WEST CHESTER, Pa. – For West Chester University, a earlier-than-expected exit from the NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Tournament last fall has left a bitter taste in the mouths of the returning players. The Golden Rams dropped a heartbreaking 1-0 verdict to Indiana (Pa.) on their home field last November, ending their season prematurely. That defeat has stuck with them through a grueling spring practice and long summer vacation.
An experienced team will return to the pitch this season with a remedy for success. Fourth-year head coach Betty Ann Kempf Townsley says she has “very high expectations” this year because of where the team finished off last year.
“We did not lose many players from last year, and we have a solid group of players that have been to a number of playoff games,” Kempf Townsley added. “We suffered a tough loss in the NCAA Tournament, which I think we should have won. I think that will be a reminder to us all season, that it can slip away that quick.”
After finishing 19-2-1 with a conference championship in tow, Townsley does not believe in pressure to repeat as PSAC champs.
“Every season is different,” Kempf Townsley explained. “Along with that comes new challenges and sometimes disappointment. But, we will just take one game at a time.”
West Chester, ranked 16th nationally in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) preseason poll, loses just two seniors from last year’s squad and returns a bevy of talent on all three lines and in goal. The Golden Rams will be very deep and very difficult to defend if everything comes together the way Kempf Townsley expects. All-Americans Sarah Oswald and Lyndsie Bernardini exemplify the level of talent returning to the Golden Rams. In addition, five first team All-PSAC selections, including Oswald and Bernardini, are back as well. Four of the team’s top five scorers from last fall return to the fold this September.
The Golden Rams are stacked, to say the least, and should be favorites to win the PSAC once again and return to the NCAA Division II Tournament as a very high seed in the Atlantic Region. Appearing among the top five teams in the country is nothing new to West Chester’s proud women’s soccer tradition. This year’s edition should add to that legacy, if not surpass it in many ways.
Despite losing just two players from a championship squad, Kempf Townsley has brought in a very large freshman class, which she feels will push some of the returning stars for playing time. Competition for spots on the 2010 roster will be intense. Bringing so many players into preseason camp will force some difficult decisions for Kempf Townsley and her coaching staff. However, the veteran coach is not about to rest on the laurels of those returning. She thrives on promoting that competition for spots to bring out the best in her players.
GOALKEEPERS
Bernardini was the starting goalkeeper last season and put together an unbelievable rookie campaign, allowing only five goals in 22 games. The true freshman played all but 11 minutes of the 2009 season in goal and put together a string of 1,238 consecutive minutes of scoreless soccer. She set a single-season school record with 15 shutouts and was named second team All-America by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and first team All-America by Division II sports information directors from around the country.
“Our expectations for Lyndsie are very high,” Kempf Townsley uttered. “I think she will come into the season with a little more maturity and experience.”
Though Bernardini produced a great freshman season, Kempf Townsley warned that she has a talented freshman keeper, who will push her for that starting role. Leeny Tarnowski is an accomplished goalkeeper, who will battle Bernardini for playing time.
“Lyndsie would be the first to admit that a big reason she was so successful last season had a lot to do with the stellar defense in front of her,” Kempf Townsley explained. “Collectively, as a group, they were a very good defense last year.”
BACKS
West Chester’s defense allowed just 6.5 shots per game for its opponents last season. That statistic alone tells you how busy Bernardini was in goal. Center back Cindi Nickels returns with Brittany Couper and Tara Malkiewicz on each side. That trio was mainly responsible for keeping opposing forwards away from Bernardini last year.
“Last year, our defense just had that desire to not let anyone get past them,” Kempf Townsley stated. “I don’t think that any one person is better than the other. They just play really, really well together as a unit back there.”
Nickles, a Daktronics, Inc. second team All-America selection, will be the leader in the back. She will also serve as team captain during her senior campaign this fall. Nickles is a veteran player, who has been on the field since her freshman year.
“She possesses great leadership qualities,” Kempf Townsley lauded. “She is a leader by example, who is very disciplined and determined in everything that she does.”
Couper, a junior with a plethora of playing experience on her resume, is another back who Kempf Townsley expects a lot from. She started all 22 games last year and even scored a goal. Malkiewicz is dominant on set plays and very dangerous off of corner kicks. She started all 22 games a year ago as well, posting seven points on the strength of three goals and one assist.
“Tara made a significant improvement from her freshman to sophomore year,” Kempf Townsley added. “Her game should be much improved coming into her junior year.”
The only question mark for this defense will be the depth behind the starting three. A pair of returning reserves from last year’s squad, along with five talented freshmen, will have to work their way into the lineup. However, they will have three extremely talented players to learn from until their time comes.
Both Brittany Bakeman and Michelle Conway possess the ability to play either midfield or back. Their versatility could come in handy. Freshmen Katie Baker, Chelsea Czarnik, Catie Kane, Addison Markley and Shannon Stoll make up a very talented rookie defensive recruiting class.
MIDFIELD
West Chester returns all but one midfielder from last year’s squad. The Golden Rams midfield was widely successful at controlling the middle of the field and the tempo of the game. A lot of experience returns on that line with some depth behind the first team.
