Aug. 25, 2003

ABILENE, Texas - When the strengths of a team are talent and youth, it can lead to an unpredictable season.

That situation is what faces Hardin-Simmons fourth-year head coach Marcus Wood.

The Cowgirls have just one senior, Laura Freeman, on the team and she will share a playing time role.

However, the Cowgirls have a strong junior class that features three-year starters Mollie Porter, Katie Bergfeld and Rachel Goold. All three have been in the program and the Cowgirls have really built their defense around Porter, who was an All-American sweeper last season and Goold, who was third in the nation in goals against average as a freshman and was in the top 20 last season.

"We have built our program around Rachel's work ethic and leadership," said Wood. Goold has started all but one game in her two years. Last year she played every minute of the season in goal and has been named all-ASC her first two seasons.

"Mollie (Porter) is just a dominant athletic player at sweeper," said Wood. "She does a lot of things for us on defense and really helps our offense with corner and goal kicks. She is strong and powerful."

Add to the mix forward Erika Lay, who is currently listed as a senior, but will apply for a medical redshirt that will likely be granted and give her two years of eligibility. Lay has spent time with the Mexico National Team and is the brother of former Cowboy player Mo Lay. She will give the Cowgirls a strong goal scorer and brings an unmatched work rate to the team.

"Erika is going to be one of the best players we have had at HSU," said Wood. "She gets a great read on the ball and has played at such a high level. She adds a different dimension to our team."

Several newcomers along with some solid sophomores are fighting for playing time all over the field.

Freshman goalkeeper April Johnson, who is the brother of former Cowboy goalkeeper Chuck Johnson, is fighting Goold for the starting job.

"It is rare to have someone come in and push a two-time all-conference player for their job, but April is giving Rachel a good run and both will play early in the season," said Wood.

In front of the two talented goalkeepers will be a defense that will be on of the Cowgirls biggest strengths. Freshman Calli Wood, Katie Bergfeld, Porter and sophomore Natalie Longhofer give the Cowgirls a solid back.

Wood has been impressive as a true freshman and Bergfeld has been a steady player that understands the system. Marcus Wood has been impressed with Natalie Longhofer. "Natalie may be our best player. She is a strong player and is a great player. She brings some intensity to our team and has been named a tri-captain along with Rachel (Goold) and Katie.

The Cowgirls have three outstanding players battling for the center-midfield position. Freshman Jacky Cox is a defensive workhorse and is a ball winner she can control the middle. Freshman Whitney Piendak and Cisco Junior College transfer Elaine Pallarez are both complete players that are technical, skillful and will be integral in starting the offense.

Kala Chalman and Becca Neal will battle for playing time in the midfield as well. Chalman keeps possession of the ball and may be one of most fit players on the team. Neal is a great athlete as well who can win balls and is a good ball crosser.

Up front, the Cowgirls expect big things from Lay, but are also counting on sophomore Cathy Castagnos to score a lot of goals. Freshman Stefanie Patterson is also athletic and a great technical player that will give the Cowgirls some added scoring punch.

Senior Laura Freeman brings good speed and a good work rate to the team and will battle for playing time. Schelli Hotzclaw and Brittany Enriquez are both players that have great potential and will give the Cowgirls some depth.

HSU opens the season with one of the toughest schedules in the nation. The first four opponents will likely be in the top 20 of the first poll of the season and three may be in the top 10. They open their slate with Pacific Lutheran and Puget Sound the first weekend of the year. Puget Sound won the West Regional last season and returns several key players.

The next weekend the Cowgirls will play Trinity and Emory, which are the two premiere teams in the South Region.

"We want to be tested early, because of our youth," said Wood. "We are not the team we will be at the end of the year, but we will find out our strengths and weaknesses early and hopefully we can have them corrected when the playoffs come around.

"We have great potential, but we are not yet who we are going to be. We have to grow up in a hurry."