Ohio Wesleyan University | Battling Bishop Athletics

2007 Season Preview

The numbers show that the Ohio Wesleyan University women’s soccer team finished fifth in the North Coast Athletic Conference championship race in 2006, missing the conference tournament for the first time.

Look beyond the numbers, though, and one realizes just how close the conference race was last year.

"If you take out a 10-minute meltdown in one game (a 3-1 loss at Wittenberg in the penultimate game of the regular season), we win a share of the championship and are hosting the conference tournament," said head coach Bob Barnes.

The numbers also show that Barnes returns 10 starters from that team, and the Bishops will be eager to reclaim the conference title and make a run into the NCAA Division III tournament.

"The leadership has been fantastic," Barnes said. "It's like we took one step back to take two steps forward."

[ Ali Gary ] Senior Ali Gary (Gahanna/Lincoln) returns in goal. She was an honorable mention All-NCAC pick in 2005. Classmate Lindsey Hoffer (Chapel Hill, N.C./East Chapel Hill) and sophomore Julia Ellis (Wilmington, N.C./Gaithersburg (Md.)) also return, with freshman Laura VanHoey (Rochester, Mich.), also competing.

Three starters return in the Bishop backfield in seniors Laura Harper (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne), Lindsey Macklin (Columbus/Bexley) and Jessie Seaver (Ann Arbor, Mich./Greenhills). Macklin was a second-team All-NCAC selection last year, while Harper received honorable mention status. Seaver, a starter in the midfield last year, moves to the backfield this season.

Sophomore Hannah Winant (Gaithersburg, Md.) is another returning letterwinner, and sophomore Maddie Branden (Solon) and freshmen Chelsea Keller (Westford, Mass./Westford Academy), Victoria King (Westerville/Worthington Christian) and Amanda Markarian (Simi Valley, Calif.) also will compete.

Junior Brittany Coss (Grove City) moves from the backfield to the defensive midfield position, with sophomore Megan Goodrich (Seven Hills/Laurel School) also slated to see time there. Senior Meg Smith (Portage, Mich./Northern) and sophomore Sam Borkovic (Sewickley, Pa./Sewickley Academy) are returning starters in the outside midfield positions.

Junior Megan Quinn (Hilliard/Columbus School for Girls) also has starting experience, and sophomore Carolyn Tallman (Park Ridge, Ill./Maine South) returns from last year's squad. Newcomers looking to contribute include sophomore Rowena Jones (Shutesbury, Mass./Amherst Regional), a newcomer to college soccer; sophomore Brooke Whitesell (Dublin/Scioto), a transfer from Ohio Northern; and freshman Ella Massie-Schuh (New York, N.Y./Brearley School).

The attacking midfielder spot is up for grabs between junior Emily Steger (Palm Harbor, Fla./East Lake) and freshman Erica Lowell (Bay Village/Bay).

[ Michelle Corbett ] Junior Michelle Corbett (Dublin/Scioto), a second-team All-America selection in 2006, has led Ohio Wesleyan in scoring in each of the last 2 seasons. Also back on the front line is junior Allie Cozzone (Chagrin Falls/Kenston), who was a second-team all-conference pick for the second straight year.

Sophomore Caitlin Logan (Findlay) and senior Meredith Gerrick (Chapel Hill, N.C./Indianapolis North Central) will vie for the other starting position, with sophomore Meghan Cahoon (Montpelier, Vt.) and freshman Hannah Sterling (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton) also in the mix.

The Bishops open the season at the Marlin Invitational, hosted by 2006 national semifinalist Virginia Wesleyan. A flurry of regional tests follows, including games against Ohio Northern, Capital, Mount St. Joseph, DePauw and Wilmington, before a matchup against 2006 national semifinalist Messiah. A contest against nearby rival Otterbein leads into the NCAC schedule, which opens against defending champion Kenyon on Sept. 29. The NCAC title chase will be further highlighted by games with traditional arch-rival Denison, 2006 tournament champion Wittenberg and 2006 tournament semifinalist Wooster as well as traditionally-tough Allegheny.