Aug. 26, 2003
A new era of women's soccer in underway with the addition of first year Dukes' mentor James Walker at the helm. Eager to bring Duquesne women's soccer into the top of the Atlantic 10 standings, Walker has the background and credentials to just that. No stranger to winning, Walker led Tiffin (Ohio) to four American Mideast Conference Championship crowns over his tenure and posted an overall mark of 84-33-4. Under his guidance, Tiffin was nationally ranked his last five seasons and advanced to the Regional Final Four each year.
To aid in his quest for league dominance are 10 returning starters and 13 letterwinners, keen on making Duquesne one of the best teams in the Atlantic 10. They have a lot to prove after a disappointing and somewhat deceptive 5-13-1 record last year. Their mark is not indicative to the team's ability as three of the losses were decided in overtime and four were by a lone goal.
Back for the 2003 slate and anxious to lead the Dukes are top scoring threats Katie Schwager, Lauren Bracco and Erica Carey. The threesome accounted for 13 of the team's 25 goals last season as well as six of the 15 assists. Schwager led the way with a team-best five scores, including a perfect 4-of-4 effort on penalty kicks. Adding to the Dukes' scoring ability are returning starters Maureen Moran, Becky Barritt, Julie Broden and Dana Stimmel. Barritt, along with sophomores Katie McCarter, Caitlin Holmes and Andrea Cragen, will help lead the defense. Barritt will make the transition to a more-suited defensive role this season after playing the forward spot. McCarter, Cragen and Holmes showed extreme potential in just their first year challenging even the most seasoned veterans in any match.
Forwards: Seniors Julie Broden and Maureen Moran, junior Katie Schwager and sophomore Erica Carey will be looked upon to secure the forward spots once again. Schwager returns as the team's top scoring threat with five goals and two assists last season. One of the most accurate and threatening shooters, she went 4-of-4 on penalty shots. Broden will be back in her role marking the opponent's top scoring threat, while also being one. The feisty player recorded one goal on six shots last season and isn't afraid to shot the ball. Carey ranked third in scoring for DU last year with finding the back of the net four times while adding an assist. Two of her scores where game-winners. Moran had a breakthrough year in 2002 recording three goals in 17 contests. A walk-on addition as a freshman, Moran has steadily improved her game over her career. Adding to the position's strength is junior Justine Itte, who earned three starts in 18 matches last year. Itte netted one goal and recorded an assist last season and will be looked upon for strong contributions throughout the schedule. Freshman Christina Goodfellow joins them to solidify the forward play. A walk-on addition, Goodfellow led her high school to two league titles and could be a surprise player.
Midfielders: Senior Lauren Bracco and sophomore Martine Gilbert return as a solid force to secure the midfield with assistance from several veterans who will split time at the forward and midfield spots as Schwager, Carey and Broden are expected to serve dual duties over the season. Bracco, one of the Atlantic 10's most intense players, was second with three assists and added four goals for 11 points. She led the squad with her three game-winning goals. Gilbert started all nine of her matches before suffering a season-ending injury. She is expected to be back in top form adding to the scoring potential. She recorded one assist last year and is a scoring threat anywhere on the field with her excellent aim and accuracy. Sophomore Jen LaCava also returns adding to the depth of the position and will be looked upon to aid in the central midfield play after a solid spring season.
A trio of newcomers adds to the depth and potential of the midfield in Ashley Stelmak, Angela Sanson and Jennifer Legge. Stelmak was named a 2002 and 2001 All-Ohio pick and All-Greater Cleveland All-Star selection and was tabbed a two-time first team all-conference and county all-star. Sanson led her Bay Village squad to the 2002 and 1999 Ohio Division II state titles and to the regional finals in 2000 and 2001. She helped the team go 19-2-1 her senior year. Legge, whose main duties are as a defender, was a four-time All-Montgomery County honoree.
Defenders: Possibly the most experienced and established force is that of the defense with the return of veterans Becky Barritt, and Caitlin Holmes and second-year players Andrea Cragen, McCarter and Dana Stimmel. Barritt is expected to return to a starting role and possesses great anticipation skills and speed and isn't afraid to challenge for the ball. An offensive threat as well, the senior scored once and added an assist last season. Stimmel enters her second season with the Dukes and could see time as a starter. She has the ability to get things going from the back and can be a scoring threat as well, hitting one score on six shots on goal last season. Cragen and McCarter were two of four freshman starters last season and aided in the defense recording two shutouts and limiting the opponent to just over two goals per game. Both are intense competitors who compliment the corps well.
Junior Katie Ireland and newcomers Elizabeth Bok and Legge join them. Ireland saw time in six matches last season as a key backup and is one of the most determined athletes on the roster. She could work her way into the starting lineup and has the key ability of bringing a spark to the field. Bok led her prep squad to a 19-1-2 mark as a senior and to the 2001 and 2000 Ohio Championship crowns. Her squad advanced to the state semi-finals in 2002. Legge, who could also see time as a midfielder, played for the Bethesda Rowdies and helped lead them to the 2000, 2001 and 2002 Maryland State Championships in addition of her all-county laurels as a prep.
Goalkeepers: Two novice goalkeepers will have the heavy burden of securing the net and vying for starting duties after the graduation of veteran Kristin Scharphorn. Newcomers Virginia Bondi and Rachel Gecik, both of which were tabbed to the All-Ohio squad, had very successful high school careers and are expected to adjust quickly and easily into collegiate play. Bondi helped her Strongsville H.S. squad capture the 2002 Ohio Division I championship crown and to a No. 8 national ranking with a record of 18-3-2 her senior year. She possesses great anticipation skills and sees the game well. Gecik helped lead her Westlake High squad to the 2001 conference and district championship titles and to second place in 2002. An all-conference and All-Greater Cleveland pick, she played for the Ohio North Club team and was as member of the Ohio Olympic Development Program.
The Schedule: A solid schedule is on tap as the Dukes face three 2002 NCAA participants in Atlantic 10 opponents Richmond, Rhode Island and Dayton. The Dukes' season gets underway Aug. 29-31 at the Akron Tournament with the host Zips, Howard and IPFW. The home slate begins Sept. 10 with a 7:00 pm contest with cross-town rival Robert Morris on Rooney Field. Atlantic 10 play commences Sept. 26 as the Dukes host St. Bonaventure to kick off a six-game home stand. Highlighting the series is an Oct. 10 match-up with defending A-10 champions and NCAA participant, Richmond at 7:00 pm. Back-to-back matches with NCAA participants close out the month of October as the Dukes travel to Rhode Island Oct. 26 and host Dayton on Rooney for a Halloween game Oct. 31. The regular season wraps up Nov. 2 with Duquesne hosting Xavier.
A new championship format is underway this year as the top six teams will challenge for the league's automatic bid into the NCAA College Cup. The A-10 championship, which had featured the top four squads, is slated for Nov. 7-9 on the University of Richmond campus.
