Issue date: 8/21/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Derrick Manuat SIUE's Samantha Crader (left) overtakes the ball during a scrimmage game against SEMO.

SIUE women's soccer coach Lynda Bowers can expect a lot of offensive power from her forwards during the 2007 season, but the defense has a few holes to fill.

After outscoring their opponents 32-14 and keeping the goalies busy with 341 shots en route to a spot in the Great Lakes Valley Conference semifinals, the Cougars look to keep the pressure on opponents with several returning forwards.

Junior Jenny Kates played the David Ortiz card as she netted five game-winning goals during the season, finishing with seven total and 17 points. Meanwhile, junior captain Elizabeth Valenti chipped in seven goals and three game winners.

"I think our strength right now is how many attackers we have on our team," Bowers said. "We have a lot of girls that can step up and play in a lot."

The backfield appears to have fewer certainties in the leadership department.

"Defensively, we have a lot of youth," Bowers said. "We are trying to balance that experience with youth, since we lost three big players in our backfield."

The departed defenders include 2006 All-GLVC first team member Padra Bencini, who notched a goal and an assist as well as contributing to the team's .67 goals against average.

The team, however, will welcome back a key familiar face in senior Sara Stroud, who is returning from an injury that kept her out the entire 2006 season.

While Bowers configures the defense, she says her goalkeeping tandem of senior Kim Roady and junior Kaci Backs should be ready to roll when the Cougars host Newberry College at noon Sunday.

Backs, who recorded three shutouts and 48 saves in more than 1,000 minutes at goal, will split time with a currently injured Roady, who finished last season with a miniscule .34 GAA and GLVC-leading .909 save percentage.

"They both bring something special to the game," Bowers said. "What one lacks, the other one kind of picks up, so I think we're going to keep going what works for us."

For a team that has on a youth movement with six freshmen and a handful of sophomores, the players are seeing nothing but positives in their growth.

"I think we have the experience and the new people coming in that are definitely capable of filling those positions," senior captain Katie Yearian said about replacing veterans such as Bencini and last year's third-leading scorer Kayla Fromme.

Even with the growing pains, Yearian said the team will fight to get to the next level, the GLVC championship and beyond, before bidding Division II sports farewell.

"Our team motto this year is one team, one chance, one year," Yearian said. "That's kind of what we're going for. This is our last year, so we want to go out with a bang before we decide to go to Division I."

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