Ohio Wesleyan University | Battling Bishop Athletics

2009 Season Preview

After a 2008 season which came to an abrupt finish and the loss of 6 starters from that team, it would be easy to assume that the Ohio Wesleyan University women’s soccer team will struggle in 2009.

[ Megan Goodrich ] But head coach Bob Barnes looks for the Battling Bishops to challenge for the North Coast Athletic Conference championship and make a return to the NCAA Division III playoffs.

"We had success (3 wins and an overtime loss to the conference champion) against the top teams in the conference, and getting those results is encouraging. Although we're youthful, I think we will be able to push for the top spot in the NCAC. I'm very optimistic about our depth and athleticism."

The Bishop defense returns intact, with seniors Megan Goodrich (Seven Hills/Laurel School) and Carolyn Tallman (Park Ridge, Ill./Maine South) and junior Victoria King (Westerville/Worthington Christian) in the backfield and junior Laura VanHoey (Rochester, Mich.) in goal.

Goodrich, King and Tallman all were All-NCAC selections last year, with Goodrich taking second-team honors. The Bishop defense allowed more than one goal in a game only twice during the last month of the season.

Sophomore Caitlin Zeller (Cuyahoga Falls) and junior Amanda Markarian (Simi Valley, Calif.) also return. Sophomore Liz Spragens (Nashville, Tenn./Hume-Fogg Academic), a transfer from Sewanee, and freshmen Ally Miess (Fairview Park/Holy Name) and Gisselle Miller (Galena/Big Walnut) also look to contribute.

[ Laura VanHoey ] VanHoey hopes to rebound from an injury-riddled 2008 season to the form of her freshman year, when she racked up 5 shutouts and a goals-against average of 0.71 after taking over the starting spot in goal.

Junior Ella Massie-Schuh (New York, N.Y./Brearley School) and sophomore R.J. Rotuno-Johnson (Fairfield/Roger Bacon) also return, and freshman Margot Klepetko (Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y./Hastings), an all-region selection in high school, will battle for playing time.

Sophomore Makinzie Krebsbach (Vadnais Heights, Minn./Totino-Grace) leads the returnees on the forward line. Krebsbach won second-team all-conference laurels last year after ranking third on the team in scoring with 6 goals and 5 assists.

[ Kenzie Krebsbach ] Junior Erica Lowell (Bay Village/Bay) moves up from the midfield line to give the Bishops more scoring punch at forward, and sophomore Addie Bishop (Grand Rapids/Notre Dame Academy) looks to contribute more after scoring twice in only 7 games last year. Senior Julia Ellis (Wilmington, N.C./Gaithersburg (Md.)), who did not play in 2008, and sophomore Whitney Fischer (Lima/Senior) also return, and freshman Sarah Hoffman (Middletown, Md./Gettysburg (Pa.)), a regional all-star pick in high school, should make an impact.

The Bishops will have an entirely new look at midfield this season. Sophomore Lindsey Patton (Worthington/Thomas Worthington), the Bishops' only returning starter in the midfield, will miss the 2009 season with a knee injury.

Sophomore Belle Madison (Charlevoix, Mich.) will take over the attacking midfield spot, with freshman Samantha Epling (Yellow Springs/Dayton Carroll), an all-conference choice in high school, also slated to see time there.

The outside midfield spots are up for grabs between senior Brooke Whitesell (Dublin/Scioto), juniors Chelsea Keller (Westford, Mass./Westford Academy) and Carly Topper (Novi, Mich./Greenhills), and freshmen Devon Bradley (Versailles, Ky./Sayre School) and Megan McConnell (Mentor/Gilmour Academy). Sophomore Megan Hoffman (Beavercreek) is back at the defensive midfield spot, with freshman Jessie Huschart (Columbus/Hilliard Davidson) also seeking to contribute.

"We have a very strong lineup," Barnes said. "From the athletic and technical standpoints, we're very talented and I think it will be tough for teams to play us. These are some of the most talented midfielders we've had here."

The Bishops open the season against St. John Fisher (N.Y.) before back-to-back games against Medaille (N.Y.) and Endicott (Mass.). A flurry of regional tests follows, including games against Adrian, Albion, Wilmington, Hope, DePauw, and Otterbein. A contests against nearby rival Ohio Dominican leads into the NCAC schedule, which opens against 2008 tournament champion Wittenberg on Sept. 30. The NCAC title chase will be further highlighted by games with 2008 champion Denison, 2008 tournament runner-up Wooster, and traditionally-tough Allegheny and Kenyon.