Athletics Headlines: 2008 Women's Soccer Preview

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August 27, 2008

2008 Women's Soccer Preview

The Missouri Baptist University women’s soccer team will open its 2008 season on Saturday, facing NAIA Region V opponent Benedictine College. A victory Saturday would be a step toward the team’s push for a return to national prominence.

The Lady Spartans’ last national ranking was during the 2002 season. With four head coaching changes since that season, the team is hoping to once again prove itself worthy of being recognized nationally once again. The Lady Spartans finished third in the American Midwest Conference last season with a 2-2 record. They went 8-11 overall.

“This team is committed to each other and to the goals that we have set”, said second year Head Coach Deno Merrick. For success against tough AMC opponents William Woods University and McKendree University, Coach Merrick will look to his upperclassmen to lead, and for a talented group of freshmen to be ready to learn.

That group of upperclassmen includes first-team All-Conference midfielder Amanda Renaud and first-team All-Conference forward Taylor Hay, who together led the Lady Spartan offense in 2007. Also adding experience and leadership will be senior midfielders Brianne Henrichs and Ashley Roberts.

The Lady Spartans will also look for some key contributions by freshmen in each spot on the field from forward Taylor Walsh, defender Ashley Burton, midfielder Sarah O’Donnell, and goalkeeper Renata Fanti.

“I have all the confidence in my team for the weekend game against Benedictine,“ said Coach Merrick. “It won’t be an easy victory, but with the players we have and our goals as a team, we have a very good chance to earn a win.”