Ignorance is bliss for Lions

Barry Faulkner

Much is unknown about this year’s Vanguard University women’s soccer

team, for which the 18-player roster includes 12 underclassmen. But,

according to fourth-year coach Kerry McGrath-Crooks, what the Lions

don’t know may be among their leading assets.

“Half our team is new and they don’t know any better,”

McGrath-Crooks said. “They don’t know they’re supposed to be afraid

of [perennial Golden State Athletic Conference and NAIA power]

Westmont. Our girls just want to compete, which is kind of nice.

They’re showing me they’re not afraid to go in and compete.”

Competition will remain rugged in the GSAC, which McGrath-Crooks

terms the NAIA’s toughest conference. And, having lost its top three

scorers, as well as All-GSAC goalie Jordan Fredriksen, from last

year’s 8-7-3 squad, the Lions may be as untested as they are unbowed.

“The experience factor with our defense could be a concern,

especially with the teams we play in conference,” McGrath-Crooks

said. “But we’re a lot faster than last year and, overall, our depth

is a lot better than previous years.”

Seniors Amber Waddle and Bryanna Gonzalez spearhead the returners

and represent virtually all of the experience at McGrath-Crooks’

disposal.

Waddle, who scored seven points last year (three goals and one

assist), tops among returners, will start at center midfield, while

Gonzalez, recovered from ACL surgery, is another midfielder. Both are

co-captains.

Sophomore forward Ashley DeLoach, who scored three goals last

season despite playing at about 50% due to a knee problem, will help

key the attack.

She tuned up for the season by playing with Athletes in Action in

Ireland, McGrath-Crooks said.

Jennifer Zipprich, a freshman out of Salt Lake City, scored two

goals in the Lions’ 3-0 win over the alumni Saturday (Waddle scored

the other) and McGrath-Crooks believes her speed will maker her a

dangerous scoring threat.

The Lions’ scoring punch took a hit when senior Janae Welch, who

led the team in scoring the last two seasons, transferred to Loyola

Marymount.

Katie Dynice, a freshman from Ventura, is a midfielder with

polished passing skills and freshmen Heather Hutton and Stacia

Hoover, both of whom played for McGrath-Crooks at Edison High, could

also contribute right away. Hoover will start at sweeper and looks to

be surrounded on the back line by Lauren Walker, a freshman out of

Aliso Niguel High, and Natalie Severson, a junior transfer from

Fresno City College.

Heather Tape, a junior transfer from Bakersfield College, is

another newcomer who has impressed her coach with her aggressiveness.

“Heather clocked a girl in the alumni game and we all just cracked

up on the sideline,” McGrath-Crooks said.

Sophomore Stacy Britton takes over in goal for Fredriksen, who

received honorable mention All-American status last season.

“Stacy has been thrown into the starting role, but she’s taking it

on strong and working her butt off,” McGrath-Crooks said. “She should

get stronger as the season progresses.”

The season opens Friday with the first of two games in the

Westmont Tournament in Santa Barbara. VU faces Dominican University

of California in the opener, then meets Trinity University of

Illinois Saturday.

“We should get a good measuring stick right out of the gate,”

McGrath-Crooks said.