2007 Season Outlook: Women’s Soccer

The University of Great Falls Women’s Soccer Team is eagerly anticipating their third season. During the spring, the team focused on the technical aspects of their game and saw a lot of improvement. Coach Rizzuto stated, “This spring was great for us as a team. Not only did we improve our agility, quickness, and footwork, but we grew together as well.” This year the Lady Argos have 16 student-athletes returning to compete for the University. Eleven of them have been committed to the team from its inception, and continue to build a program that they can call their own. They have taken enormous strides from two years ago and now have become the leaders of this team. The Argos have grown into a matured, seasoned squad. To add to their maturity, they also added 8 new additions to the program. The combination of experience and new talent will make for a thrilling year. Your Argo women’s soccer team will have 9 home competitions this fall.

GOALKEEPERS: The Argos have two returning goalkeepers from last fall who will compete for the starting position. Senior, Nicole Romano, is coming off of a redshirt junior year and is looking extremely strong. She is a technically sound goalkeeper who has come up with some big games for the Argos. She will be competing with junior Lindsey Saunders for the starting goalkeeper position. Saunders stepped up for the team last year and started almost every game. She is a very athletic young woman who is fearless in front of the net.

DEFENDERS: The defensive unit for the Argos was strong last year, but is looking even more impressive this year. Returning in the back line this fall are Sam Senne, Katie Blood, Kelsey Chytka, Nikki South, Sara Mancilla, and Patti Britt. All of them saw their fair share of time on the field last fall and each did an exceptional job. Senne and Blood were monumental in the team’s first win last year, and then they were both sidelined with season ending injuries. The Argos can’t wait to have them back on the field in August. During their absence, South, Chytka, Mancilla, and Britt all stepped up. South and Chytka held down the center back positions and directed the team from the back line. Each took on a larger leadership role than anticipated and did an admirable job. They are expected to bring brilliant leadership to the squad this fall as well. Mancilla, as always, will continue to be a nuisance to the opposing forwards, shutting them down time and time again. Britt’s height advantage will remain a key component in the back line’s strategy, as she takes advantage and gets the ball out of the air quicker because of her size. Adding to this fall’s back line are freshman Randi Hollen and Tina Martinez. Hollen is a three-time defensive MVP out of the Great Northern League in Washington. She is a very intelligent and powerful player who will add a new dynamic to our flatback. Martinez is also a very strong player who knows ho to use her body to defend. This position will be one of the deepest and competitive positions for the Argos this fall.

MIDFIELDERS: The midfield position for the Argos is also going to be competitive this fall. Returning student-athletes include Sarah Brandt-Erichsen, Becca Bowns, Sarah Merhar, Katie Stevens and Tiffany Woodard. Brandt-Erichsen, a captain last year, will return to the center mid-field role. Her leadership and aggressiveness are unrivaled, and she will continue to do wonderful things for the Argos. Bowns will continue to see time on the outside midfield. Here she has found her niche and is a threat at all times to shoot, cross, or go one-on-one. Bowns will most likely be complimented on the opposite side of the field by Merhar. Merhar’s speed and moves contribute to her success and make her an indispensable player for UGF. Stevens, coming off of a redshirt sophomore year, will compete for time in the center midfield role. She is a very active player who sees the field well and distributes the ball even better. Woodard, also coming off of a redshirt year, is a very exciting player to watch. Her speed and footwork are admirable and help her to get in behind the opponent’s defense. Joining the Argo Midfield will be junior-transfer Falon Dalton, and freshman Corrie Smith and Tana Hopewell. Dalton joins the Argos by the way of North Idaho College. She is an extraordinary distributor and can score as well. She is very capable of seeing the field and will fit right into the Argo Midfield. Smith brings a powerful left foot into the mix and exceptional footwork. Her passion will make her an excellent teammate. Hopewell, a Great Falls native, brings more passion onto the field as well. She is quick and has the endurance to land herself in an outside-mid role. Each of these young ladies brings fitness, speed, and determination into the UGF Midfield. These ladies will be very exciting to watch this fall.

FORWARDS:  Leading the scoring frenzy for UGF this fall will be returnees Jessica Selmer, Karly Eyre, and Kristin Thompson. Selmer was a big part of the Argo’s front line last year and was sidelined with a knee injury. She is expected to be back in full force and ready to score. Her quickness and knack for finding the net will help this fall. Eyre’s work ethic is unrivaled. She will come in this fall, just like the last two years, and earn her spot. Her ability to chase defenders down and win the ball will earn her time on the field. Thompson has an uncanny skill of being in the right spot at the right time. Her willingness to take risks puts her in scoring position over and over again, and the Argo’s can’t wait for that again this year. Adding to the UGF front line will be freshman Cristina Casillas and Amanda Haynes. Casillas is a very fast player who will wreak havoc on our opponent’s defenseman. Haynes, out of Butte, Montana, is also a very speedy player who will do the same. Each will have an immediate impact once they step out onto the field. The Argo forward line will be finding the back of the net quite often with this group of forwards.