2010 Women's Soccer Preview/Recap

Trinity head women’s soccer Coach Lance Key has a message for all of the fans this season: come out and cheer on the Tigers!

The fans will see the reason for Coach Key’s enthusiasm. Trinity returns 16 players – including eight starters – from last year’s fifth-ranked squad which came within a hair of making the NCAA Final Four.

“ There is a tremendous amount of passion among our players, and the way they play the game,’ said Coach Key, in his seventh season at the helm. “They are some of the hardest working women I have ever known. They are an athletic group, fast and strong, and have a tremendous amount of compassion when they express themselves on the field. I am so proud of who they are.”

An important part of the Trinity program is Laura Koontz, in her second year as the Tigers assistant coach.

The Tigers begin the campaign Sept. 1 on the road in nearby Seguin, by taking on Texas Lutheran. A Sept. 4 matchup in Abilene, Texas, will pit the Tigers against No. 13 Hardin-Simmons. Trinity opens play at home Sept. 7 against Mary Hardin-Baylor.

In a partnership with San Antonio Sports, Trinity will once again be the host institution for the NCAA Division III semifinals and championship games – for men and women – Dec. 3-4 at Blossom Soccer Stadium.

Trinity recorded an unblemished 16-0-0 regular-season record, the third under Coach Key’s leadership. It marked the third time the Tigers were undefeated in the regular-season schedule. Trinity won its fourth Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference title (9-0-0 record) with the guidance of Coach Key, and advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs for the fifth time.

For his efforts, Coach Key was honored as the SCAC Women’s Soccer Coach of the Year for the third time, and was also named National Soccer Coaches Association of America West Region Coach of the Year.

The Tigers began the 2009 NCAA playoffs with a 5-0 shutout of Maryville (Tenn.) at home. Trinity then edged Hardin-Simmons 1-0, while hosting the regional tournament. Lynchburg was Trinity’s quarterfinal opponent the next day, and emerged as a 4-2 winner in penalty kicks. The Tigers just missed playing before a home crowd at the NCAA Final Four, held at Blossom.

Trinity completed the season with an 18-1-0 record. Defensively, the Tigers were ranked No. 1 in the nation in goals-against average (5 goals, .257 per game). The Tigers accounted for 14 shutouts during the season. Trinity scored 56 goals and was ranked No. 31 in scoring offense (2.95 goals per game).

Three starting seniors graduated, including All-America midfielder Brianna Young, also named SCAC Offensive Player of the Year.

But the Tigers will have the services of senior defender Danika Wright of Alpine, Utah (Lone Peak High School), who was named to the NSCAA All-America First Team. Wright anchored the taut defense, and contributed to the offense by scoring five goals (one game-winner), along with nine assists. She was elected the SCAC Defensive Player of the Year.

Junior forward Abby Loar of Littleton, Colo. (Heritage High School), is the leading returning scorer, with 15 goals (six game-winners) and seven assists. Loar was named to the All-SCAC First Team for the second time.

Joining Wright and Loar on the All-SCAC First Team was senior center /midfielder Jordan Azar of Albuquerque, N.M. (St. Pius X), who dished out eight assists. Azar is Trinity’s only player to earn All-SCAC honors three times.

Also on the SCAC top team was junior defender Allyson Thrall of Scottsdale, Ariz. (Chaparral High School), who was credited with two assists. Sophomore defender/midfielder Lindsay Euers of Austin, Texas (Bowie High School), was injured in the preseason, but scored two goals, with one being a game-winner. Euers was also selected as SCAC Newcomer of the Year.

Kelly Watts, a junior forward/midfielder from Lakewood, Wash. (Bellarmine Preparatory), scored 10 goals (two game-winners), and made eight assists. Watts was an All-SCAC Second Team honoree. Junior defender Ally Hunter of Southlake, Texas (Carroll High School), made the All-SCAC Third Team. Hunter had a game-winning goal, and one assist.

Sophomore goalkeeper Katie Garrett of Joshua, Texas (Joshua High School), held a No. 2 national ranking in goals-against average (.257), and was No. 21 in save percentage (.884). Garrett registered 38 saves over 19 games.

Also returning is senior center/midfielder Lauren Folkman of Albuquerque (La Cueva).

Three juniors will provide leadership, including midfielder Dana Carter of Lufkin, Texas (Lufkin High School). Carter scored a game-winning goal, and chalked up two assists. Midfielder Kristina Chen of Houston (Clear Brook High School), put up a goal. Defender Nikki Blavet of Austin (Cedar Park) will contribute once again to the Tigers stingy defense.

Sophomore midfielder Samantha Atkins of Austin (McNeil High School), scored two goals and made one assist. Midfielder Katy Lipscomb of Edinburg, Texas (Edinburg North High School), contributed one goal and one assist. Defender Brianna Tammaro of San Antonio (Clark) will add to the strong wall known as the Tiger defense.

“The biggest difference between last year and this year,” Coach Key said, “is we have increased our depth of quality players across the roster. The deeper you go into a tournament, it enables you to better manage a season, and a tournament run. We just added tremendous experience to our team. The variety among our players will enable us to complement each other very well.”

Coach Key will have the services of one of the most talented incoming classes in Tiger history.

Joining the program is Jenni White of Albuquerque, N.M., the Gatorade New Mexico Girls Soccer Player of the Year. White, who played multiple positions for Albuquerque Academy, led the Chargers to the New Mexico Class 4A championship. She was named an All-American by the NSCAA, and earned the distinction as the Class 4A Player of the Year.

Also from Albuquerque (Sandia) is midfielder Michelle Lanier, an all-state player.

Texas newcomers include midfielder/forward Sarah Hanel of Bellaire (St. Agnes Academy); goalkeeper Ruth Ocean of The Woodlands (College Park); and midfielder Tara Sparks of McAllen (McAllen High School).

Midfielder Hannah Westberg hails from Overland Park, Kan. (Blue Valley Northwest); and Valerie Rutan is from Olympia, Wash. (Charles Wright Academy). Meredith McDowell of Newport News, Va. (Menchville High School), is a versatile student-athlete, and plays both forward and midfielder.

Two Floridians will add depth to the Tigers this season. Megan Buford, a back from Samford (Seminole High School), was defensive MVP her junior and senior years. Shelby Guenthardt, a forward from Winter Springs (Winter Springs High School), helped lead her team to the state semifinals for the first time in its history. Guenthardt was voted the Fellowship of Christian Athlete's Central Florida Student Athlete of the Year.

“We have a great class coming in,” Coach Key said. “It’s important to maintain the quality of the players for our program. It is so critical to our team culture.”

Following the home opener Sept. 7 with Mary Hardin-Baylor, the Tigers will play eight more regular-season games on the Trinity Soccer Field: California-Santa Cruz (Sept. 17), University of Dallas (Oct. 8), Austin College (Oct. 10, SCAC), Millsaps College (Oct. 15, SCAC), Birmingham-Southern College (Oct. 17, SCAC), Chapman (Oct. 22, Alumni Weekend), Sewanee (Oct. 29, SCAC), and Oglethorpe (Oct. 31, SCAC).