Aug. 10, 2006
With less than one week remaining before Illinois' exhibition opener at Ohio on Aug. 16, the Fighting Illini soccer squad has begun its preparation for the 2006 campaign. The season marks the 10th year of the Illinois program and promises to be a special year with events such as a former player reunion at the Auburn match on Sunday, Sept. 10 and the Homecoming Kick-off/SoccerFest 2006 at the Penn State match on Sunday, Oct. 1.
After the team reported and took part in meetings on Tuesday, practice officially began with the team's fitness test and a scrimmage on Wednesday morning. The highly-touted freshman class, ranked No. 9 in the country by Soccer Buzz, seemed to acclimate itself with the rest of the team quickly in the initial scrimmage.
The squad continues practice in anticipation of the exhibition matches at Ohio on Aug. 16 and against Marquette at home on Aug. 18 before the regular season begins versus South Carolina on Aug. 25 at the Nike Tiger Invitational hosted by Missouri.
Below is a position-by-position breakdown of the 2006 Illini squad, as well as a look at the schedule and outlook for this season.
Forwards
Who's Back: Bayne (Troy, Ill./Troy), an All-Big Ten Tournament team selection in 2005, leads a talented group of Illini forwards who return all but one from their ranks a year ago. In addition, Strickland (Seattle, Wash./Holy Names Academy) and Masar (Urbana, Ill./Urbana) figure to join Bayne for one of the most experienced Illini attacking lines in years. Those three combined to score 46 of Illinois' 96 points in 2005 (48 percent), including 16 of 34 goals (47 percent).
Who's Not: The only loss the Illini realize up front is Natasha Karniski, who has moved to the coaching staff as a student assistant. Karniski tied for second on the team in goals with Strickland, scoring five a year ago.
Who's New: Chichi Nweke, Christina Sahly and Ashley Varns bring pace, power, and possession to the Illinois attack. Nweke's pace and 1v1 ability make her a threat, Sahly can hold the ball and find the net or her teammates in goal scoring positions, and Varns has the strength to power her way into the box and unlease a powerful shot. With three veterans to help them with the learning curve, the front six for Illinois could explode early in the season.
Midfielders
Who's Back: After taking a medical redshirt in 2005, Faherty (Springfield, Va./Lake Braddock) returns to lead a seasoned group in the Illini midfield. Faherty was a leader as a junior in 2004, starting all 24 games and scoring seven points (2 g, 3 a) while helping Illinois to an Elite Eight run in the NCAA Tournament. She will once again keep the Illini organized in the neutral third and win balls from opponents. Joining her are returning letterwinners Weeks, Marti Desjarlais, and Jamie Alvis. Weeks (North Vancouver, B.C./Argyle Secondary) started 20 of 22 matches in 2005 and dished a pair of assists while playing a key role in the defensive midfield. Desjarlais (Pewaukee, Wis./Brookfield Central) earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman team after starting all but one match during her inaugural season and scoring a pair of goals while primarily playing a center midfield position. Alvis (Cypress, Calif./Los Alamitos) saw action in 14 matches a year ago, showing flashes of her ability in the air. In addition, Quinn Reynolds (Jamestown, N.C./Brittain Academy) returns for her senior season after seeing action in seven matches a year ago, and Shannon McDonnell (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) moves from her defender position into the midfield to help bolster the Illini.
Who's Not: Illinois will miss four-year letterwinner Laura Redmond in the defensive midfield, as Redmond became quite adept at stifling attacks early and winning balls. Also, Kimberly Coninx graduated after being hampered by injuries in 2005. Coninx played in seven games, starting one, and even saw some time as a substitute goalkeeper in the Big Ten Tournament.
Who's New: Adding a ball winner in Jackie Santacaterina and a skillful attacking threat in Courtney Bell to the Illinois midfield means depth on both sides of the ball. Both the defense in and ability to attack from the midfield will improve with the addition of these two very competitive athletes.
