2009 record: 7-10-1 (2-5-1 MCC, 7th)
Starters returning/lost: 9/2
Letterwinners returning/lost: 15/6

Notable returners:
Lauren Terrell                 Jr.          Chandler, Ariz.
(Honorable-mention all-MCC, 9 goals, 2 game-winners)
Brittany Hajicek              Jr.          Grand Prairie, Texas
(7 goals, 1 assist, 2 game-winners)
Melisa Wink                    Jr.          Brookfield, Ill.
(4 goals, 5 assists)
Erika Larson                   So.         Plain City, Utah
(5 goals, 1 assist)

Notable losses:
Kristen Dolen
(Four-year starter)
Erin Dickey
(Two-year starter)

Notable newcomers:
Amanda Brown             Jr.          Gilbert, Ariz.
Rocia Bonilla                 Fr.          Sun City, Calif.
Nancy Chicas                Sr.          San Francisco, Calif.
Mandy Martell               Fr.          Culpeper, Va.

Depth at all positions has the William Penn women's soccer team believing 2010 could put the program back on the map.

The Lady Statesmen survived an injury-plagued 2009 season to finish 7-10-1 (2-5-1 Midwest Collegiate Conference) and with players again healthy and a strong and deep recruiting class entering, Head Coach Greg Walter feels his team is ready to become one of the league's elite.

"We finally got out of our shell last year and scored some goals," Walter said. "We created more opportunities than we have before."

"We put in a lot of hard work in the spring and our effort was the best we have had and hopefully that will continue into this season," Walter added.

After leading her team in scoring last year, Lauren Terrell (Jr., Chandler, Ariz., Chandler HS) will again be the cornerstone for the program this fall. The squad's next three highest goal scorers return to the pitch as well.

Forward

Despite battling through injuries, Terrell put nine shots in the back of the net in 2009 en route to an honorable-mention all-MCC laurel. Now healthy, her role at the top will be magnified even more in 2010.

"Despite injuries last year, Lauren still led us offensively," Walter said. "I expect Lauren to step it up and hopefully, she can stay healthy and get back to her top form."

Brittany Hajicek (Jr., Grand Prairie, Texas, Mansfield Timberview HS) and Melisa Wink (Jr., Brookfield, Ill., Lyons Township HS) were equally as dangerous at the forward spot. Hajicek scored seven goals with an assist, while Wink had four goals with five assists.

"Brittany stepped up and was our most consistent player at the top," Walter said. "Melisa is one our fastest and most fit players. The two of them with Lauren present a strong presence at forward."

Now throw Erika Larson (So., Plain City, Utah, Fremont HS) and her five goals into the mixture and options are plentiful.

"Erika had a great freshman year and is one of our hardest workers," Walter said.

Stephanie Deck (So., Plain City, Utah, Fremont HS) also returns and will compete with newcomer Heather Wilson (Fr., St. Louis, Mo., Ritenour HS) for minutes. Deck scored once last year in addition to two assists.

"Stephanie worked a lot of the spring at forward and gives us another capable body," Walter said. "Melissa and Heather will both fight for time on the field."

Midfielder

A leader that does not have to stuff the stat sheets to be important, Ashley Hart (Sr., Gilbert, Ariz., Desert Ridge HS) will guide the midfield alongside Sophie Duke (Sr., Coventry, England, Warwickshire College).

Hart had one goal with two assists last year, while Duke was a bit more productive statistically with two goals and three assists.

"This is Ashley's second year as captain and she is a permanent fixture on the field," Walter said. "She is not our biggest scorer, but she sets up most of our scoring opportunities and without her we would be much worse off."

"Sophie continues to improve and she has become much more comfortable moving the ball forward in the attack," Walter added.

Fellow returners Katie Johnson (Sr., Albia, Indian Hills CC), Hillary Gallego (Sr., Arlington, Texas, Mansfield Summit HS), and Breanna Hochhalter (So., Gilbert, Ariz., Higley HS) add more dimensions of depth. Johnson had one goal and one assist last year, while Gallego assisted on three goals.

"Hillary has matured a lot in her career and is going to push for a starting role," Walter said. "Katie came on strong near the end of last year and will vie for starts, while Breanna gained a lot of experience off the bench as a freshman and got much stronger in the spring."

There is a bevy of newcomers who will toss their hat in the ring, led by Nancy Chicas (Sr., El San Francisco, Calif., George Washington HS) and Amanda Brown (Jr., Gilbert, Ariz., Gateway CC).

"Nancy's speed will be a tremendous asset for us, while Amanda may not score a lot, but is a great worker and will not stop," Walter said. "Her time at the junior college level gives her a leg up as well."

