USD Women's Soccer 2006

TOREROS LOCKED, LOADED AND READY FOR RETURN TO POSTSEASON

After a one-year hiatus from the NCAA Women 's Soccer College Cup Tournament, the University of San Diego women 's soc– cer team is locked , loaded and ready to make its return to the NCAA postseason. The Toreros are returning 17 letter winners from this past season 's squad including seven starters. Head coach Ada Greenwood believes that the underclass– men laden roster, mixed in with some new faces has the experience and talent to make a good run in the NCAA tourna– ment. "One of our goals this season is to return to the NCAA Tournament," said Green– wood. "I think we have a team capable of making a good run in the tournament. Our mentality is to just take it one day at a time and not to take any opponents for granted ." In 2005 the Toreros has a dissapoint– ing finish due to injuries suffered in the preseason , but USO will look to turn that disappointing finish into a positive note, and USO can rely on veteran leadership to get them there. Seniors Veronica Ambort, Brittany Young and Joslyn Williams will be looked upon by Greenwood to help return the Toreros to their winning ways.

scoring one goal and one assist for three points while serving as a mainstay in the Toreros midfield. Robinson has great abil– ity, can finish well with both feet and can beat opponents off the dribble. Greenwood perceives her as one of the "fastest players in the WCC. " Allison Wolters is another one of the possibilities the Toreros could use up front. Wolters has impressed the coach– ing staff with her play during the spring as she, along with Epsten , began scoring a lot of goals. "She had a fantastic spring and started scoring and is starting to get confident. I am very optimistic about what she can do up front ," said Greenwood . Christine Mock has also emerged as a possible starter for the front line. Green– wood will look to Mock to give USO an extra scoring threat up front. Mock was a top-10 recruit for USO heading into the 2005 sea– son and scored one goal for two points in 2005. Mock is a versatile player who could also see some time in the midfield for the Toreros as well as up front. Christina Carriaga , a 2005 AII-WCC honorable mention , is another versatile Torero who Greenwood feels can play up front, in the midfield or in the back line. In 2005 Carriaga tallied one assist for one

a starter is sophomore Jackie Garcia . In 2005, Garcia was one of two Toreros to play and start in all 19 matches and recorded one assist while taking 17 shots on the season.

◄ FORWARDS point while serving as a mainstay in the USO will also look for help from the front Toreros backfield , helping USO bolster a line to return to their winning ways and 1.90 goals-against-average. the return of junior forward Amy Epsten Another returner who could also see has Greenwood excited. As a freshman time in the front line , or in the midfield in 2004 , Epsten was tabbed as the West is Ashley Kirk. Kirk, a sophomore from

◄ DEFENSE

• "Amy is going to want to get back to the from. One constant for USO will be the play solid season helping the Toreros defense high level WCC Freshman of the Year form of senior Ambort. In 2005 Ambort began as he provided leadership and experience where she scored 10 goals," said Green- the season slow as she was battling back to the Toreros. wood . "She still has that quality. She had a from injuries but as the season progressed , With none of the positions solidified as very good spring for us and we are looking so too did Ambort. She finished the season of yet, Vanessa Vella could see time on to her to be very strong for us up front. " strong and posted one goal for two points the defensive side of things as well. Last The rest of the forward spots are en route to earning an AII-WCC Honorable season, Vella scored one goal and two still up for grabs , but Greenwood has a Mention. assists for four points as a mainstay in the plethora of talent to choose from. Leigh The remaining positions in the midfield Toreros backfield . Greenwood feels that ~. Ann Robinson, a 2005 AII-WCC second are up for grabs, with several newcomers Vella is a top level defender and sees her ~ team honoree, could be one of those pos- as well as returners battling it out for play- competing with Young for the center back ~ sibilities after finishing her 2005 campaign ing time. One of the strong possibilities for position. USD WOMEN'S SOCCER NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES - 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 USO will look to strong leadership from Coast Conference's Freshman of the Year Windsor, Calif., saw limited time on the two of its seniors in the back line, Young after producing a team-best 10 goals. filed this past season as she appeared in and Williams. Both of these players have Last season, Epsten was battling through 12 matches with one start and registered seen significant time on the field and un- several injuries causing her numbers to one shot as a true freshman . derstand what it takes to get back to the drop a bit. Greenwood is excited about NCAA postseason . Young is coming off a her performance during the spring season ◄ MIDFIELD season in which she registered one assist and feels she is ready to return to her 2004 In the midfield the Toreros again have a for one point and helped the USO defense form. plethora of talent for Greenwood to choose bolster a 1.90 GAA. Williams also had a