“We are excited about the 2013 season,” said Woodward. “We start the season playing some very good teams from some extremely tough conferences. Our hopes are that our preseason schedule will help prepare us to be successful in conference play.”
Despite losing a few key players to graduation, Woodward will coach a mixture of new and returning talent, including captains Stephanie Verdoia (Salt Lake City, Utah) and Julia Besagno (Maple Valley, Wash.) who were named WAC Preseason Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively.
The Redhawks will also have the opportunity to learn from successful past players including Melissa Busque (St. Bruno, Quebec, Canada), coming off a recent stint with the Canadian National Team, who will serve as an undergraduate student coach. Recent graduate Carlee Norquist (Boise, Idaho) will serve as the team’s Director of Operations this season.
GOALKEEPERS
With a young goalkeeping staff, the Redhawks return two keepers who saw their first collegiate minutes during the 2012 campaign – Brianna Smallidge (Port Orchard, Wash.) and Aris Coover (Bellevue, Wash.). Smallidge started 18 of 20 games as a freshman last season, recording nearly 1700 minutes in goal with a 1.18 GAA, also recording a .732 save percentage. Coover made two appearances, including her first career appearance during the team’s 3-0 win vs. Eastern Washington, as well as for the entire second half on Senior Day.
DEFENDERS
Led by seniors Monique Escalera (Riverside, Calif.) and Mary Hill (Mercer Island, Wash.), the Redhawk defense will be a force to be reckoned with, allowing just 1.25 goals per game in 2012. Redshirt junior Alyssa Campagna (Las Vegas, Nev.) will step into her role as an upperclassmen leader, with redshirt sophomore Renae Russell (Lake Forest, Calif.) and freshman Rosalie Sittauer (Everett, Wash.) looking for the first action of their collegiate career.
MIDFIELDERS
Seattle U has a large arsenal of players at the midfield position, several of whom will also step into other roles on the field as needed. The midfielders will be led by Besagno as well as fellow seniors Heather Thomas (Woodinville, Wash.), Ava Ames (Seattle, Wash.), and Kat Prati (Moorpark, Calif.). Coming off a breakout year in 2012, one in which she recorded her first career hat trick on Aug. 26, also named WAC Offensive Player of the Week for the feat, Taylor Ritzman (Holladay, Utah) will continue making contributions to the team. Redshirt sophomore Kiana Kraft (Kent, Wash.) and true sophomores Kelly Beck (Tacoma, Wash.) and Julia Moravec (Spokane, Wash.) will look to build upon their success from last year, making 52 total starts and recording 45 shots between the three of them in 2012. Freshmen Emily Castellano (Covina, Calif.) and Mariah O’Neil (Tumwater, Wash.) as well as redshirt freshmen Sarah Coluccio (Seattle, Wash.) and Stephanie Conard (Everett, Wash.) will look to contribute in their first action in Seattle U uniform this season.
“I think we have a lot of potential this year and I am really excited for this upcoming season,” said Besagno. “The energy and excitement everyone has to be back out on the field is great and has created a positive atmosphere to get things started. I think it could be a great year for us and, as a senior, I cannot wait to get after it one last time. I know it is going to be a good year and I’m looking forward to seeing what the season brings.”
FORWARDS
The forwards will be led by Verdoia, one of two 2013 captains, who received First Team All-WAC honors last season, also named to the WAC All-Tournament team, as well as receiving NSCAA Third Team All-Pacific Region honors. Senior Jacqui Wallis (Lake Oswego, Ore.) will also make contributions at forward, as well as redshirt freshman Natasha Howe (Mission Viejo, Calif.).
“I am really looking forward to this upcoming season,” said Verdoia, “because we have a chance to make Seattle U history by becoming the first team to qualify for the NCAA Division I tournament since reclassifying. Now that we are Division I again, and with the team that we have, there is no doubt in my mind that we can do it. Our roster is smaller this year, so every single player we have is making a huge impact on our team, and everyone has more responsibility. Luckily, we have an amazing group of girls that I believe will fulfill their roles and make this 2013 season one to remember. We have a really close-knit group of girls, so I know this season will be enjoyable, and we are going to work incredibly hard to make it successful. We have a special team this year and I am blessed to be a part of it.”
SCHEDULE
The Redhawks will host two games in August to start out the season, including their home opener vs. Pac-12 powerhouse Washington State on Aug. 23. They will make a Midwest road trip to Butler and Purdue the weekend after Labor Day (Sept. 6 and 8) before facing cross-town rival Washington on Sept. 13 at Husky Soccer Stadium.
Sept. 20 will mark their first WAC contest of the 2013 season as they host Grand Canyon on Friday, Sept. 20, with Senior Day falling on Nov. 1 vs. Idaho. Throughout the conference schedule, the Redhawks will have a chance to qualify for the WAC Tournament on November 8 and 10 in Las Cruces, N.M., with the winner advancing to the NCAA Tournament.