Rita Garcia (Jr., Chandler, Ariz., Gateway CC), Ashlynn Betts (Fr., Jenks, Okla., Jenks HS), Jamie-Lee Slaten (Jr., Auburn, Wash., Green River CC), Mandy Martell (Fr., Culpeper, Va., Eastern View HS), and Rocio Bonilla (Fr., Sun City, Calif., Paloma Valley HS) will also compete for time in the midfield.

"Rocia and Mandy have quickly shown maturity and will be forces on the outside," Walter said.

Marisol Barragan (Fr., Sun Valley, Calif., St. Genevieve HS) and Leslie Hernandez (Fr., Bolingbrook, Ill., Bolingbrook HS) will learn the system during redshirt campaigns.

Defender

With three of the team's best defenders back, Walter views his backline as the Lady Statesmen's biggest strength.

Victoria Schiebel (Sr., Mansfield, Texas, Mansfield HS), Morgan Fest (Sr., Cottonwood Heights, Utah, Salt Lake CC), and Dana Tamos (Jr., Victoria, Australia, Ringwood College) were major cogs in limiting 2009 opponents to just 2.25 goals per game.

Tamos headed the group with one goal and one assist, while Schiebel and Fest also scored once each.

"Victoria is our most consistent defender and plays every game like it is her last," Walter said. "I think she is one of the top players in the conference and I would love to see her finally get recognized for that this year."

"Morgan did a great job of organizing our central defense last season and Dana is one of the fastest defenders in the league," Walter added. "To return all three of these young women makes us quite strong in the back. It should be exciting to see them work together."

Rebecca Brenner (So., Cheyenne, Wyo., Cheyenne Central HS) is the lone other returner and after transitioning to the defense in the spring, she is ready to fight for a starting position.

2009 redshirt Karin Stewart (Fr., Des Moines, Carlisle HS) will battle for remaining time with newcomers Taylor Parks (Fr., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS), Rachel Carnes (Fr., Washington, Washington HS), and Mollie Plocher (Fr., West Plains, Mo., West Plains HS).

Taylor Ganter (Fr., Frisco, Texas, Frisco HS) will learn the system in a redshirt year.

Brittany Rouze (Sr., Ottumwa, Ottumwa HS) will also practice, but is unable to compete in games due to a history of concussions.

"Karin got good experience last year and improved greatly in our spring practices," Walter said. "Mandy has good speed and builds up the attack from the back well."

"Taylor is a hard worker who will run through a wall," Walter added. "She is one of the best soccer players to ever come through Oskaloosa High School. Rachel is quiet, but takes care of business on the field and Molly is a hard-nosed player who never gives up."

Goalkeeper

The defensive depth will be key as Penn enters the campaign without a single returning goalkeeper.

Three freshmen and two transfers will vie for the slot between the pipes and Walter figures the battle to be the best and most interesting on the team.

Aubree Gallego (So., Arlington, Texas, Mansfield Legacy HS) comes to Penn from an NCAA Division II program and Robecca Thor (Jr., Austin, Minn., Austin Packer HS) is another transfer. Ali Parks (Fr., Omaha, Neb., Central HS), Kori Lajeuness (Fr., St. Louis, Mo., Ritenour HS), and Laura Jones-Gentry (Fr., Fruitland, Idaho, Fruitland HS) put on the navy blue and gold straight out of high school.

"Aubree, Hillary's younger sister, has been on my radar for a couple of years and I finally got her here," Walter said. "She is one of the fastest keepers that we have had here."

"Ali is a good-sized keeper and is very tough from playing on an all-boys club team," Walter added. "Kori is outstanding and holds a ton of school records, while Laura can get to every type of ball."

"This is going to be a very competitive battle for goalkeeper," Walter said. "I think all five players have a chance to earn time. It will easily be the best battle for a spot that we have."

Schedule

For the second time in three years, Penn will open its campaign out west as the Lady Statesmen travel to Arizona for stiff competition. The season opener is against NAIA Embry-Riddle on August 27 and the following day the team faces NCAA Division I Southern Utah.

"This Arizona trip will be a major challenge with two major schools," Walter said. "It will give us a chance to see what type of team we are and what we need to work on. It will also be a lot of fun for the ladies and hopefully something they will always remember."

The remainder of the schedule is also strong, highlighted by a trip to Kansas to face 2009 national qualifier Ottawa.

"This is one of the toughest schedules we have had," Walter said. "We really have no breaks. Every game will test us and we will have to play at our highest level."

Conference

Defending regular season MCC champion St. Ambrose and tournament champion Grand View look to pace the league race.

"Grand View and St. Ambrose will surely be at the top of the conference this year with several others giving chase," Walter said. "With the experience we have, we should be able to break into the top half of the conference. We have talent back as well as incoming and anything less than that goal is going to be disappointing. It puts a lot of pressure on the girls, but I think they can handle it."

"This is the first year that we have competition at every position and our players are going to have to be fit and will have to compete every day to win and keep their spots," Walter added. "It will be a fun year that will hopefully net a lot of success."