July 31, 2006

ABILENE, Texas - Seventh-year Hardin-Simmons head coach Marcus Wood has built his program around a potent offensive attack and one of the best defenses in the nation year in and year out - this could be his best combination of the two.

The Cowgirls should be one of the top teams in the conference, which they have been for the last several years. The Cowgirls should be one of the top teams in the South Region, which they have been for the last several years. The Cowgirls hope to be one of the top teams in the country, which they have been close to being for the last several years.

"We know the quality of the top teams in the country because we have played them over the last three seasons," said Wood. "The standard at the top keeps us very motivated. We know we have a great deal of work to do in the next several months if we expect to compete in November."

Leading the optimism is an offense that has scored 218 goals in the last two seasons and most of the firepower is back. Senior NSCAA All-Region performer Mindi Zamora, sophomore All-ASC pick Morgan Loyd and freshman Amy Kuykendall are expected to start. Zamora scored 15 goals and has 11 assists last season and has 38 career goals and 33 career assists. Loyd had 11 goals and eight assists as a freshman.

Junior Kelsey Jensen and redshirt freshman Jordan Morley, who missed last season with a torn ACL, are expected to be the top two substitutes. Jensen had five goals last year and has 14 in her first two seasons with the Cowgirls.

"The common thread of the 3 starters is that they are all exceptionally fast, they are great 1v1 players and they are very determined to score goals," said Wood. "Kelsey brings the element of the target forward because she is great in the air and Jordan has great field vision and is a good passer of the ball. Our attack is very exciting because we can attack teams in a number of different ways."

Setting up the attack may be the best midfield in the country, highlighted by two four-year starters in the center midfield - Jacky Cox and Whitney Piendak. Piendak is an all--conference performer and was an NSCAA all-region selection in 2005 and Cox is a two-time first-team All-ASC performer. Piendak has 15 goals each of the last two years and has 37 for her career.

"They are both rock solid," said Wood. "They are both exactly what we would want in that position. Jacky is the captain of our team and the perfect defensive center mid who does all the dirty work. She is relentless. Whitney is a magician with the soccer ball. She has great field vision and is our playmaker."

Jessica Flobeck was the top substitute at center midfielder in 2005 and is expected to fill that role again. Redshirt freshman Amanda Arbuckle and freshman Lindsay Cogburn will challenge for time in the center midfield.

On the outside, the Cowgirls also return starters Beth Craig and Marissa Wichkoski. Craig has produced 10 goals and 14 assists in her first two seasons. Wichkoski, a Division I transfer from Troy, has 10 goals and seven assists.

"Beth and Marissa will both do whatever we ask from them. They love to attack and they are both very capable defenders."

Expected to play a big role are Stefanie Patterson, Meredith Barron, Southwestern transfer Kimberly Haynsworth and Alison Baker.

"The depth of our midfield should be a factor. All four of these young ladies are capable starters. We should be able to wear teams down in the midfield."

As good as the attack is the back end may be even better. The Cowgirl defense returns four veterans and all have started at some point in their careers.

Montana transfer Laura Newbrough, who is a 5-10 sweeper, ASC freshman of the year Kelly Watson and senior Becca Neal all started last season. Regan Cappella who was ASC All-Tournament team as a forward in 2005 is expected to move to the back in 2006.

"Laura & Becca are the brains of the operation," said Wood. "They are both extremely tactical and they keep us organized. Regan and Kelly give us two sprinters in the back. We expect this defensive unit to challenge to be one of the best in HSU history."

For any team to go deep into November it will take a solid effort at goalkeeper and Wood thinks he has two of the better keepers for sure in the conference if not the country. They will look to replace starter April Johnson.

Sophomore Ashley Jackson and freshman Christi Carr will battle for the starting position. Both come in with strong credentials, but little collegiate experience. Both were first-team all-state goalkeepers in high school Jackson played 377 minutes last season and had a 0.48 goals against average in 11 games. She recorded a shutout in her only start.

Goalkeeper is probably the most important position on the field," said Wood. "Most college programs struggle to get one GK who can do a satisfactory job. We have two of the best in the state. Ashley and Christi are both capable of leading a championship defense."

The Cowgirls once again play a solid schedule highlighted by regional champion Trinity in the opener on Sept. 1 in San Antonio. The Tigers were the only blemishes on the Cowgirls 20-2 record last season. Both games were overtime losses at home.

"Sometimes you have to be hurt a little bit to come back fighting," said Wood. "We were hurt last year when we lost to Trinity on our home field. That may be what we needed, because we have had 16 girls in Abilene this summer putting in the work on their own. They don't want that feeling again."

Obviously the Cowgirls are loaded with experience, talent and expectations but Wood cautions that the most talented teams don't always win.

"We are very talented but talent alone does not win," said Wood. "We have to come together as a team. Everyone must play their role. We must show the maturity to be motivated every week because each game presents a new challenge. The ASC has become much more competitive. There are seven or eight teams who can legitimately contend for the title and the teams who have traditionally been on the bottom have made huge improvements."