Senior co-captain Jessica Bennett headlines the returning group of midfielders. The CoSIDA Academic All-American and All-PSAC East selection scored five goals and posted two assists from her center midfield position last fall. She is the cornerstone of the unit. Everything West Chester does goes through her.
“Jess will play a key role in the midfield once again,” Kempf Townsley said. “She has proven time and time again that she can win balls against other big-time midfielders. She is primarily a defender, who we converted into a midfielder.”
Lara Bodenstab will be another midfielder, who plays alongside Bennett. Bodenstab started every game last season and posted four goals for the Golden Rams. Jenna Arnold, a second team Daktronics, Inc., All-America pick last fall returns to the outside back position as well. She played a key role in West Chester’s midfield a year ago. Arnold and Bennett were both first team All-PSAC selections in 2009.
The Golden Rams second-leading scorer last year was freshman Jen Hutchinson. She came off a preseason injury to crack the starting lineup midway through the campaign. Kempf Townsley couldn’t keep her off the field when the first-year player hit her stride down the stretch.
“I would like to see her on the field in an attacking midfield role,” Kempf Townsley revealed. “She came into camp hurt last year, so we had to play her sporadically in the beginning. “I think she can contribute so much more this year.”
Hutchinson finished with eight goals in 18 appearances, including a pair of game-winning tallies. She improved in leaps and bounds during the fall campaign. Her knowledge of Kempf Townsley’s system has grown to a point where expectations are high for the sophomore midfielder.
Rachel Miller, Emily Henderson and Diana Rowan each saw playing time in a reserve role a year ago. All three are capable reserves off the bench and should push for more playing time. They provide a great deal of depth behind the returning starters. Miller floated between midfield and striker. She has the versatility to play any number of positions on the pitch. Sophomore Erin Galen returns as well. She brings a great deal of experience working in Townsley’s system. Galen could also spend some time on the forward line.
Sophomore transfer Alyssa Nemeth comes to West Chester from the University of Delaware. She will work her way into the lineup somewhere as well. Nemeth brings that Division I experience with her to the Golden Rams and adds depth to the midfield unit.
Freshmen Marie D’Angelo, Erica Gosnell, Kelsey Harney, Kerrie Hartnett, Addie Lucci, Paige Maloney, Maddie Mitchell will all need to find a role on this year’s team and work for playing time.
FORWARDS
All discussion of West Chester’s offense begins with two-time All-American Sarah Oswald. The senior striker enters her final season third all-time in school history in both goals scored (41) and points (104). Oswald has twice been named the PSAC Tournament MVP when the Golden Rams claimed the conference title in both 2007 and 2009.
What has made her an even better player is her ability to set up others within Kempf Townsley’s system. The senior posted a career-high 16 assists a year ago, after mustering just a combined six assists in her first two years in college. That type of playmaking ability has made Oswald more dangerous than ever. Eight of her 10 goals were game winners.
“We are looking for her to have a big year,” Kempf Townsley claimed. “We are looking for her to be a game changer.”
Transfer senior Devon Swaim is the third of four players on this year’s roster that attended Neshaminy High School. Swaim spent the first half of her college career at the University of Tennessee. She brings a lot of talent and a lot of experience with her competing at the highest collegiate level.
Sophomore Jen Gangl is also expected to produce a big year, after showing signs of coming out as a freshman. She played a big role off the bench for West Chester. Gangl appeared in 19 contests and scored four goals and added two assists to give her 10 points. Those numbers should increase.
Melissa McKeary scored four goals and added four assists in her freshman season. She saw quite a bit of playing time, some of at outside midfield. Her abilities earned more and more playing time as the season progressed.
“They (Gangl and McKeary) showed a lot of promise last year as freshmen, and now that they have some experience under their belts, I am really looking for them to step up this year.” Kempf Townsley said.
“I think we can be very dangerous up top,” Kempf Townsley continued.”We are fast, and we have a lot of goal scorers on the team. If one player has a bad day, someone else can step up. Last year, we had 14 different players score goals for us. We are going to continue that goal scoring where everyone becomes a part of the attack.”
Sophomore Brittni Bernardini rejoins her sister on this fall’s roster. Freshmen Brianna Hires, Christina Portelli and Kim Shoup all add depth to the forward lines.
Kempf Townsley also likes to point out that among those 14 different goal scorers were two defenders in the back. That is a testament to the diversity of talent among the Golden Rams. Everyone is capable of contributing in more ways.
OVERVIEW
The Golden Rams return 10 starters, five first team all-conference selections and two NSCAA All-Americans. Four of the team’s top five goal scorers are also back. West Chester is frightening at attack. Kempf Townsley has strikers, whose specialty is finishing, and those strikers are being fed by a very deep and talented midfield unit that sees plays developing before they happen.
Kempf Townsley has high expectations for this season. West Chester is solid at every position and have plenty of depth on the team. Kempf Townsley expects all of the players to step up when they are called upon to help out the team. She would like to see the team go further than they did last year in the NCAA Tournament, but will focus on one game at a time.
