FANTASTIC!!! Looks like a spectacular recruiting class. All ten players look strong, but several are real standouts. Oliveira (who we already talked about) is definately the most exciting recruit. But Kiley Godfrey and Allyson Stainbrook should also have an immediate positive impact on offense. Most teams would be lucky to get one of these players... getting all three is amazing.
Plus, we have at least two great defensive picks in Ashley May and Olivia Zabka, with Tara Bia as a potential start here as well. Since we are losing Beseris and Ball to graduation, these players could really help shore up the defense and allow the coaches to play around with how they place Hough and Henage-Fisher. It kind of surprizes me that we have not landed a keeper. Kat Ford is in her final year and has not had much experience on the field, and Bailey Williams gets hit hard frequently and is always playing black and blue. (Plus, Bailey did not have a great year last year and could probably use a challenge to push her to pick up her game. Competition always helps. She sure did a great job her freshman year rising to the challenge when fighting for a spot among 4 keepers.)
Of course, it is nearly impossible to predict how a player will do when faced for the first time with the challenges of both the college-level play and college life. Two years ago, I was the most excited about the addition of Michelle Harrison and did not think Bailey Williams would ever see playing time. We still have five strong players from that class and Harrison is gone. Similarly, last year, I did not anticipate that Morgan Olsen would make much of a contribution... but she ended up playing more minutes than any freshman other than AJ (Ashley Jones.) Point is, it is nearly impossible to predict how everyone will fall into place, and I am probably wrong more than i am right. Several of the freshman who I have not mentioned could turn out to be real stars as well. It is hard when there is so little information about them. Coach has seen them all and seems to see potential in all of them.
The other exciting thing about next year is the returning class. For the past three years, we have had mass defections after the season, several usually before spring ball. This year, I am not aware of any key players who have decided to leave the team. Plus, we should see two to three top contributors back who were sidelined last year with health issues: Taylor Powell, Benecia Brogan, and Ashley Askwig. (Our prayers are with Skwig as she tries to battle back through some tremendous physical trials.)
Further, I think Coach Gibson is still looking at a few players. It would not surprize me to see a couple of late signings and maybe a transfer or two.
As I look at the roster for next year, I see 18 players who I believe have a legitimate chance of claiming one of the ten starting positions for field players, and several others who could earn a great deal of playing time. (I assume Bailey has the keeper spot tied up.) Plus, we have enough strong veterans to fully staff the field (and then some) without the incoming freshmen stars. In comparison, going into last year, I only counted 11 players with a shot at starting and three of those were freshmen. Not only is the depth of talent exciting, but also the fact that the players can help each other, push each other, and even scrimmage together should lead to a huge improvement this year.
Go Bengals! I can't wait until August. Thank goodness for spring ball.
