Goucher Women's Soccer Looks to Climb Conference Ladder in 2016

August 23 - TOWSON, Md. - Coming on the coattails of their best season since the 2012 campaign, the Goucher College women's soccer program will look to a core of experienced veterans to help the Gophers climb the Landmark Conference ladder in 2016.

2015 saw Goucher post a winning record for the second time in the last four seasons as the Gophers finished the campaign with a record of 8-7-3. However, the team found themselves coming just two points shy of a conference tournament berth.

The Gophers found themselves in the hunt throughout the entirety of the '15 season, taking five separate matches into double overtime, and losing five games by just one goal. Two of those instances came to Landmark Conference tournament teams, Elizabethtown and Scranton.

"Last year we found that there isn't a team in the Landmark that we can't compete with," remarked head coach Tati Korba, who enters her 12^th season at the helm of the team. "Games like the ones we had against some perennial contenders last year, used to be five-goal decisions, but now we have taught ourselves that we can hang with anyone. It's just all about confidence."

Helping to contribute to that confidence is the return of 14 letterwinners and 10 total starters to a team that captured eight wins a season ago.

"The starters that returned to camp this season are really setting the tone for us early," remarked Korba. "A lot of the tactical things that we have been able to do early on this year, we weren't doing until mid-season last year."

Two of the top returners to the field for the Gophers include All-Landmark performers, senior First-Team defender Lexi Solazzo and senior second-team midfielder Samantha Turner.

Solazzo, who played and started in all 18 games for Goucher during her junior season, helped the Gophers rank fourth in the conference in goals allowed.

"Lexi is a great leader both on and off the field," commented Korba of her center back. "She is incredibly fit and organized on the field, and keeps the back line from giving up the big play with her athleticism."

Joining Solazzo on the back line are fellow upperclassmen, seniors Brook Merchant, Anja Opsahl and junior Bri Hite. Opsahl played and started in 16 games in '15, while Merchant started 14 and Hite, 12.

Together the defensive front allowed one goal or fewer in 12 matches during the 2015 campaign, while pitching six shutouts. Over 18 games, the unit allowed more than two goals just twice.

"Our defensive front has really had the chance to gel together over the past few seasons," said Korba. "Having a senior-laden group is going to give our goal tenders more confidence. I have confidence that our defense can force the opposition to take difficult shots and not give up the dangerous plays."

In addition to the defense, the Gophers see veteran leadership return to the midfield, with senior Stephanie Budrock looking to anchor the group.

"Budrock sees the field extremely well thanks to her experience as a forward," said Korba of her senior midfielder. "She not only has a great understanding of the game, but she really knows how to set up forwards in ways that will help them succeed."

Last season, Budrock led the way for Goucher, totaling a team-best 11 points. She finished the year with four goals and three assists, including a pair of game-winning tallies.

Other upperclassmen that will see time in the midfield include sophomores Christina Yarrish, Courtney Kwaloff and Sara Naughton. Yarrish tallied a goal and an assist in nine games as a freshman, before an injury ended her season. Kwaloff made 14 starts in the field, while Naughton appeared in nine games.

"We expect our midfield to be our engine out there this season," replied Korba when asked about the group. "Midfield can be an extremely difficult position to play, but we expect that with the athleticism that we have, they can take some pressure off of the back line and kick start our offense."

After serving as a jack-of-all-trades in 2015, Turner will look to spend most of her time at the forward position as a senior. She played in 16 games, leading the team in goals scored with five. Additionally she tied for the team lead in points (11).

"The special thing about Sam is that she led the team in points while playing nearly every position last season," remarked Coach Korba. "So far this season, her transition to forward has been seamless, and we look forward to seeing what she will be able to accomplish."

After ranking third on the team in points with nine last season, sophomore Theresa Antkowiak-Tascone returns to the forward position for her sophomore campaign. Other players that will look to bolster the position include sophomores Alexa Stewart and Camryn Mackey.

"We are looking for our forwards to make creative and dynamic runs and finish chances," stated Korba. "In soccer, there is no guarantee on how many chances you get during a game, so we need our forwards to stay composed and finish their chances at a high rate."

Since 2012, the Gophers have found themselves on the doorstep of the Landmark Conference Tournament, a fact that isn't lost on Coach Korba.

"We've been so close to the top half of the conference the last few seasons, that making the conference tournament has to be one of our first goals for the upcoming year," she remarked. "However, our ultimate goal will always been the NCAA national tournament."

The Gophers will open the 2016 campaign on the road at Wesley on Thursday, September 1. They will then play their first home game against Notre Dame College on Wednesday, September 7 at 7:00 p.m.