A pleasant hello to all!
Tomorrow we embark on a journey. A journey that won’t end until May 2011 for this broadcaster.
Georgia College athletics hit the airwaves once more as we get our first look at first year head coach Hope Clark’s Bobcats and the soccer squad.
GCSU returns home for nearly a month, hosting nine matches in a row on the home turf of Bobcat Field. And we need YOU there to support!
This past weekend wasn’t what we envisioned to start the 2010 campaign for the ‘Cats. The Bobcats dropped two games to start the season 0-2, falling to Florida Southern 2-1 and Lynn University 3-0.
All is not lost, however. These ladies have an immense amount of heart and passion for the game of soccer and it would be presumptuous to give up on them now. Remember this is the team that made it to the NCAA Tourney a short two years ago. The Bobcats have also posted double digit wins the past two seasons.
Sure, a lot has changed. New head coach. New personnel. New names on the team. Big assets have played their last game. But this is college athletics and the competition never founders.
With that being said, what are some keys to success to the 2010 soccer season?
Glad you asked!
1) DEFENSE! Last season was a remarkable year for the Bobcat backfield. With players like Tawny Moffat, Jessica Binkowski, Jamie Colcord, and others the Bobcat defense was able to allow just 16 goals. The teams goals against average was nearly 71 percent ranking no. 29 in the NCAA! Having those big three anchoring the defense will surely prove successful again this season.
2) ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK! This has to be the mindset of the ladies this year. There really is not one “go-to” player on the team, which is suitable because the talent is well spread out. Junior Megan McAlpin led the team last year with five goals, while the team scored a total of 23. The 2008 NCAA Tournament team tallied 40-plus. If Georgia College tries to play “keep-away” for the full 90 minutes, this could be a long season. With Clark on the sideline, the team should be poised to score often if the ladies can find the seams of the defense.
3) LEADERSHIP: This is one of the best senior classes this soccer program has seen since its inception. With players like Binkowski, Ally Treat, Jessica Newland, Kelli McLane, and Mary Rob Plunkett the team shouldn’t lose much. These ladies are competitors, not a pushover by far.
4) HOW STABLE IS THE MIDFIELD? This is one of the big areas I will be watching this season. In the first two games this season, the Bobcats have been outscored 5-1 by their opponents. All five of those goals have come in the second half. Obviously there is either a breakdown in the midfield or on the defensive side. For GCSU to be successful the midfield positions should play strong on both sides of the ball.
There are many story lines this year ranging from Clark’s first season as head coach, the senior class, Plunkett following up her All-American nod last season, and the Peach Belt Conference battles. One thing is for sure, though. We are in for a treat this season.
And I hope you will join us each game on WGUR 88.9 FM in Milledgeville, or as always, online at http://www.gcsuradio.com/ (live streaming).
This weekend’s radio broadcasts:
Fri Sept 10th vs. Anderson: 7:30 PM
Sun Sept 12th vs. Florida Tech: 11:00 AM
‘Cats Prevail!
Here’s to a great season,
-Chandler Lee
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