Current Release: September 11th, 2007 | Vol. XXIV Iss. 10

Another trip to Disney?

BY Ben Giles

brgiles1@vwc.edu

Florida, anyone?

Virginia Wesleyan certainly would like to make it back to Orlando to play in the Division III Women’s Soccer Final Four, duplicating an incredible run made by the 2006 squad. But for now, the Wesleyan women are content to focus on the games at hand. Lately, they’ve been doing just that.

Since a tie at Salisbury University on Sept. 12, the Marlins have not lost or tied another game. Currently 12-1-2 overall and 9-0 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, the Marlins have demolished opponents during this stretch. They have not allowed a goal since Washington & Lee scored in the 26th minute of a 2-1 Marlins victory on Sept. 22.

Though normally it might be easy to pinpoint a particular player or position at which the Marlins have performed exceptionally well, the Marlins are so rich in talent that no one player has been the key in almost any of the Marlin victories.

“It’s hard to pick out just a couple of players,” said senior Allie Shannon.

“When players come off the bench you can’t even tell the difference,” added Laura Jackson, senior captain.

In a win against Bridgewater College, six different players scored in a 7-0 victory. In their next game, a 12-0 rout of Hollins University, eight Marlins found the back of the net.

The depth in scoring extends throughout the team, from the seniors down to the first years. Against Hollins, the scoring frenzy was led by three rookies: Bonnie Braziel with three and Courtney Whorton and Kelly Higgins with two apiece.

“Our freshman class has brought a lot of fun and energy,” said Shannon.

A key part of every collegiate season is the constant wave of players leaving and new players coming in and being incorporated into the team. This year Head Coach Jeff Bowers has kept 31 players on board, making the need for strong leadership even greater.

“I think all of us have stepped up to fill in for the seniors from last year,” said Jackson, referring to herself and the team’s three other captains: Jackie Ochs-Gregory, Ally Hodgkins and Lindsey Williams.

It would seem that no matter who is on the field at any given time for the Marlins, the victories will come. And in a season when peaking at the right moment is crucial to post-season success, the Marlins are well on their way to accomplishing that goal. There are three more games left this season, all of which are at home. The next game on the schedule is this Saturday against Lynchburg College.

Some teammates think the best is yet to come.

“I don’t think we’ve played our best soccer yet,” said Shannon. That could be a scary proposition for the Marlin opponents, and perhaps a sign of warmer weather to come in Florida. “

We have a good team that definitely has the potential to get there,” said Jackson.