2009 Women’s Soccer Season Preview

The Patriots ladies finished another strong season in 2008 with a 13-5-1 record. Seven starters return for the 2009 season and hopefully can carry the Patriots to a Mid-South Conference title. Former Head Coach Aron Bassoff said, “Last year was another solid year, and we finished tremendously strong. We got out of the gate a little slow and struggled to find an identity. I think that had a lot to do with the fact that we were coming off such a successful year in 2007, and we had some adversity in the beginning of 2008. We could have done a little better job of reacting to it, but we were able to finish strong and win the last 9 out of 10 games.”

The Patriots do lose 4 starters that made huge contributions to the team over their career. Rebecca Rube (Louisville, KY) leaves the Patriots as the career leader in goals scored. Natalia Pires de Oliveira ( Osasco, Brazil) and Nery Saucedo (Bartow, FL) also were two midfielders lost to graduation. Jamie Dubeck (Clarksville, TN) was a starter at the defensive back position that was also lost to graduation. Jaylan Irwin (Owensboro, KY) is another key loss as she was a probable starter as she transferred to the University of Tennessee.

However, with 15 varsity players returning, the Patriots did not need a lot of additions to the roster this year, but signing some of the athletes they have is a huge plus. Freshman Katie Hefelfinger (Tallahassee, FL) is a good lefty with good skills and athleticism and with red-shirt senior Leslie Allred (Knoxville, TN) returning to the roster as well, the Patriots add another goal scorer to the lineup. The women picked up 2-3 players that will make them a stronger team than last year. It will also give them more flexibility as to where they can play everyone.

The University of the Cumberlands Women Soccer Program is playing a little tougher schedule but should be ready to step up to the challenge. Overall, most teams are improving so they cannot get complacent about past results. The team has had two great seasons but in order to year in and year out they have to constantly find areas to improve in.

Of course the schedule does get tougher every year, but one team you can always count on being a big competition for the Patriots is Mid-South Conference (MSC) rival Lindsey Wilson College. Georgetown College has consistently been another tough MSC opponent. Campbellsville and Pikeville will also still be there to give the Patriots a run for their money.

With a change in the reins, new Head Coach Russell Stewart and Assistant Coach Michael Husbands are looking forward to another successful year in the Mid-South Conference and the NAIA ranks.

Head Coach Russell Stewart said this about his upcoming season, “ I am very excited to be taking on this challenge as head coach of the University of the Cumberland's Women's Soccer program,” said Stewart. “Being that this is my first head coaching position, I come to this school with fresh ideas and huge ambition. The school has already blessed me with a degree, life experience and athletic accolades. I now intend to give back by taking the women's soccer team to the next level, making it a household name both in the conference and nationally. I look at the girls we have on our roster and I already know we are in for a very exciting ride. Our seniors will be playing a major part in the stability and harmony of our squad where as the freshman, sophomores and juniors will be providing the back bone and work ethic to a very balanced group of young women.”

Looking forward to another successful season, Stewart has set his goals high and the Patriot ladies have been issued the challenge to follow. The quest begins on September 5, 2009 at home against the University of Rio Grande.

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