soccerfanatic
Active member
We are just a week away from the exhibition game, and I can hardly wait for the season to start! It is difficult to get much news about the team. Thank goodness for Tim Flagstad of the Journal and his frequent blog posts and newspaper articles; and also for Katie Zigars keeping good info on the ISU website.
Our program has sure been hit hard from last year. Last year, we had a total of 24 players step onto the field. We lost four to graduation and seven more quit: mostly freshman who had a difficult time adjusting to college life in Pocatello. Of the thirteen left (the lowest number in the conference,) we have two keepers, which would still leave 11 veterans for ten field spots. However, it appears that three of those veterans will be out for much of the season. Taylor Powell and Benecia Brogan will be sidelined for a good portion of the season while they recover from injuries, and Ashley Askwig will miss the entire season with a medical condition. All three of these will be dearly missed.
This means we will be seeing at least two freshmen starters, even for the exhibition game next week. This class of freshmen will probably play the biggest role on the team of any freshmen class in the past four years. Luckily, it sounds like several are already stepping up and letting their presence be known. I have heard excellent comments about Ashley Jones, Laura Perez, Amber Worthen, Megan Olsen, Rachel Strawn, Shailee Smith, and others. Hopefully, they can all shake off the freshman jitters, build some confidence, and make a real contribution to the team. There will be plenty of playing time this season, even in starting roles, for the players who step up to the challenge.
Northwest Nazarene will be a great way to start the season. Last year, every healthy player had time on the field against Northwest Nazarene, and nine different players had either a goal or an assist, including two freshmen. Four freshmen were able to take their first college shots against NN, and all ten freshmen saw significant playing time. This is the one game of the year where parents, family and friends are assured of seeing their player on the field. (Of the ten freshmen last year, seven watched at least one complete game from the sideline during the regular season, and often the freshmen who played were on the field for less than five minutes during a game.) This should be a great game to help the team build some confidence, learn how to play together, and get acquainted with the loyal Bengal fans.
Our program has sure been hit hard from last year. Last year, we had a total of 24 players step onto the field. We lost four to graduation and seven more quit: mostly freshman who had a difficult time adjusting to college life in Pocatello. Of the thirteen left (the lowest number in the conference,) we have two keepers, which would still leave 11 veterans for ten field spots. However, it appears that three of those veterans will be out for much of the season. Taylor Powell and Benecia Brogan will be sidelined for a good portion of the season while they recover from injuries, and Ashley Askwig will miss the entire season with a medical condition. All three of these will be dearly missed.
This means we will be seeing at least two freshmen starters, even for the exhibition game next week. This class of freshmen will probably play the biggest role on the team of any freshmen class in the past four years. Luckily, it sounds like several are already stepping up and letting their presence be known. I have heard excellent comments about Ashley Jones, Laura Perez, Amber Worthen, Megan Olsen, Rachel Strawn, Shailee Smith, and others. Hopefully, they can all shake off the freshman jitters, build some confidence, and make a real contribution to the team. There will be plenty of playing time this season, even in starting roles, for the players who step up to the challenge.
Northwest Nazarene will be a great way to start the season. Last year, every healthy player had time on the field against Northwest Nazarene, and nine different players had either a goal or an assist, including two freshmen. Four freshmen were able to take their first college shots against NN, and all ten freshmen saw significant playing time. This is the one game of the year where parents, family and friends are assured of seeing their player on the field. (Of the ten freshmen last year, seven watched at least one complete game from the sideline during the regular season, and often the freshmen who played were on the field for less than five minutes during a game.) This should be a great game to help the team build some confidence, learn how to play together, and get acquainted with the loyal Bengal fans.