Season Outlook
Two years removed from reaching the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament, first-year head coach Jamie Gluck is hopeful that the Haverford women's soccer team will make a national impact once again in 2007.
The team will look to rebound from a 2006 season hampered by injuries, coupled with the loss of seven seniors from 2005. With an influx of freshmen and a steady group of returning players, the Fords appear to be primed for an exciting season.
Gluck, a 2003 graduate of Muhlenberg College, was an assistant coach at Washington & Lee in 2006 and helped lead the Generals to to an NCAA 'elite-eight' appearance, a 19-1-3 overall record, and a season ending ranking of tenth in Division III. With one of the best defenses in the Centennial Conference in 2006, if healthy, the Haverford women are capable of making a similar impact, headed by Gluck's leadership.
Third-best in the Centennial last year were Haverford's goals against average (0.95) and goals allowed (17). Returning junior goalkeeper Lindsay Festa recorded the second-best save percentage in the conference (.843) and was fourth with 91 saves, averaging 5.45 saves per game.
Returning All-Centennial Honorable Mention and co-captain Hana Rosen will lead Haverford on both sides of the ball, while junior captain Annie Turner will once again force opponents offenses into undesirable situations. Senior forward Ryan Hedrick is set to pace Haverford's offense after leading the team in scoring last season. Hedrick enters 2007 with 20 career goals and 11 career assists, placing her ninth and tenth, respectively, in program history.
"We have a good core group of returners," says coach Gluck. "We also have a lot of freshmen that I believe will have a major impact on the program. They are a very talented group."
Haverford was recently picked seventh in the Centennial preseason poll, conducted by coaches throughout the CC, amassing 51 points. Despite what the preseason poll predicts, coach Gluck is optimistic on what the future will bring based on what she has seen from her team so far in the preseason. "We have had real competitive preseason thus far and the team is motivated to have a strong, winning season."
Of the nine losses Haverford had in 2006 (5-9-3 overall), six were decided by one goal, while four-of-five conference losses (4-5-1 CC) were lost by one goal.
With only one senior graduating from the 2006 team, the Fords have the talent and ability to exceed preseason expectations others in the CC have given them.