Women’s soccer: Lions ready to learn from the past

Tony Altobelli

It’s not how many times you fall down, it’s how many times you can

get up. After a seventh-place finish in the Golden State Athletic

Conference, the Vanguard University women’s soccer team is ready for a

trip northbound in the standings.

“We have a great group of seniors and hopefully, they used last year

as a learning experience for success this year,” VU Coach Kerry McGrath

Crooks said. “I hope this is a group with the fire to want to be part of

a winning team and not settle for losses.”

According to McGrath Crooks, the Lions, 8-9 overall and 2-5 in the

GSAC, have added some strength and offensive firepower to help bolster

the success of the Lions.

Leading the Lions’ 4-3-3 offensive scheme will be senior Annie Jacobs.

Last year, Jacobs had five goals and two assists. “Annie is quick, she

can get around the defender and has a great ability to create something

offensively out there,” McGrath Crooks said. “Her speed will also allow

her some high-quality scoring opportunities.”

Even though the calendar hasn’t even reached September just yet, the

Lions are already dealing with the injury bug. Junior forward Betsy

Nienhuis, one of the team leaders offensively last year for the Lions

(seven goals, four assists), is sidelined for two to six weeks after

breaking her arm during a scrimmage contest with Cal State Los Angeles.

“Hopefully she can come back as soon as possible,” McGrath Crooks

said. “She’s a big part of our offense.”

With Nienhuis on the mend, the Lions are looking for some goal-scoring

from freshman Janae Welch. “She’s got great promise in terms of her

all-around skills,” McGrath Crooks said.

The Lions’ midfield trio of Nicole Avila, Brittany Braun and Jennifer

Bird will not only be in charge of keeping order in the middle, but could

see some offensive opportunities as well.

“We expect some outside shots off of rebounds and things like that,”

McGrath Crooks said. “All three have nice outside shooting capabilities

and that will be another way to help boost our offense.”

The Lions’ defense will be bolstered by a pair of Newport Harbor High

standouts, defender Jennifer Shaver and goalie Jordan Fredriksen.

Shaver was a member of the 1999 state champion team at Cypress College

before transferring to VU last year. “Having a player with championship

experience can do nothing but help the team,” McGrath Crooks said. “She’s

a versatile player who will help us as a marking back.”

Fredriksen played two seasons at the University of Louisville before

coming to VU. “Her Division I experience will really be important for

us,” McGrath Crooks said. “She’s used to playing at a high level.”

Joining the Newport Harbor combination is redshirt senior Elisabeth

McCary. “She’s coming off a tough injury from last year and she’s really

stepped up big for us,” McGrath Crooks said. “She’ll be one of our

captains and a strong leader for us on the field.”

With the speed up front, the stability in the middle and the strength

on defense, Vanguard looks to move into the upper tier of the GSAC

standings, but knows it won’t be easy.

“Westmont and Azusa Pacific are always strong, but they each lost some

franchise-type players so that may even the field out a little bit,”

McCrath Crooks said. “Cal Baptist as also shown some promise for this

year as well so it’s out there for everyone to shoot for. So much can

happen during the course of the season.”

VANGUARD UNIVERSITY WOMEN’S SOCCER

00 Kim Becher GK 5-6 So.

1 Jordan Fredriksen GK 5-7 Jr.

2 Amber Waddle F 5-7 So.

3 Brittany Braun M 5-4 Sr.

4 Jennifer Shaver D 5-6 Jr.

5 Sarah Higuera F 5-8 Fr.

6 Kelsey Walton D 5-7 Fr.

7 Erin Bongiorno D 5-5 Sr.

8 Debra Watson M 5-7 Fr.

10 Olivia Fick D 5-8 Jr.

11 Kayleen Howard D 5-5 Fr.

12 Betsy Nienhuis F 5-9 Jr.

16 Alise McBrien D 5-7 Jr.

18 Nicola Avila M 5-7 Jr.

19 Jennifer Bird M 5-9 Sr.

20 Annie Jacobs F 5-5 Sr.

21 Elisabeth McCary M 5-4 Sr.

36 Janae Welch M/F 5-4 Fr.

Coach - Kerry McGrath-Crooks