Women's Soccer

BENNINGTON, Vt. - After finishing the 2008 season with zero wins, 14 losses and barely enough names to fill out a lineup card, Southern Vermont College women's soccer head coach Shawn Holcombe was pleased to greet the dawn of a new season on Thursday.

"Last year we had six girls show up for training camp, and today we had 16 players arrive for the first day of practice," Holcombe said. "Just the numbers alone will change the outlook after last season when our goal was to just survive ... mission accomplished."

Holcombe recruited players to become the cornerstone of a flourishing program that he is working to build at SVC. There are 11 incoming freshman on the Mountaineers' roster this season and the mixture of young talent with veteran experience should amount to a successful season.

"There had been no quality recruiting done for the program in years," Holcombe said. "Past teams were lucky to have players even show up on the first day of practice. So simply having players that want to make an impact this year is huge."

A season ago, SVC allowed 88 goals and only scored five - with only one returning player on the current roster having scored one of those goals a year ago.

The biggest difference will be made in net, where Holcombe has recruited two solid freshman keepers, Amber Mulhern and Brandi Cain, to battle for the starting position. Jillian Neudecker had played in goal for all 14 of the Mountaineers' games last season because of her athletic ability, but her natural position is at forward.

"Jillian stepped up and made the sacrifice of playing goalie to make us better," Holcombe said. "She did whatever it took and I can only hope that drive rubs off on the younger girls."

In the midst of the incoming core is Shawnee Webster, who played varsity soccer for Hoosick Falls Central School and could make an immediate difference on the offensive side of the field. Webster is a skilled, left-footed wing player that has the ability to cross through-balls into the box for scoring opportunities.

"Shawnee is very quick and tenacious," Holcombe said. "That intensity is what we need coming off a winless season and will hopefully push other girls to get better."

Kimberly Bevis is the lone senior on the SVC roster, and the only current player who scored a goal for the Mountaineers last season, but her wealth of knowledge from past losing seasons that could push this team in the right direction.

Another big addition will be incoming freshman Danielle Celotto, who is the team's fastest player and will use her quickness to help the Mountaineers clear the ball on defense. It is still just the first week of practice and Holcombe is trying to evaluate the potential of his young team with fitness testing and game-situation scrimages.

"I haven't even thought about tactical stuff yet," Holcombe said. "I can only hope to prepare them to be the best team possible and let the chips fall where they may. Unreasonable expectations won't help this program.

"But if they continue to practice with the intensity that they all brought today, we'll move be moving in the right direction to mould the foundation for a successful program."

The Mountaineers open the 2009 season at home on Wednesday, Sept. 2, against Lyndon State at 4:30 p.m.