2008 guide - Ohio Wesleyan University

2008 Bishop Outlook2Given the lofty standards set by headcoach Bob Barnes and the Ohio WesleyanUniversity women’s soccer team — whichinclude national championships in 2001and 2002 — the 9-5-5 record posted by the2007 Battling Bishops may appear to be adisappointment.But consider that the team’s 2007 rollercoasterride included a pair of All-NorthCoast Athletic Conference forwards, astarting midfielder, a starting defender andthe starting goalkeeper battling injuriesfor significant stretches of time, and theBishops’ stretch run of just one loss in theirlast 10 games takes on a different look.Senior Michelle Corbett, a 2-time All-America selection, has led Ohio Wesleyanin scoring in each of the last 3 seasons. Sheranked fourth in the NCAC in scoring with10 goals and 3 assists last season.Also back on the front line is seniorAllie Cozzone, who was a second-team allconferencepick for the third straight year.Cozzone had 5 goals and 2 assists to rankthird on the team in scoring.Competing for the other starting spotwill be senior Megan Quinn, who has startingexperience in the midfield line; juniorMeghan Cahoon, who had 2 goals in limitedplay last season; and freshman MakinzieKrebsbach, an all-state selection in highschool.Scoring from the midfield will be theBishops’ question mark.Leading the way in the outside spotsis junior Carolyn Tallman, who emergedlate last season and performed notably.Junior Brooke Whitesell and sophomoreAllie Cozzone is a 3-timeAll-NCAC selection.2008 OWU Women’s SoccerChelsea Keller each saw action in 10 gameslast year. Sophomore Steph Literski also returns,and freshman Whitney Fischer wasan all-conference selection in high school.Sophomore Erica Lowell returns atone central midfield position, and freshmanBelle Madison, a 4-time all-state selectionin high school, will look to win theother spot. Freshman Megan Hoffman wasa second-team all-region and first-team allconferencepick in high school, freshmanJenny Howe won league all-star honors inhigh school, and freshman Lindsey Pattonalso seeks to contribute.Senior Brittany Coss, who played inonly 4 games last year because of injuries,and junior Megan Goodrich, who movesback from the midfield, will anchor theBishop defense.Junior Maddie Branden and sophomoresVictoria King and sophomore HannahSterling are returning letterwinners,and sophomore Amanda Markarian alsoreturns.Sophomore Carly Topper, an all-stateselection in high school who did not playsoccer at Ohio Wesleyan last fall, joinsfreshmen Addie Bishop, an all-city selectionin high school; Lindsey Queen; andCaitlin Zeller, a 2-time, first-team all-conferencepick in high school; as newcomerson the Bishop squad.Sophomore Laura VanHoey, whoracked up 5 shutouts and a goals-againstaverage of 0.71 after taking over in goal lastseason, will have the starting spot from theopening whistle this year. Sophomore EllaMassie-Schuh and freshman R.J. Rotuno-Johnson will compete for the backup role.“We have a great mix of strong upperclassmenwith leadership and talent, andvery, very talented underclassmen,” Barnessaid. “We have a ton of depth, and a lot ofplayers who can play in different positions.We can go with a lot of different variables,and what we’re going to throw at teamswill be different than in the past.”The Bishops open the season at theFisher Tournament, hosted by St. JohnFisher. A flurry of regional tests follows,including games against Capital, CaseReserve, Ohio Northern, DePauw andWilmington, before a matchup against2007 national runner-up Messiah. Contestsagainst nearby rival Otterbein andThomas More lead into the NCAC schedule,which opens against defending championWittenberg on Oct. 1. The NCAC titlechase will be further highlighted by gameswith traditional arch-rival Denison, 2007tournament semifinalist Kenyon as well astraditionally-tough Allegheny and surprisingEarlham, who handed the Bishops theironly conference loss last year.