August 17, 2002 2002 Best Teams Outlook   California Top 32 #9 West Region 2001 Record: 12-7-2 All-American Laura Schott and midfielder Kim Yokers are among the top five scorers returning for the Bears who lose Kyla Sabo up front. Coach Boyd loses two other starters on defense, back Mueller and keeper Moser, and will likely rely on one of two transfers (Sani Post from Notre Dame or Ashley Sulprizio from Nebraksa) to mind the net. Several newcomers, including Mangiardi, Schlesinger, Clute and Duke transfer Carly Fuller could see minutes right away. Connecticut Top 32 #3 Northeast Region 2001 Record: 18-6 UConn's #6 ranked recruiting class will need to help right away to replace five starters and nine total players who saw action in at least 10 games in 2001. Graczyk, Gjertsen and Popper are the top returning scorers although the backfield will see the biggest change from last year. Gone are All-American Zimny, Gardiner and part-time keeper Caldwell as the Huskies may get off to a slow start for the second season in a row while finding a new lineup. Dayton Top 32 #4 Great Lakes Region 2001 Record: 17-6 Coach Tucker had the Flyers on track fast last year after the last minute decision of Missy Gregg to transfer. Replacing three great starters will be tough but Dayton has shown they can rebound quickly. Bushman and McKnight's points will be missed but Kuhl and Kozlowski are reliable scorers. A solid group of newcomers led by Katie Lowstuter, Alicija Bredlo and Laura Boland will give the Flyers some much needed depth. Dayton has steady defenders Simonetti, Showalter and NiGuardi to help ease the departure of starter Walker. Marquette Top 32 #3 Great Lakes Region 2001 Record: 16-6 While 2001 was the year of Cincinnati in C-USA and the Great Lakes Region, Marquette could be the heir apparent in 2002. The Golden Eagles have ten starters returning as only striker Vendetti is missing from the opening lineup. Marquette will also need to replace key midfield contributors Strachota (3rd in points) and Hnatow and could look immediately to a large incoming freshman class. Maryland Top 32 #6 Mid-Atlantic Region 2001 Record: 10-7-2 The Terps have their top two scorers, Jen Biscoe and Kim King, back to ease the loss of three other scoring threats: Beirne, Boyd and Gustafson. Maryland barely scored more goals (24) than its opponents (20) in 2001 and the graduation of goalie Wolff toughens the need to improve goal differential. Coach Higgins-Cirovski's highly regarded incoming recruits, particularly Simone Dekker, Mallory Mahar and Ali Andrzejewskil, should improve the Terps' arsenal in 2002. Michigan Top 32 #2 Great Lakes Region 2001 Record: 13-8-1 One goal from graduate Laurie Peterson is all the Michigan offense loses from its 102 points of a year ago. Ten starters return for Coach Rademacher including tough netminder Suzie Grech. Whitley, Williamson and Pesiri create a formidable defense and Abby Crumpton's time with the U-21 team at the Nordic Cup will strengthen the offensive line. Nebraska Top 32 #5 Central Region 2001 Record: 17-5-1 No team can lose a playmaker of All-American Meghan Anderson's caliber and not drop a notch without time to rebuild. Add in the losses of starters Rheem, Tanaka and Preston along with part-time starters and sub Williams, Greenwood and Carey and the Cornhuskers face a daunting task in 2002. What Nebraska does have is sensational All-American Christine Latham, Big 12 scoring leader the last two seasons, along with defender Breana Boyd and goalie Erin Miller. Other leading scorers, Harms and Saunders, also return as does back Jenna Cooper. Nebraska's solid recruiting class will be called upon early to get Coach Walker's team back in its familiar Top 25 territory. Auburn #7 Southeast Region 2001 Record: 11-8-1 All-American goalie Megan Rivera has given Auburn immediate clout and the program should certainly build on that in 2002. Coach Richter has more than just a national team keeper on her roster as Hinson and Carnes are two underated backs that deliver well. The Tigers lose four starters including two of the SEC's best in forwards Waine and Sellick but can still expect points from last year's top two scorers, Steinmann and Evans. New signees Jenny Zarzour, Ashley Willis, Ashley Eason, Jada Stewart and Kristen Stewart all have the credentials to be regular starters for an Auburn team on the verge of regular Top 25 status. Boston College #4 Northeast Region 2001 Record: 11-10-1 Boston College clawed its way to a respectable winning mark last year after puttering the year off with a 1-5-1 record. The Eagles have seven starters back who will be joined by the #5 recruiting class in the nation. Second leading scorer Moore is gone but All-American Sarah Rahko and seniors Iacabelli and Halloren return on the frontline. The graduation of Parri and transfer of Servedio results in defense becoming the biggest fix and rookies Millado, Zider or Hawkins could help out. The surprise goaltending performance of walk-on Elyse Meredith will create interesting choices with talented goalie newcomer Kate Taylor now on the roster. Boston University #6 Northeast Region 2001 Record: 14-6-1 Although eight starters return, the Terriers lose three 1st Team All-America East players in Soules, Cross and Petruccelli. Coach Feldman does return three other conference first-teamers: Keeper Clinton, striker Shulman and midfielder Merkle. BU owns an impressive 24-0-1 mark in regular season conference play over the last three seasons and leading scorer Beyer and senior Houdek should lead the charge to keep the streak alive in 2002. The Terriers will be an improved team if they can score more than last year's 34 goals and limit opponents to fewer than last year's 26 goals. BYU #10 West Region 2001 Record: 14-7-1 The Cougars are thin on experience with just five startes and eleven letterwinners returning. Yet, All-American Aleisha Cramer-Rose is a big-time player to build around and she will have plenty of scorers with whom to playmake. Ojuka, Hunsberger, Davis and Viernes all make excellent targets for Cramer-Rose's distribution skills. The return of redshirt Hofheins-Olmstead is timely as the defense has only Hoecherl after losing top players Weidner and keeper Waldron. BYU has consistenly put together great records and solid seasons in year's past no matter the losses to graduation or missions but 2002 will be Coach Rockwood's biggest challenge as several top recruits will be called upon fast. Cal State Fullerton Unranked West Region 2001 Record: 13-7 Last year's exciting NCAA debut and first ever Big West crown for Fullerton should not go unrepeated in 2002. The Titans have most of their key components back along with one of the top recruiting classesi in the nation. Midfielder Ulicny is gone but top three scorers Bannister, Mescher and Cox all return. Seniors Glick and Garcia join sophomore Valentine on the backline which could be better than last year's rotation that allowed just 25 goals. Coach Khosroshahin's team may be on paper look familiar to the 2001 squad, but the large group of skilled recruits will make this Titan team more dangerous than last year's record-breaking squad. Duke #8 Southeast Region 2001 Record: 8-10-1 The Duke soccer program may not be living the glory days of ACC's best behind Carolina, but the Blue Devils continue to put teams on the field that are as competitive as any in the nation. Tough schedules have resulted in somewhat mediocre records but Duke has proven it can beat any team on the right day. Last year's controversial NCAA bid despite a losing record should motivate a group of seven returning starters that will surge with a Top 10 signing class. The loss of Pickens, Truman and Fuller hurts the most but McCluskey, Oxenham and Helgdadottir all return to lead the Blue Devils back to the NCAAs. Rookies Hollenbeck, Bognanno, Seibert and Marshall all have the skills to duplicate the Freshman All-American performance of McCluskey a year ago. Cincinnati #6 Great Lakes Region 2001 Record: 20-4 The Bearcats will be a very different team that last year's top ranked regional squad. Cincy loses big players on both ends of the field as All-American and leading scorer Ann Thomas and keeper Christy Hoffman (.58 GAA) have departed. The Bearcats also lose Luse, Day and Polaski from a team that went 20-4 and finished #12 in the nation. Coach Glenn has a stable of players to mold a new look around including starters Simonson up top and Stephens, Wagner and Lieberman in the middle. Cincinnati has over 20 letterwinners returning but most of the playing time went to starters last year so expect the Bearcats to struggle a little early in the season. Denver #7 Central Region 2001 Record: 16-3-2 Division 1 newcomer has made fast strides in just three years of top division play and went 16-3-2 last season and earned its first NCAA Div 1 Tourney bid. The Pioneers have nine starters back, losing strikers George and Montgomery, but have momentum and a taste of success on their side now. All-American Jamie Norwood joins impressive keeper Erica Izard to lead Coach Hooker's team from the backline while Flenniken, Movius, Warren and Behrent form a much underrated midfield corp. Add in high-scoring Portincaso and Antongiovanni and Denver returns the bulk of a group that should do as well as last year which puts the Pioneers within range of Top 25 status. Hartford #7 Northeast Region 2001 Record: 15-6 Coach Bergsten has one of the most experienced lineups in the country with nine starters returning, including six seniors have seen major playing time over their careers. Seniors Kayulu and Lindner join top strikers Akerlund and Engman as the core returners of last year's top seven scorers that are still around. Michaels, Woodson and Walsh will have new defensive teamsters as Skaard and keeper Nilssen are the lone starting departures from 2001. Former Seton Hall transfer Hinton may have the inside track to the open goalie position which will be critical in rounding out the seasoned group that could reclaim an America East championship back for Hartford. Illinois #8 Great Lakes Region 2001 Record: 12-8-1 A new era of Illinois soccer begins with new coach Janet Rayfield. Despite the recent coaching carousel at Illinois, the Fighting Illini continue to be one of the premier programs in the Big 10. Rayfield loses three starters, taking the biggest hit with the graduation of defender Holtzman and leading scorer Colleen Joyce. Super sophs Sinak, Hurless and Alcia join seniors Schuling, Schurr and Johnson in a rotation that is sure to improve with the return of All-American redshirt Emily Brown and several top rated recruits including Kristen Karniski, Laura