Experienced Gophers Look to Continue 2013 Growth

TOWSON, Md. — For the second-consecutive year last fall, Goucher's women's soccer program went into the final game of its conference slate knowing that a victory would lead to a Landmark postseason tournament appearance.

The Gophers came up just short of that goal, settling for a 3-3 draw at Moravian to bring their regular season to an end. Goucher still, though, ended the year with a strong 3-0-1 record over its final four games, and the vast majority of that squad will return for this season's opener against William Paterson at 4 p.m. this Friday.

"We had a young team last year," head coach Tati Korba said. "Typically, about eight or nine of our starters were underclassmen, and it took us a while to gel completely. Fortunately, we did come together at the end, and that carried over in the offseason and has placed us where we are now."

The team has certainly become more experienced heading into 2014. After fielding a roster last year in which 19 of 25 players were either freshman or sophomores, more than half of this year's edition is comprised of juniors and seniors, including senior team captains Maeve Downey (West Baldwin, Maine/Sacopee Valley), Colleen McCawley (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) and Lindsey Puopolo (Glen Arm, Md./St. Timothy's).

"Having that experience has already made a big difference this preseason," Korba said. "The bulk of our returners got some pretty significant minutes last year, and they've also helped the freshmen adapt to the college game."

Despite the overall increase in experience, one of the strongest areas this season for the Gophers might also be one of its youngest. Goucher's defense registered shutouts in all seven of its victories last year, and three of the Gophers expected to log key minutes this season will be sophomores.

In goal, Goucher has three returners who will compete for playing time. Last year's starter Juliana Harkavy (Memphis, Tenn./Ridgeway) is joined by fellow juniors Lexi Rudolph (Kensington, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel), who started 12 games in 2012, and Liz Stradtman (Westminster, Md./Winters Mill).

"What's great is that it truly is a tight competition between the three of them," Korba said. "They're continuously pushing each other and making each other better. Whoever gets the starting spot for the first game is going to have to work to hang on to it."

Offensively, the Gophers return eight of their 10 goal scorers from 2013. Overall, however, the team will look for an increase in production from its forwards after scoring just 16 goals last fall, and Korba believes the experience factor will play a key role in expanding the offense's efficiency.

"Tactically and technically, we're a better team than we were last year," she said. "Already, some of the ideas coming out in practice are more creative than they've been in the past. Offense is definitely an emphasis for us this year."

Beginning with Friday's 4 p.m. home opener from Beldon Field, Goucher will play eight non-conference opponents before its first Landmark game against Moravian on Sept. 27. With the addition of Elizabethtown, a school projected by coaches to come out on top in this year's standings, the Landmark Conference contains three teams which made it to the NCAA tournament in 2013.

Cracking into the top four and qualifying for the postseason tournament will certainly be challenging as a result, and Korba has emphasized the importance of consistent hard work required from her team to make that goal a reality.

"There are a lot of quality teams in the Landmark," she said. "Every team is competitive, and every game is going to be a tight battle. We're simply going to have to outwork our opponents. No game is a given, I don't think anything is a given for anybody and I think anything can happen on any given day."

The full 2014 schedule can be viewed here, while the full 2014 roster can be accessed here.