Women’s soccer: Pirates looking forward

Tony Altobelli

COSTA MESA - The 1999 season? What 1999 season?

For the Orange Coast College women’s soccer team, trying to forget

about last year’s 7-11-4 season will be a major priority heading into

this year’s regular season.

“Last year was one of our worst seasons,” Coach Barbara Bond said.

“Not necessarily that we were a bad team, but the other teams in our

conference really stepped up and improved their programs. We just have to

make that step with them and with this group I believe we have.”

With a solid mix of talent and experience in the key positions, the

Pirates will soon make a lot of teams in the Orange Empire Conference

forget about 1999.

“In our off-season, we had a big turnout for tryouts,” Bond said.

“We’ve got nine players returning to this squad. Last year, we only had

three. There’s a lot of leadership here.”

Among those Bond will be calling on for that leadership include

sophomores Diane Meza, Katie Odgen, Meredith Lake and Amanda Bell.

Bond also likes the offensive play of freshman Renee Gomez. “She is

going to be a big help to us offensively,” Bond said. “Renee has a lot of

talent and she will bring up the level of the other players.”

On the Pirates’ defense, Bond will go to sophomores Jill Jones,

Lindsay Myers, Danelle Loftis and freshmen Andrea Corkhill (Newport

Harbor High) and Kristen Hamman.

“Lindsay will be strong at the sweeper position for us,” Bond said.

“She played behind Apollonia Reyes last year, so she should be a strong

force for us defensively.”

After last year’s wake-up call, look for the Pirates to make a strong

climb up the OEC standings.

“We have always been in the hunt because we try to raise our own bar

of expectations,” Bond said. “Last year, we weren’t able to hit our

goals, but with this group, I think we’ll be right in the thick of

things.”

ORANGE COAST COLLEGE WOMEN’S SOCCER

Amanda Bell So.

Maral Boghous Fr.

Andrea Corkhill Fr.

Renee Gomez Fr.

Cristina Guerin Fr.

Kristin Hamman Fr.

Jill Jones So.

Becky Lake So.

Meredith Lake So.

Margaret Landeros Fr.

Danelle Loftis So.

Lilly Lopez Fr.

April Lynch So.

Diane Meza So.

Lindsay Myers So.

Katie Odgen So.

Jessica Pearson Fr.

Laurie Perkins Fr.

Jessica Siani So.

Blair Sperry So.

Head Coach - Barbara Bond