Aug. 17, 2004

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' women's soccer team has high expectations heading into the 2004 season and with good reason. The Cowgirls return 14 of their top 15 players from the 2003 team that went 16-4 and advanced to the regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament. The Cowgirls also won the American Southwest Conference for the second time in three years. Leading the way for the Cowgirls are three seniors - Katie Bergfeld, Rachel Goold and Mollie Porter - that know what it takes to be successful at the conference and national levels. "Our seniors will be the one's that communicate to our younger players what it takes to win championships," said HSU head coach Marcus Wood. "They have been to the ASC Tournament Final all three years and have won two of those. They know what it feels like to lose and win and that is great for them to be able to relay how to win to our younger players." Goold and Porter are both three-time All-ASC selections and Porter is the two-time defending ASC West Defensive Player of the Year from her sweeper position. Goold has been one of the top goalkeepers in the nation each of the last three years. "Rachel and Mollie have been the backbone of our defense going on four years now," said Wood. "We have built our team around their defensive abilities. Katie has also been a stabilizing force for us in the back. We are a defensive-minded team and they are the leaders." Goold, the team's lone captain and a tireless worker, will be pushed hard by talented sophomore April Johnson. Both are talented and give the Cowgirls' great depth. In front of the keepers, will be a strong three-man defensive backfield. Porter will lead the way in the center. The other two slots will come from mostly three players. Junior Natalie Longhofer and Bergfeld are proven veterans. Also pushing for time in the back will be freshman Regan Capella who is a great athlete. Youngsters Kim Fernandez and Jaymie Ludeman will also look to add depth to the defensive backfield. The midfield is in solid hands with two standout sophomores in the center. Whitney Piendak and Jacky Cox have proved themselves as playmakers. Freshman Jessica Flobeck will be their man back-up in the center midfield. "Whitney makes a lot happen for us and Jacky is the work horse of the center mid," said Wood. "She does all of the dirty work. Jessica Flobeck will see significant minutes as a freshman." At outside midfield, Kala Chalman is expected to start on the right and Marissa Wichkoski, a Division I transfer from Troy State, will start on the other side. Becca Neal will play a lot because of her ball-winning and heading ability. Beth Craig is a talented freshman that can be a ball winner for us. "Chalman is a returning All-ASC West selection, is very skillfull and big things are expected in her junior campaign," said Wood. "Wichkowski is an amazing athlete with great speed. Denise Lara is an unknown because I haven't seen her play yet. She played last season as a freshman at Division I North Texas and comes highly recommended. I hope she can step in and play some minutes in the midfield." Up front, the Cowgirls will use two sophomores (Mindi Zamora and Stefanie Patterson) along with junior Cathy Castagnos. "Zamora gives us a deep threat that is super fast and has a great work rate," said Wood. "Cathy Castagnos is a great player for us, she was All-ASC West last season and can put the ball in the net. Stefanie Patterson was on the All-ASC Tournament team and she is so physically talented. All three are proven and we expect great things out of them." Kelsey Jensen and Sara DeMartino are a pair of freshmen that have the ability to step in and score goals. Ellaine Pallarez works hard and will see some time at forward, along with Brittany Enrriques, who returns after a solid freshman campaign. With the right mixture of veterans and talented freshman, Wood expects the Cowgirls to be targets to every team they play this season. "I expect us to challenge everyone we play," said Wood. "I expect us to be one of the biggest games on all of our opponents' schedule. This team has a great work ethic and they showed me in the spring that they are going to be humble and prove themselves every day." One of the Cowgirls' biggest challenges will come from the new conference schedule that involves playing every ASC opponent one time. Now the Cowgirls will see everyone in the conference. There are no more divisions. "It is very positive for us," said Wood. "Our conference schedule will be a tremendous challenge. Whoever survives our conference will be very prepared to make a playoff run."