USD Women's Soccer 1996

1 Sights Set On Trip To NCAA's

1996 PREVIEW

Only in its fifth year of existance, the women's soccer pro– gram has begun to make a name for itself in national circles. The 1995 season saw the team accomplish the best record in school history ( I0-6-1) and almost gain a berth into the NCAA play– offs. The team also finished third in the West Coast Conference standings, only behind national runner-up Portland and quarterfinalist Santa Clara. USO will look to raise their game to a new height in '96 with six starters and six All Conference members returning. The Toreros key losses are the WCC Defensive Player of the Year and the team leader in goals last season. Kennedy Leads Top Returners The Toreros all-time scoring leader Michele Kennedy will be back in '96 for her final season. Kennedy has scored 20 goals and recorded 25 assists for 65 points in her three-year career. All three marks are USO career highs. Kennedy is a three-time All WCC member including First Team honors in '93 and '94. Midfielder Monica Costello also returns for her senior cam– paign. Costello ranks second on the all-time list in assists with 20, nine of those coming last season to lead the team. Costello also has earned All WCC recognition three times including an appearance on last year's Honorable Mention team.

Michele Kennedy, Two-Time All wee, First Team

Defense Key To Success

Last year the defense was the best in school history, only allowing 13 goals and shuting out seven opponents. Michelle Bush and Allison Worden were the keys to this stingy defense and both return in '96. Worden, the Toreros net-minder, allowed nine goals in 15 games for a goals against average of0.61. Bush, an All-WCC First Team selection, led an attack that never gave up more than two goals in any one game and gave up only one goal in seven contests. Also helping out on the defensive front is senior defender and All WCC Second Team member Amy Goaziou. Incoming Class The 1996 roster has nine newcomers, all with impressive credentials. Jessica Crothers and Vanessa Thiele head the list of recruits. Crothers was the Arizona State Player of the Year for Dobson High. Thiele was a three-time First Team All League member for West Hills High. Aimee Wagstaff is also new to the program, transferring from the University of Florida. Wagstaff scored eight goals and totaled 19 points for the Gators last season to rank second on the team. All nine newcomers were All League selections in high school. The '96 Schedule The '96 schedule features five ranked teams including Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, UCLA, Santa Clara, Stanford and Portland. Three of those contests are at home. The Toreros record against ranked opponents in 1995 was 3-2. The Toreros begin the year with a trip to Portland State for two games. The team then plays the next six of seven contests at home including their WCC opener against Santa Clara on September 29. USO will host their own tournament for the first time in the program's history beginning October 25 with Texas and Portland competing. The Toreros will travel to Texas the first weekend in November for a tournament playing Butler and Michigan State. The regular season along with WCC play wraps up November 10 in a home match versus Gonzaga. 1995 WEST COAST CONFERENCE HONORS & STANDINGS

Offenisve Player of the Year - Shannon MacMillan, UP Defensive Player of the Year - Dawn Birdsall, USD Freshman of the Year - Michelle French, UP Coaches of the Year - Jerry Smith, SCU & Clive Charles, UP

WCCRecords

Final 1995 Standings

w

PCT.

T

L

1 1

.92.9 .786 .714 .500 .500 .286 .286 .000

0

6 5 5 3 3 2 2

Portland (20-1-2) SantaClara( 16-4-2) San Diego (10-6-1) San Francisco (11-8-1) SaintMary's (7-10-1)

1

0

2 3 3 5 5 7

All WCC First Team

Tracy Giorgetti, SCU Mikka Hansen, SCU Shannon MacMillan, UP Wynne Mcintosh, UP

Justi Baumgardt, UP Dawn Birdsall, USD Michelle Bush, USD Kim Donohue, SMC Jennifer Evans, PEP

1

0 0 0

Pepperdine (6-9-3)

LoyolaMarymount(6-12-l)

Erin Martinez, SCU

Gonzaga(2-18-0)

0

Erin Fahey, UP