Indiana University Athletics
2006 Women's Soccer Preview: Goalkeepers and Defenders
8/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 1, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - This week, IUHOOSIERS.com is taking take a closer look at the upcoming 2006 women's soccer season. On Tuesday, Aug. 1, we look at the goalkeepers and defense, while Wednesday, Aug. 2's piece will delve into the midfielders and forwards.
GOALKEEPER
Goalkeeper should prove once again to be a strong point for the Cream and Crimson in 2006, with junior Stacey Van Boxmeer and sophomore Megan Reinhardt guarding the cage.
Van Boxmeer appeared in 13 games, starting nine, in 2005 and posted a 2.03 goals against average and a .707 save percentage. In her six Big Ten contests, she allowed seven goals and made 20 saves. Van Boxmeer was strong between the pipes in the spring, and played during the summer in Toronto, Ont.
"Stacey finished the spring season strong and ready to play," Lyon said. "She shows leadership of the back and has a tremendous ability to organize the defense as well as to make strong saves. She could potentially be the best keeper in the Big Ten this season."
Reinhardt, at 5-10, is the taller of the two keepers, and should provide valuable depth for the Hoosiers. The Indianapolis native led her North Central High School squad to back-to-back regional championships in 2001-02, and was an all-state selection in 2003. Recently, she helped her Carmel United team advance to the USASA (United States Adult Soccer Association) U-23 National Semifinals, which will be played Aug. 4-6 in Dallas, Texas.
DEFENSE
Lyon's defense should once again be a strong point for IU, but this year's version will be quite a bit younger than that of 2005. Departed are graduating seniors Robin Barker and Courtney O'Bryan, who started 18 and 17 games, respectively, last season. Leading the young defense will be junior Jenna Babcock, who played in 18 contests last season for the Hoosiers.
"Jenna will provide the experience for us on defense," Lyon said. "She is a junior in eligibility, but has been around for four years, so she carries the status of a senior among her teammates. We have a number of freshmen coming in, and Jenna will be looked to as the catalyst in terms of success.
"Jenna is fast and strong, and has developed into a very solid player for us," he continued. "I expect a lot out of her this season, since her game has taken off the last two years."
Also providing valuable experience on the back line will be seniors Lauren Lamping and Lauren Dieter. Lamping appeared in every game last season, recording one assist, and starting 18 for the Cream and Crimson. Dieter has appeared in 51 contests and started 20 in her Hoosier career, and has tallied one career assist.
Along with true freshmen Jessica Boots, Taylor Fallon and Kelly Lawrence, redshirt freshman Becky Prokopiak will round out the defensive corps. Lawrence and Prokopiak have strong ball skills on the back line, while Lawrence brings the additional advantage of having a slew of international experience as well. Boots, at 5-9, and Fallon, at 5-11, give IU two of the best physical presences it has had at the back in Lyon's tenure. The combination of experience, talent and physical presence make the defense one of Lyon's biggest strengths. Lyon expects his newcomers on the backline to have a big impact for the Hoosiers in 2006.
"The incoming freshmen bring a tremendous amount of experience, size and ability to add to the program," he said. "We look for them to have an immediate effect on the team. The international experience of Kelly Lawrence will be a huge plus defensively. Taylor Fallon and Jessica Boots will raise our defensive play in the air, since we graduated our best defensive players in the air, and they will be a real strength."
Click here for Monday, July 31's look at the 2006-07 Hoosier schedule.
