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Soccer Season Preview 2009-2010

Dynamic duo to lead Lady Tiger soccer team

Led by last season’s Jayhawk Conference Freshman of the Year, Amber Hernandez, and first-team all-conference midfielder Carol Rodrigues, the Cowley College women’s soccer team looks to build off a promising inaugural season in which they won eight games.

Last year’s team had only one sophomore on the roster, while this year’s squad will feature 10 sophomores and nine freshmen.

“We have a better idea of what we have with the girls that are coming back,” Cowley head coach Dane Straight said. “Last year we did not know what we had until we played Neosho in our first game.”

Last season, Straight served as an assistant coach for the Tiger men and women’s soccer teams. This year, he is looking forward to devoting all of his attention to the women’s team. He is also eager to serve as head coach, something he did for four years at Cloud County Community College prior to coming to Cowley for its inaugural soccer season.

After finishing 8-9-1 last season, Straight is optimistic about the team’s chances in 2009.

“This will be probably the most talented girls team I have been a part of, so we will be able to do some different things tactically,” Straight said.

A major reason for Straight’s optimism is the return of Hernandez and Rodrigues.

Hernandez finished with 26 goals in 17 games as she was named a first-team all-conference forward and an honorable mention all-American. The Ponca City native twice scored five goals in a game and finished with 55 points on the season. Hernandez scored the 10th most goals in the nation.

Rodrigues assisted on many of Hernandez’s goals as her18 assists were tied for the sixth most in the nation. She also registered eight goals on the season.

“I expect Amber and Carol to take charge and be the ones to help the freshman avoid some of the problems they went through last year,” Straight said.

Hernandez will also help the freshman due to the amount of attention she will receive on the field.

“She is going to face more double and triple teams, which will open it up for the freshmen to have opportunities to be a surprise early in the year,” Straight said.

Some of those freshman that could benefit from all the attention Hernandez and Rodrigues will garner are Sadie Hull, who was a high school teammate of Hernandez, and Hutchinson Community College transfer Ciara Corboy.

“I expect both of them to make immediate contributions to the team,” Straight said. “By the second half of the season people wont know who to try and take out of the game.”

One loss Cowley was not counting on was that of Allyson Duda, who played terrific defense for the Lady Tigers and received honorable mention recognition as a freshman. Duda made the decision to transfer from Cowley and play for NCAA Division I Southern Utah University just weeks before the start of the soccer season.

With the loss of Duda, freshman Monika Otey is expected to take over the center back position. Otey is a physical player and excellent passer from Colorado Springs, CO.

Sophomores Brittany Griffin and Brittany Newbolt will give the Lady Tigers valuable experience on defense, while sophomore Katie Ybarra will make the switch from midfielder to goalie.

Straight has liked what he has seen from Ybarra in goal as she is extremely athletic and not afraid to go after the ball. He is also pleased with the group of freshmen the team added to the mix.

“Overall, we have got a pretty good class with a lot of talent and depth,” Straight said.

Even though the team overachieved in winning eight games during its inaugural season, Straight anticipates even more success in year two of the program.

“I think we will be a more bonded team and the players will look to help each other on and off the field,” Straight said. “I think we have got the ability to finish in the top three or four teams in the conference and host a playoff game.”

Cowley will host a pair of exhibition contests against the PFC Hurricane Club soccer team from Tulsa, OK on Saturday, Aug. 15 beginning at noon. The Lady Tigers will open the regular season at 6 p.m. Aug. 28 at Hutchinson.