Redmond, Kelly Campbell and Paul Faherty. The Illini have the weapons to put big numbers on the board in 2002 and could be even better than last year's 6-3-1 Big 10 mark. Kansas #6 Central Region 2001 Record: 13-7 When Hilla Rantala transferred to Kansas in 1999, she ignited an era that saw Kansas push to the top tier of the Big 12 and earn its first NCAA bid. How much of that success was due to Rantala will be the question this season as leading scorer Rantala has graduated along with starters Hoogveld and Schroeder. Coach Francis has enough talent in the cupboard to squash any doubters starting with offensive threats Brothers and Gilfillan. Pardis Brown is a first-rate back and will team with Wahle and keeper Miller in 2002 when the defense will be called upon more. The Jayhawks have three recruits who were state players of the year who could figure in the 2002 mix: Carolina Smith (MN), Jessica Smith (KS) and Holly Ryder (FL). Miami, FL #6 Southeast Region 2001 Record: 10-9-1 The Hurricanes begin a new era with new coach Tricia Taliaferro, just the second head coach in program history. She is fortunate to start her Hurricane career with nine returning starters and a roster loaded with potential. Miami flirted with a Top 25 ranking all last season and could return to the rankings any time this year with scorers like Butcher and Matthews and defenders like Gomez and Provenzano. Miami had no problems putting goals in the net last year but has to get better than almost 2 GAA for opponents. Senior Elsby may get the call in net as a solid rookie class may spark some changes Coach Taliaferro is sure to make at Miami. Ohio State #5 Great Lakes Region 2001 Record: 10-9-1 2001 was a crazy year for Ohio State soccer as the Buckeyes upset teams they shoulodn't have beaten and then lost to teams that could easily have defeated. All that has made 2002 an exciting prospect as Coach Walker returns ten starters and adds a large list of recruits headed by Colleen Hoban, Kristin Rhyne and Danielle Dietrich. Top scorers Grubb and Eckles return along with senior defender Miller to try to give the Buckeyes the consistency they lacked last year. Keeper Heaney was a huge surprise in goal in 2001 and should be a reliable force this year. Oklahoma #8 Central Region 2001 Record: 11-7-1 Things could get very exciting this Fall in Sooner land and not just because of football. Soccer may be big news at Oklahoma as nine starters return from a team that made some noise last year. Leading scorers Womack and Dawson are back as are rotating goalies Cunningham and Wade. The loss of Secrest and Volcansek sets the defense back a bit, but Coach Evans brought in several defensive recruits including Lauren MacIver and Shelby Hoge. The Sooners have an excellent chance to push past Kansas and into the top four of the tough Big 12 Conference. Pennsylvania #8 Mid-Atlantic Region 2001 Record: 13-2-3 After earning its first ever Ivy title, Penn has all the pieces to keep moving up with nine starters back from a team that lost only two games in 2001. Coach Ambrose must replace midfield starters Weber and Campbell and five other players who each appeared in at least 13 games. Defense has been the key for the Quakers, allowing only 13 goals combined with 10 shutouts in 2001. All defensive starters return led by keeper Scotto and backs Issing and Valentine. Cross and Snyder return to lead the attack which has the top five scorers around for another season. The midfield likely be most changed from last year as several top newcomers in a Top 25 recruiting class could contribute as starters. Purdue #7 Great Lakes Region 2001 Record: 10-6-3 Goalkeeper Elizabeth Boldt (.87 GAA) is the lone starter missing from last year's successful Purdue team and a deep team of 24 letterwinners returns. The back line should be a strength with the return of Berry, Creamer, Pepper and Masck who could be joined in goal by former starter and redshirt keeper Jocelyn Cavalier. Every goal scorer returns for Coach Klatte led by Sesselmann, Kent and Moppert. New midfield recruits Biamonte and Bradbury along with several other newcomers will make Purdue will one of the deepest teams in the country. Syracuse #5 Northeast Region 2001 Record: 12-7 Three key starters may be gone but the Orangewomen have become a mainstay in recent years. Midfielders Schmelze, Parsons, Turner and second leading scorer Reich have departed, leaving Coach Kater with a big challenge to build around capable junior LaPalme. Top scorers Scalzo and Galas along with speedster Sybert will give the Orangewomen plenty of offense. A big group of ten newcomers will be looked upon for immediate defensive help with the graduation of Stalker and injuries to two returning starters, Spencer and Tohidi, that leaves the backline unexpectedly thin and inexperienced. Villanova #7 Mid-Atlantic Region 2001 Record: 13-6-3 The Wildcats lose some depth in midfield with the departure of part-time starters Painchaud and Scialdone and sub Frawley. The bigger concern is defense where Schillig's .71 GAA will be missed as will defender Noonan. The top four scorers, Sellers-Johnson-Jeltema-MacDonald, all return along with impressive sophomore defender Michelle Biehl. Coach Ann Clifton inked some great recruits headlined by HS All-American Lindsey Finnegan and US U19 Team Pool defender Kelly Breslin.