With Sosa out, women's soccer to rely on freshmen to repeat Ivy success

The women's soccer team has bigger shoes to fill this upcoming season than ever before. Minus a graduated-star goalie and an injured senior captain, forced to face a perpetually tough Ivy League schedule while defending the legacy of last year's Ivy League champion team, the Tigers welcome one of the nation's top recruiting classes to fill the current void and to begin the uphill march to another title.

Senior co-captain Kelly Sosa will be sorely missed after suffering a season-ending tear of her ACL before the start of the season. Sosa, who started every game last season as the team's sweeper, will be missed for both the unwavering energy she provides to the team on the field and the leadership she supplies off the field.

"Kelly is an essential back," head coach Julie Shackford said. "She is one of the most competitive players I've ever coached. She has a neverdie attitude and vocal leadership."

Though originally a midfielder in her freshman and sophomore years, Sosa was a leader of the Ivy-league leading defense from last season, a defense that led the nation in shutout percentage — 13 in 18 games — and that held opponents to a 0.44 goals against average. She will be taking a year off from Princeton, and will join the team as a senior next season.

The Tigers, though without co-captain and defensive star Sosa, are not without talent and leadership. Senior midfielder Linley Gober, the team's other captain, will be joined by a host of key returning players — sophomore Theresa Sherry, Princeton's leading goal scorer from last season, and juniors Krista Ariss and Joan Cundey up front. Along with Gober, senior Jessica Collins, the Tiger's leading header, and junior Jenny Skinner will anchor the midfield and junior Heather Deerin and sophomore Katie Krum will be in back.

The team looks optimistic up front, while needing to re-organize after the loss of leader Sosa in the back. This will be the opposite of last season when the defense shined, but the offense stuggled to produce.

"I think we're going to score more goals this year," Shackford said. "But we're still young. We have to work hard at staying organized defensively."

Shackford also admits that communication, important for all successful teams, is particularly important for a team this young in continuing the winning ways of the soccer team.

Deerin will take over leadership of the Tiger's strong defense, while senior Catherine Glenn will replace Jordan Rettig '01, the team's leader in goal.

A strong freshman class of eight players will fill the void left by last year's senior class. Among the eight, Canadian National Team member Janine Willis, as well as Esmeralda Negron and Kristina Fontanez will move in to play offense, while Rochelle Willis, Janine's twin sister, and Catherine Byrd will fill in gaps at defense.

"I think there's going to be five or six [freshmen] that play regularly," Shackford said. "They're an athletic, energetic, and talented group of individuals."

After a 5-0 rout of Iowa State last Sunday, Princeton will have to wait to open up its Ivy League season. Dartmouth, who was supposed to be the Tigers' opponent on Saturday, has cancelled its athletic events this weekend.

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The Tigers defeated the Big Green 1-0 in a hard-fought match last season. Dartmouth will prove again to be a formidable opponent this season. After winning last year's game via a goal by Amee Reyes '01 and the stellar play by graduated-Rettig, young players must step up against the Big Green. The role of the young players in this game will set the tone for games to come in the future.