SWOSU Soccer Team Hopes to Build on '04 Improvement

August 18, 2005

Weatherford, OK - Southwestern Oklahoma State University enters 2005 eager to learn if last year’s noticeable improvement and a rugged off season workout program will be enough to push the Bulldogs forward in the Lone Star Conference’s women’s soccer race.

SWOSU returns all but one starter off last year’s team that finished with a school-best record of 5 wins, 9 losses and 4 ties. Still doubters remain as the Bulldogs were picked last in the LSC’s 10-team women’s soccer league, according to the annual pre-season poll.

Fifth-year coach Joe Bradley is not overly concerned with predictions and speculation, spending his time focusing on how to make better his own club without worrying about others.

“Obviously, people are not looking our way right now,” Bradley said. “One thing that’s hard to judge is just how much tougher mentally our team is going to be. They like to be challenged and want to prove themselves with the best teams in the league.”

Bradley’s main priority in the upgrade of the SWOSU program was to add to the team’s athleticism and speed, both shortfalls in previous years.

“We spent a lot of time working on our conditioning during the off season. Most of our losses last year were by one goal,” Bradley said. “Hopefully, our fitness level will be noticeable late in the game when a mistake here or there is often the one that wins or loses it for you.”

SWOSU will most likely be in some close, low-scoring games this year relying on their tight-fisted defense that produced eight shutouts in 2004, second most in the league. Headlining the group is returning starters Amy Snedeker, Michelle Wilson and Christine Le along with the team’s top goalkeeper Lindsey Crook.

Snedeker, a four-year starter at defender for the Bulldogs, is a tough-minded player who is not afraid to get physical if the situation presents itself. Wilson is smooth in her distribution of the ball and rarely gets rattled under pressure. Meanwhile, Le is a darting blur who can zip through opponents with her great speed.

Crook, a sophomore, took over full-time goalkeeping duties midway though the season. She finished seventh in the league in goals allowed at 1.03 per game and deflected 84% of the shots aimed at her.

Plainly goal scoring is where improvement is needed most if SWOSU is to prove its skeptics wrong. SWOSU managed just 15 goals, the lowest in the league, and were shutout last year in seven of 18 games. Returning starters Emily Rodawalt, Kristen Metevelis and Carrie Dumbaud are all back at the midfield positions and should be better after gaining valuable experience a year ago.

Rodawalt is a senior captain who finished second on the team with three goals while Metevelis and Dumbauld are well-thought-of high school players who impressed in their first collegiate season.

For the first time since the program’s inception, SWOSU will play all its home games on a soccer-only field built earlier this summer. The field is located at the school’s athletic complex just north of campus.

The first game for the SWOSU women will be Thursday, Aug. 25 when they host St. Gregory’s. Gametime is set for 3 p.m.