on the defense last year, will also bolster the Aggie defense.

Sophomore Michelle Murri, who played in four games for the Aggies a year ago is also expected to challenge for time in the backfield.

Goalkeepers

Senior Tracy Brady is expected to take over the reigns in the net for USU after sharing the responsibilities with Michaela Hawes last season. Brady recorded 67 saves in 468 minutes of play a year ago.

"I think Tracy has a lot of leadership qualities that we like," said Croft. "We'd like to see her step up and I think she is ready to do that."

Brady's competition will come from freshman Megan Mills, a three-time all-state selection, who holds her high school's records for career saves, saves in a season, and saves in a game.

Schedule

USU will open the 2001 season at home against some of the top competition in the country. The Aggies welcome Northwestern and Washington, ranked sixth in the final 2000 soccer standings, Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, respectively.

"The best thing about our schedule this year is that we are playing some of the top teams in the country and we are playing them at home," said Croft. "It gives us such an advantage."

After opening the season at home Utah State will take to the road for three games against Nevada, Delaware, and Wisconsin-Green Bay before returning home for games against Idaho State and Wyoming, Sept. 21 and Sept. 23.

USU then travels to Las Vegas for its final two non-conference games before beginning Big West Conference play on the road against Long Beach State and UC Irvine, Oct. 5 and Oct. 7.

The Aggies will then host six of their last eight games, including seven conference matches and a game against in-state rival Utah, to close out the 2001 schedule.