Backs
Who's Back: Emily Zurrer (Vancouver, B.C./Cowichan Secondary), who was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team a year ago, and
Mary Therese McDonnell (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg), a Big Ten All-Freshman honoree two years ago, provide a strong defensive foundation. Zurrer grew into her center back position throughout the season, playing some of her best soccer in NCAA tournament matches against No. 20 Florida and No. 11 Florida State. She is also a key cog on offensive set pieces, using her height and ability in the air. McDonnell is an excellent defensive presence at right back, but will also be an offensive weapon coming forward with or without the ball. Often playing together on the right half of the field in 2005, the duo developed a strong bond that repeatedly turned back opponents.
Kara Gostisha (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) will likely play alongside Zurrer after moving from her midfield position in the spring. Gostisha gives the Illini another tall center back who can win balls in the air. In addition, sophomore
Jessica Levitt (Naperville, Ill./Central) moves to an outside back spot after battling through injuries as a forward in 2005. Still, Levitt played in 18 games, starting one, and assisted on a goal against Iowa.
Who's Not: Without a doubt, the loss of All-American Christen Karniski and All-Big Ten performer Kelly Campbell will be the hardest hit to any unit on the Illini team. Karniski was the ultimate left back, shredding attacking opponents, getting into the attacking third with the ball and serving great free kicks and corners. At the same time, Campbell was a wall at center back and took her share of free kicks, including one that scored the game-winning goal at Indiana at year ago.
Who's New: Brittany Garrett and Emily Pickard may differ in size but share a common mentality to battle and fight to the end - a mentality shared by the two defenders the Illini lose from 2005. These two complete and deepen a young defense that is ready to prove itself against the best in the country.
Goalkeepers
Who's Back: Junior Lindsey Carstens (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota East) looks to make the jump to an elite keeper in 2006 after a strong first season in goal a year ago. Carstens racked up a 0.99 goals-against average with an even stronger 0.48 GAA and four shutouts in 10 non-conference matches. After allowing a goal in the season-opener at Marquette on Aug. 26, she blanked opponents until No. 23 Stanford scored a late goal on Sept. 9. She is healthy after sustaining a broken fibula at Purdue on Oct. 23 and missing the team's final five matches.
Who's Not: Rachel Frank finally got her chance in 2005 after spending much of her career as Illinois' back-up keeper. Frank pitched two shutouts in five starts after Carstens' injury and allowed just five goals.
Who's New: Raw but instinctive, Alexandra Kapicka will use her height to challenge Carstens to own her box while Carstens teaches Kapicka how to read the game at this level. The battle between them will make them both better and Illinois' goalkeeping very solid.
Schedule
Another mark of Janet Rayfield's program is playing top competition and 2006 will be no different as the Illini face eight NCAA Tournament qualifiers from a year ago, including College Cup participant Penn State. After opening the season against South Carolina and Missouri at the Nike Tiger Invitational, Illinois travels to both Texas A&M and Texas in early September as part of the annual Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge. The Illini then travel to St. Louis and host Utah, both NCAA Tournament qualifiers in 2005. In addition, the Illini Tournament returns after a year's absence with Auburn, Syracuse and Portland State visiting Champaign in early September.
The Big Ten schedule offers even more challenges, as Illinois faces NCAA qualifiers in two of its first three conference matches, at Wisconsin and home against Penn State. After a home weekend against resurgent Minnesota and Ohio State squads, the Illini travel to NCAA qualifier Michigan State and to the Michigan team that ended Illinois' 2005 Big Ten Tournament run. Illinois then welcomes a tough, experienced Purdue squad to Champaign before it faces Indiana and Iowa to close the regular season.
Outlook
While a strong start could be key, the Illini face a daunting schedule with five of the first eight games away from the friendly confines of Illinois Soccer and Track Stadium. Not to mention that three of those five games are against NCAA Tournament qualifiers from a year ago. But after being tested to the limit in non-conference play, Illinois will be poised to chase its first regular season Big Ten title and make deep runs into the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments. With a strong core returning from last year and the addition of a top-10 national recruiting class, the Illini are as strong as ever as the program turns a decade old.
