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Soccer teams look ahead to season

Junior sweeper Amber Hall goes up against Lady Lancer Renee Blackwell (#22) in Wednesday night’s game against Cal Baptist. The Leopards defeated the Lancers, 4-2, in the first game of the season. / photo by Melissa A. Collett
Junior sweeper Amber Hall goes up against Lady Lancer Renee Blackwell (#22) in Wednesday night’s game against Cal Baptist. The Leopards defeated the Lancers, 4-2, in the first game of the season. / photo by Melissa A. Collett

by Ryan Sones
Staff Writer

It is time once again for the University of La Verne men’s and women’s soccer teams to emerge for the season. Both are formidable opponents in the Southern California Inter­collegiate Athletic Con­ference (SCIAC).

Both teams are running in high gear preparing for the season’s start, with a big boost in confidence because players on both teams are fully healthy.

Last year the men’s team started the season plagued by five injuries to key players, resulting in fielding a very green and inexperienced team.

The men’s team is ready to improve on the past season’s performance including the appointment of new head coach Michael Collins.

Collins brings positive input to this years team. “My main goal this year is to get 100 percent out of the guys at every practice and finish in the top three in SCIAC,” said Collins, the assistant coach for ULV the previous two years. He is also happy to be getting key players back such as Darin Soliday, Eric Gleason and the Piazza brothers.

Gleason, a veteran returner, said, “Hopefully we will place in the top three in SCIAC this year, assuming that we remain injury free.”

He is also glad to see returners from previous years, like Aaron Jones and Rusty Smith, returning after a season off.

Returning captain Soliday added, “A lot is already improved this year; our attitude is better, our midfield is much stronger and the guys all around are in better physical shape than last year’s season.”

The women enter this year fielding potentially the strongest team of experienced players in the SCIAC.

The women, coming in a close second to Cal Lutheran last season, are already stalking the number one spot in SCIAC. Head coach, Wendy Zwissler said that her main goal this year is to, “Match and better what the girls did last year by winning the SCIAC title.”

Zwissler said that the only way to the top this year will be through the teams of Cal Lutheran and University of California San Diego. Only after beating them will they have a chance at possibly fulfilling many of last years hopes of venturing to the Division III National Playoffs.

Returning veteran Ana Delgado, senior, said, “The strength of our team this year is in the skills many of the players possess and the teamwork they all share on the field.”

Amber Hall, junior, also added, “We don’t want to concentrate on last year or the outcome of this year. Right now we have to take it game by game, win by win.”

At Tuesday nights game, the women of got off on a strong foot for the season by beating Cal Baptist with a score of 4-2 at Ben Hines’ Field.

Angel Mejico was the first Leopard on the board this season, scoring on a penalty kick in the first half due to a Cal Baptist red card penalty.

In the second half, Jennifer Zwissler, readjusted the scoreboard with a goal from the pass of Deanna Kodama.
The Zwissler connection was restored for this season when sister Jaqui Zwissler scored a goal assisted by sister Jennifer Zwissler’s corner kick.

In another goal, Hall, who proved that the defense can score as well, came rumbling down the full length of the field, scoring a goal unassisted.

Today the women’s team leaves for a week-long four game series in St. Louis and Chicago against DePauw University, Washing­ton Uni­versity, North Park and the University of Chicago.

The men open their season tomorrow at 6 p.m. against Carleton on Ben Hines Field.

Ryan Sones
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Melissa A. Collett, Photography Editor
Melissa A. Collett
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