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August 22, 2010

OFF-SEASON WORK SETS FOUNDATION FOR BREAKOUT SEASON

GEORGETOWN, Texas - The Pirates got off to a blistering start in 2009, beginning the season 6-1, and are looking to have the same result out of the gate in 2010. They will have to prove themselves early largely on the road which will present additional challenges as five of their opening seven games are away including Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) opening action at Rhodes and Hendrix September 24th and 26th.

Leading the way for Southwestern is an experienced core of returners including 10 starters from last year's squad (Amy Douglas- SR, Maria Pollifrone- JR, Sarah Nonaka- SO, Danielle Madison- SR, Jillian Curran- JR, Madi Stachura- SR, Lyndsey Resnick- SO, Sarah Holifield- SR, Lauren Kjolhede- SR, and Berkeley Mengwasser- SR) that went 10-8-1 overall and 4-4-1 in the SCAC. This talented and dynamic core is poised to make a strong push for the top of the conference by setting a tone of hard work and a never say die attitude that began during off-season training last year. That effort and work ethic has set the stage for this fall as Head Coach Jene' Baclawski has been impressed with their fitness level to start the season. "They have come in very fit and ready to play," states Coach Baclawski.

In the attacking third is Douglas, a senior forward from Missouri City, Texas, who was third on the team in points last season. She scored four goals, including two game winners, and recorded a team high four assists while starting 14 of the 19 contests she played in last year.

In the midfield are two tough returners, Pollifrone and Madison. Pollifrone, a junior from Arlington, Texas, scored nine points on four goals and one assist with two of her goals being game winners in 2009. Her .200 shot percentage was the highest for the Pirates as she started 18 of the 19 contests she saw action in. Madison, from Scottsdale, AZ, has been a continual midfield starter and is a great fighter for 50/50 balls.

Anchoring the team is senior defender Mengwasser from Bedford, TX. She started every game during the 2009 campaign and was voted "Most Valuable Defender" by her peers thanks to her solid, composed play.

Sophomore goalkeeper Nonaka, from Honolulu, HI, is anticipated to make the start in goal. She saw action in 17 games, starting six times in her first season. She made 63 saves and allowed 18 goals in 1202:32 minutes of action, including two shutouts.   

Adding to the strong returning core are incoming players who will be fighting to make a stamp on the field. These incoming players include Paige Duggins (Cedar Hill, TX), Lindsay Jakzsta (Colleyville, TX), and sophomore transfer Ashley Gallegos (El Paso, TX via Hendrix).

"Our non-conference matches (against American Southwest Conference opponents Mary Hardin Baylor, Texas Lutheran, UT Tyler and UT Dallas) early in the season are always against challenging competition but will prepare us for SCAC play." The tough competition continues throughout the season as SU will face two teams nationally ranked in the preseason polls. First up is conference-rival Trinity, who begins ranked #5, on October 2nd at home and is followed by a road game against the #13 ranked team, Hardin-Simmons, on October 5th.

Also on the schedule are teams that will help get the Pirates noticed in the regional rankings, games that are crucial to NCAA post-season berths. In conjunction with Trinity, the Pirates will face-off against fellow West Region opponents UC-Santa Cruz (home on September 19th) and Chapman (at San Antonio on October 24th).

Southwestern wraps up the regular season with an away game at DePauw, the last time the Pirates will make such a trip before the Tigers depart from the SCAC.

Aiding on the sidelines this season is Andi Miller, who competed four seasons for the Pirates. She will share her expertise with the team as a volunteer assistant.

The 2010 season will commence on September 1 as Southwestern travels to Belton, Texas to face Mary Hardin-Baylor followed by their first home game on September 6th against Texas Lutheran University. "I am looking forward to the healthy competition for positions and playing time that such strong incoming and returning classes provide," notes Coach Baclawski. "If the team is able to come together and focus on a common goal, there is a tremendous amount of potential in this squad."