The success of the 2009 Truman State University women’s soccer team could be attributed to a wide combination of characteristics: timely goal scoring, a stalwart back line, balance at each position and a senior class that had experienced a high-level of success throughout its tenure.
But to capture a 10th MIAA title in 12 seasons, as predicted in the 2010 MIAA Preseason Coaches’ poll, head coach Mike Cannon will have to rely on an abundance of young talent to mesh seamlessly – and quickly – with six starters and four all-MIAA performers returning from an ’09 squad that reached the second round of the NCAA tournament.
“We are going to be extremely young this year, and at the beginning, it’s going to be all about figuring out where each piece fits in the puzzle,
” Cannon said. “We’ll have to scrap and fight a little bit more this year, especially around the goal, after losing three big scorers for us over the past four seasons.”
Two of those strikers – Riley Mahn and Jessica Wiegert – have since moved on, while the third – Katie Reuck – will now move to the outside of the sideline, taking over as the program’s top assistant coach after being named an all-American midfielder as a senior.
Mahn and Reuck finished their careers in the program’s top-10 of all-time goal scorers, while Wiegert was on pace to lead the trio before an ACL injury in last season’s opener sidelined her for nearly three months before she was able to return for the season’s final games.
But it’s not as though the cupboard was left bare at the striker position, however, as MIAA freshman of the year Olivia Hayes returns for her sophomore season after posting a team-best 12 goals in 2009.
She will look to lead what Cannon is calling a more possession-based attack, with senior Beth Bystrom (three goals, five assists in 2009), redshirt freshman Kirsten Vollmer and goalie-turned-forward Alison Taylor vying for time up top as well as target forwards.
To help build that possession and provide extra support, Cannon will count on a trio of midfielders who each played in all 22 games last season.
Juniors Megan Buri and Jaclyn Schumann, along with sophomore Kelsey Twellman, bring back a combined eight goals and 11 assists from 2009 to maintain pressure in the front third of the field.
“Megan and Kelsey give us the experience that we’ll need to fill Reuck’s spot at center midfield, and Jaclyn is a very solid defensive midfielder for us that can sit in front of the backs to mark and start the transition,” Cannon said.
Sophomore Heather Niebling also garnered significant action on the field as a redshirt freshman in 2009, serving as a gateway for Cannon to employ a variety of formations this season.
However, the calling card of Bulldog soccer has traditionally been a sturdy back line, which saw two of its then-senior members – Theresa Bauler and Kelsey Richters – earn first-team all-MIAA honors last year. Junior Jayne Grisham, an honorable mention selection at goalkeeper after posting ten shutouts and the lowest goals-against average in the MIAA last season, returns between the pipes, while junior Amy Schnoes and sophomore Stasia Montgomery add two more pieces of veteran leadership to the defense.
“We have a lot of numbers in terms of personnel to play in the back, but it’s not very set coming into the fall,” Cannon said. “The big thing for us will be to develop leadership on the back line and replace both a wide back and center back that were very solid.”
Truman will be tested out of the gate, traveling to the University of Central Oklahoma Classic on Sept. 3-5 to face Midwestern (Texas) State and the host Bronchos, who also reached the NCAA tournament last season.
Then, it’s right into conference play for the ’Dogs, with home matches against Northwest Missouri (Sept. 9) and perennial-rival Nebraska-Omaha (Sept. 11) kick-starting the 18-game MIAA slate.
Truman will take to the home pitch on Homecoming this year, hosting Missouri Southern on Oct. 16, and will recognize its senior class on Saturday, Oct. 30 against Washburn.
The MIAA schedule sets up a challenge early, with a stretch of six games of eight away from Kirksville following the home opening weekend. But, as a reward, Truman will host six of its final eight regular season games, so a fast start will be a major advantage in the quest for a 10th conference title.
Courtesy Truman State Athletics
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