Aug. 29, 2001
If history repeats itself, the Lady Catamounts have much to look forward to in the 2001 season. With all 11 starters returning, the Lady Cats will be in full throttle entering the 2001 season, after finishing in the final four of the 2000 Southern Conference tournament. The Lady Cats additionally concluded their 2000 campaign with a second consecutive winning season and an overall record of 11-8-2. The team improved to an 4-4-1 Southern Conference record from 2-7 in 1999. They will return to the field with the experience of SoCon award recipients Nardia Moore, Mandi Tinsley and Brandy Ossmann.
All-Southern Conference and all-tournament team member Nardia Moore tied for seventh in the conference with 57 shots in 21 games. The 5-11 midfielder holds the WCU record for single-season goals with 15 and led the team in scoring with 27 points along with teammate Jordan Howell.
Goalkeeper Mandi Tinsley finished the season second in the conference in saves per game (5.80) and in saves (116). Tinsley averaged only 1.67 goals against her, earning fifth in the conference. She recorded a total of 3.5 shutouts on the season for a career total of 7.0. Tinsley allowed four goals and had 18 saves on 32 shots at the SoCon tournament to earn all-tournament honors.
Midfielder Brandy Ossmann, named to the all-conference team, finished the season with two goals and eight assists. Although standing only at 5-4, Ossmann has one of the most powerful throw-ins in Division I soccer. She contributed to several scoring opportunities due to her throw-ins.
Howell, a 5-2 midfielder, led the nation in goals with eight and points with 17 the first two weeks of the season. The Southern Pines, N.C., native is second on WCU single-season list in goals with 12 and finished the 2000 season fourth in the league in shots with 65 in 20 games.
The defense will be lead by veterans Kyla Deon, Meghan Doherty and Sarah Rice, who have anchored the Catamount defense for the past two seasons.
"I am very excited about our returning squad," said Head Coach Debbie Hensley. "For the first time, we have a large group of returners with experience at the collegiate level. I am looking for them to lead his team to the top of the Southern Conference."
In addition to her returning veterans, Hensley has four talented student-athletes joining the 2001 roster. Brittany Bennefield is a defender from Walton High School in Marietta, Ga., where she was named team captain and led her team to the state playoffs in 1998 and 1999. She played for the Atlanta Hot Shots club team, which she also led to the state championship.
Jamie Pawlik is a midfielder transfer from the University of Louisiana-Monroe. While at ULM she recorded six goals and finished the 2000 season tied for seventh in the Southland Conference in game winning goals with two. Pawlik played her prep soccer at Kingwood (Texas) High School, where she led the program to a No. 1 ranking in the nation and a 27-3-1 record en route to winning the state title.
From Shiloh High School in Snellville, Ga., Tami Pissott was named all-county second team earning the Shiloh High School Coaches Award. A 5-6 defender, Pissott led her Stone Mountain Spirit club team to the Georgia state championship in 2000.
Rebecca Sanders (Hampstead, N.C.) is a two-time conference Player of the Year from Topsail High School. A member of the All-Region 3 team, Sanders was named all-state honorable mention and all-county. The midfielder played for the Wilmington Wave club team for six years.
"Our four newcomers will blend well with our returners and make positive impacts on our team," said Hensley. "It should be competitive at all positions."
