Soccer Recap - What a Season!

[soccerfanatic]

Congratulations to the Bengals for a fantastic year!

This year started out as a rebuilding year. With injuries, graduations and drop outs, the Bengals lost 12 players in the off season and only brought back nine. Of the 12 lost, all but three saw consistent playing time during the 2008 season. Over half of this year’s team were freshmen, and half of those saw regular playing time throughout the season. The Bengals were picked to finish 7th in the conference for a good reason.

Much of the thanks for the 10-7-0 season and a spot in the Big Sky Championship game goes to the seniors. AnnaMarie Hofstetter is a class act: the all-time Big Sky assist leader had arguably the best year of her career: five goals, five assists, All-Big Sky first team, All-Tournament First Team, ESPN honors… and the list goes on. Kacey Ball was the heart of our offense. While two goals and three assists may not sound like an all-star, it was her energy and aggressiveness at forward turned this team around: from only 13 goals last year to 27 goals in 2009. Both she and fellow senior, Christina Beseris, earned honorable mentions on the All-Conference team in the Big Sky. Beseris also had a breakout year. Not only was she rock solid on the defensive line, she also contributed two goals and an assist to pump up the offense. Finally, surprise returner Jana Davis-Boehler came back for a handful of home games where she injected enthusiasm into the team. Plus, it was her two goals in the conference semi-finals that put ISU into the championship game. All four of these players will be deeply missed.

However, the good news is that this is the fewest number of key players the Bengals have lost since Coach Gibson came to the school. We could actually put 11 players on the field right now who have played in almost every game this year, and that does not include the potential return of Taylor Powell, Benecia Brogan and Ashley Askwig from the injured reserves list. Plus, there are five other freshman with limited playing experience who now have a year under their belts and better know what they need to do to be successful next year.

We also have great leadership coming back next year. Karissa Henage-Fisher is one of only three two-time All-Conference first team selections in the Big Sky. Not only does she intimidate players throughout the league at her position as sweeper, she has also put in three goals this year. Her five career goals is second only to returner Lauren Ryan with six career goals. Ryan had an off year statistically, with only half of the output of her sophomore year. Still, she is a force to be dealt with in her new position at center mid. I expect she will be more powerful than ever for her senior season. Lauren Hough fought through some tough injuries and back problems and contributed immeasurably to the back line. Her tenacious defense was crucial in shutting down Weber State and several other offensive threats during the year. These three juniors have what is takes to fill the shoes of Hof, Ball and Beseris.

Additionally, the team will return sophomore starters: Bailey Williams, Megan Stainbrook, and Alex Hansen; plus freshman starters Ashley Jones, Rachel Strawn, Laura Perez, and Morgan Olsen. These freshmen and sophomore players contributed 11 goals and 12 assists over the season, stats almost equivalent to the entire offensive production of the Bengals in 2008. Plus we have six other freshmen who have made 44 appearances over this last season.

So, with the potential return of three injured players and ten or more new freshmen, the Bengals stand poised for one of their best ever seasons. What they accomplished this year was tremendous and unexpected. What they can do next year… we will just have to hang in there enthusiastically until next August to find out. But look for ISU to take the Sky and earn a place in the NCAA tournament.

 

[votb]

I agree that this was a very good year for ISU Soccer. I thought Allison did a good job on many different levels...including her hiring of new assistant coaches after her "cupboard became bare". Shannon Boyle's addition was a natural...but I think the addition of Becky Hogan also made a significant difference this year, and Allison needs to be commended for those moves, as well.

I suspect that a number of players that left the program prematurely may now be regretting their decisions, but yesterday is done. We have another strong nucleus to build on...and I really like her mix of players spread throughout the class levels. I'm looking for more winning seasons on the way...starting with 2010.

 

[john_clayton]

It was rather a pleasant surprise to see the soccer team do well considering where there were in 2008. Congratulations to players and coaches on a very good season. They should make a good run in 2010.

The losses of the three seniors (four including Jana) will be felt in 2010, but I don't think there will much of a dropoff. I think AJ will be the AnnaMarie-type player over the next three years. Both do a good job of controlling the midfield and creating chances (and finishing them) for goals. Defensively, I think there will be depth (or at least bring in a FR or JC) to replace Christina. KHF is a stalwart in the central defense and with the emergence of MO and the defensive prowess of LH, ISU's back line should be strong.

If there is an area that could be a concern might be the front line. Ball and JDB brought a ton of speed up front. Hopefully Coach AG and her staff will find the right combination of new/returning players to produce a persistent offensive threat for 90 minutes.

The success of the 2009 does make for an interesting offseason. I expect to see some attrition as always, but not to the same degree as at the end of 2008. From what I hear, the 2010 class could be a reloading class just as the 2009 class was a rebuilding class.

 

[soccerfanatic]

Great analysis, John.

A couple other things you could consider: yes, we will need to replace the speed of Ball and Boehler up front. Stainbrook and Strawn have shown they have what it takes up there. If we get back both Powell and Brogan next year, we'll have an intimidating set of forwards (particularly if we also catch at least one great find in the new freshman.) Perez has shown she can contribute up top, but I hope her off-season conditioning will give her more stamina and speed by next fall. Hansen is a contributor up top, but has not scored over the past two years, and we need a forward who can ut the ball in the net. If Hansen can pick up her game and put up the kind of stats that Ball, Strawn, Stainbrook or Perez did this year, she will find a permanent starting role.

I am a little more concerned with the midfield. AJ is a rock and will be a force during her entire stay at ISU. Likewise, Ryan has shown she can fill the role in the middle. When these two are at the top of their game, it sreaks havock on our opponents. Another strong midfielder would be a great asset. Here, we have the potential of getting Skwig back. Skwig showed great midfield potential her freashman year. If that works out, and again with a another good freshman or two, our midfield should be strong.

We need a big, fast player on defense to replace to replace Beseris. Stainbrook did a great job back there her freshman year. Move her back, and we already have a strong line. Put in another talented freshman or JC transfer in the mix, an we will have a top defensive unit (particularly with Olsen having a year experince under her belt.)

Bailey Williams did not have near the year she had as a freshman. Had she maintained her freshman save percentage, we would have had 5 fewer goals this season (which could have made a huge difference in wins/losses.) Push her to the top of the Big Sky in save percentage, and we would have given up 13 fewer goals and been one of the top teams in the west. I think it must have been hard to have been the only healthy keeper this year: no one to practice with, no one to push you. I know we are getting in some more keepers. I think the competition will be great for Bailey and she will have a much better season next year. I honestly believe she has the talent to lead the Big Sky in saves.

Yes, we lost some great seniors. However, going into this year, no one would have thought that Beseris or Ball would have contributed as much to the team as they did this year. Neither had much playing time in their junior year and would definately not been considered stars at that point in their careers. They were certainly stars this year. If Hough, Ryan and Henage-Fisher step up their games as much their senior year as Hof, Ball and Beseris did this year, we will be in fantastic shape next year.

 

[isunorth]

This was a positively surprising year that showed what the power of a few recruits will do as well as the ability to work with little expectations. The coach and her new staff with not much to lose appears to allow the players to play and mold in to a group. Jone appears to be the key recruit for the team and given she hangs may be one of the best ever at ISU. This year players stepped up and the team appeared to play like a team. Speed is still an issue, possibly a stronger mid field and the keeper situation is a bit of an issue due to its thinness etc. The Big Sky conference is an any given play day type conference with typically close competition and parity. It will depend on what ISU wants to do with th team continue to have winning or competing solidly for the BSC title or to go beyond and look to make a national mark - congrats to the team and staff.