[Kutztown Fall Roundup] Women's Soccer: Golden Bear Women's Soccer Team Looks to Continue Winning Ways

[Josh Leiboff]

 Golden Bear Women's Soccer Team Looks to Continue Winning Ways
      Coming off the two winningest seasons in school history, the Kutztown University women's soccer team is set to make another run at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference playoffs and the NCAA Northeast Regional.

      The 2004 season saw KU win the PSAC's first-ever Eastern Division title after the league split into two divisions.  The Golden Bears earned its first trip to the conference championship game.  For the second straight year, the Golden Bears won a school-record 14 games, including a best-ever eight game winning streak during the year.

      With eight returning starters, several key  reserves and a talented incoming class, the 2005 Golden Bear women's soccer team should once again be among the elite in the PSAC.  Head coach Jeff Schellenberger also has four All-PSAC East players returning, including the PSAC East and KU Female Rookie of the Year, Kim Kelty, and Kelly Murdock, who earned All-Region honors.

      Kelty and Murdock led a deep and talented group of newcomers now entering its second year in the program.  The duo tied for third on the team with 15 points each from their midfield positions.  Kelty had five goals and five assists, while Mudock had four goals and a team-high seven helpers.

      Senior Jeannine Bria  and junior Ashley Smith join them in the starting midfield.  Smith, a two-year starter, had six goals and six assists to finish second on KU in scoring.  She also notched four game-winning goals.  Bria, an All-PSAC East second team pick and three-year starter, tallied three goals and a pair of assists.  

      Two more sophomores, Jen Jordan and Allyson Dattola, are expected to play larger roles for Kutztown after each player missed time due to injury in 2004.  Newcomers Xiomara Marin (West Paterson, NJ/Passaic Valley), Jackie Toutkoushian (Doylestown/Central Bucks East) and Cheyenne Brunner (Sunbury/Shik-ellamy) will compete for time in the midfield.

      In the backfield, KU returns starters Erin Gallagher, Mallary Kamen and Becky Worley.  Gallager, a senior, is expected to provide leadership to the Golden Bears.  She started all 21 games in 2004.  Kamen, a junior, started 12 contests, while playing in all 21.  Worley started 12 matches before injuries curtailed her freshman season.    Junior Shelby Varone could also start after serving as a reserve her first two seasons.  Junior Maureen Bell returns to the backfield after sitting out 2004. Lock Haven transfer Ann Fink (so. Fleetwood/Fleetwood) and freshman Brie Dougher (Medford Lakes, NJ/Shawneee) should also see action.

      All-PSAC second teamer Julie Folsom returns at forward for the Golden Bears.  As the team's leading scorer, she found the back of the net a team-high 12 times and added a pair of assists for 26 points.  Five of her goals were game-winners.  The second starting forward could come from the freshman class in the form of Brunner, Toutkoushian, Marin or Jessica Barrett (Coopersburg/Allentown Central Catholic).

      Goalkeeper Mandi Johnsen is KU's all-time leader with 13 shutouts, but had her 2004 season wiped out due to injury.  If she is not ready for the start of this season, Lesley Freer will get the nod in net.  She played in six games a freshman with a 0.62 goals against average last year.  Mansfield transfer Nicole Rodweller (Easton/Easton) will also challenge for minutes in goal.

            The Golden Bears open the 2005 season with a home match against 2004 NCAA Division II runner-up Adelphi on August 27.

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Josh Leiboff
Kutztown University Sports Information
Phone: (610) 683-4182
Fax: (610) 683-4676
Email: leiboff at kutztown.edu
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