Despite Small Numbers, Penn College Women's Soccer Coach Expects Big Things
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
When the Pennsylvania College of Technology women's soccer team takes to the field Thursday at Davis College with just enough players to field a team, it can ill afford any red cards or injuries.
"We're going into Thursday's game with no subs. It's going to be interesting. I'm hoping that, as we get more into the season, some of the freshmen who haven't been coming to all the practices are going to be able to start dedicating more time and we can get a team built," said coach Kim Antanitis. "That's just something we're going to have to go by day-to-day and take every day and week at a time."
Despite that, Antanitis, entering her fourth season as coach, said, "We're looking to have another successful season. We would like to make the national tournament again this year.
"The keys are to get the new people to fill in a lot of the spots that we have open and get them all to play together as a team. Right now, a lot of people are playing different positions than they normally would."
The Wildcats won Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference championships during Antanitis' first two seasons at the helm and played a stronger independent schedule last year, going 8-3-1 during the regular season and 1-1 in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association playoffs.
Starters Thursday will be returnees Alicia Cave (senior/Grantville) at sweeper, April Champion (sophomore/Jersey Shore) as a defender, Ashley Mull (sophomore/South Williamsport) at midfielder and Kimberly Daley (junior/Springfield) at striker. Starting newcomers are defenders Brandy Krause (freshman/Pine Grove) and Brittany Van Gilder (sophomore/Bloomsburg), Katie Moltz (sophomore/Pottstown) as a center midfielder, Julliette Yeager (junior/Hamburg) as a midfielder, Alexis Brown (freshman/Riverside) as an outside midfielder, Katharina Rutzel (freshman/Bergsinn, Germany) at striker and Kierstin Steer (freshman/South Williamsport) at goalkeeper.
"Daley has played for me three years and always is a leading scorer. We're looking for big things from her. We hope to get her the ball and make things happen; get some goals," the coach said.
As a junior player, Steer was a goalie until her sophomore year at South Williamsport, when she was moved onto the field, according to her coach. "Kierstin is a natural athlete and she's doing great (in goal). We're really looking for big things from her," said Antanitis, who is assisted by Markus Rybak.
Freshman Yulia Laird (South Williamsport) is a backup goalie. Returning sweeper Samantha Wallish (sophomore/Hummelstown) is expected to rejoin the team in two weeks.
"(Right now) they're trying things out. They're not going to be their official positions. We're just going to go by what will work for this game, see how it works out and change things up."
(Complete rosters and season schedules are available on the college's Athletics Web site). More informationabout the PSUAC is available online; for more informationabout the USCAA, visit on the Web.)