Indiana University Athletics
2006 Women's Soccer Preview: Midfielders and Forwards
8/2/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 2, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - From July 31-Aug. 2, IUHOOSIERS.com has taken a closer look at the upcoming 2006 women's soccer season. On Wednesday, Aug. 2, we wrap up our coverage with a look at the midfielders and forwards.
MIDFIELD
The Hoosiers' midfield will be a strong mix of speed and creativity in 2006. Seniors Ali Brown and Carrie DeFreece will be the leaders at the position, with each entering her fourth year with the Cream and Crimson. Brown tied for the team lead in 2005 with three assists in her 18 contests, while DeFreece played in all 19 contests and registered one assist in 2005.
"They are two of the fittest players on the team," Lyon said, "they can run all day. They both have the ability to create on their own, but in different ways. Ali has tremendous ability to create with her ball skills, while Carrie uses her speed as she looks to push the ball forward."
Along with the seniors, juniors Beverly Markwort, Kate Nierman, Katy Stewart and Shannon Vnoucek will help anchor the middle of the pitch. Markwort joins the midfield this season after starting 15 games for the Hoosier defense in 2005. Stewart appeared in 17 games last season, and scored her first career goal in the 52nd minute of the Hoosiers' 3-1 victory over Xavier on Sept. 11. Nierman and Vnoucek each have two years of intercollegiate experience under their belts, and will be a valuable asset for IU.
As for the freshmen at midfield, Christie Kotynski's size will be a huge asset to Lyon's troops in the middle.
"Christie Kotynski, at 5-11, will be great in the air offensively at midfield, and hopefully she'll take the skill she brings from prep and high school onto Yeagley Field."
Kotynski, Natalie O'Bryan, Kathryn Zachman and Kristin Arnold are the newcomers at the position for Lyon's squad. Kotynski, a native of Hudson, Ohio, brings size and strong experience to the midfield lines, after participating with Ohio's Olympic Developmental Program from 2001-04. Arnold was a two-time ODP regional selection in 2002-03, while Zachman started four years at Homestead High School, helping the team to three sectional titles in her four years. O'Bryan, the younger sister of graduated senior Courtney O'Bryan, played high school soccer at Center Grove High School, where she was named all-metro, all-district and all-state as a senior.
FORWARD
At forward, the Hoosiers have four returning upperclassmen that will see the bulk of the playing time up front for Lyon's squad. Senior Megan Pipkens, who has nine career goals and 28 career points, has played in all 57 of IU's games in her three years with the Hoosiers. In 2005, she scored her lone goal of the season in the Cream and Crimson's 2-0 win over Bowling Green on Sept. 18, and was credited with an assist on Kristin Radcliffe's game-winner in the 68th minute of IU's 2-0 victory over Michigan on Sept. 30.
Radcliffe, a junior from Wheaton, Ill., is the Hoosiers' leading returning scorer in 2006. Last season, she netted three goals, all of them game-winners, and tacked on an assist in her 15 games of action.
Also in the quartet of players vying for a starting spot are juniors Lindsay McCarthy and Suzie Teixeira. McCarthy netted a goal and two assists last season, and was voted a tri-captain by her teammates for her leadership both on and off the field. Teixeira has played in 37 games in her two years in Bloomington, totalling three career points.
"We feel that at forward we will have success by committee," Lyon said. "All four players have been threatening to break out in their time at IU. They all have strength, height and speed - it's wide open to see who will break through this season."
Sophomore Ashley Seib will also be in the mix for playing time in 2006, as will a pair of newcomers in Jenny Ball and Liz Holby. Seib registered one assist in 2005 while appearing in nine games, while Ball and Holby both come to Indiana following successful high school careers where each played four years of varsity soccer.
Click here for Tuesday, Aug. 1's preview of the goalkeepers and defense.
Click here for Monday, July 31's look at the Hoosier schedule.
