The start of the 2010 college soccer season is right around the corner and that means that a lot of last minute details are being handled by both players and coaches. “This is the first time I can remember when I have been able to say, with one month left to go before we open camp, that I am done recruiting,” said Bill Glass, Head Soccer Coach for USC Salkehatchie. Glass has nine players returning from last year’s squad and has signed nine recruits, and so he can concentrate on the urgent administrative tasks that must be handled before the season starts rather than worrying about trying to sign another player or two. “I am happy with the squad we have and am ready to get on with it,” he says.
Glass is looking to surpass the success of the 2009 campaign when the Indians went 7-8-2. The 2010 team will miss several key players from the 2009 side including Lisa Routt and Ebony Davies who made first team all region last year and Nicole Fluker who was named second team all region. Therefore, the returning players and 2010 recruits will have their work cut out for them.
Two Australian players from last year’s squad will return to the Indians. Ashur Amai-Eden is an attacking player who is also a good defender when called upon to fill that role. Goalkeeper Zaf Papanikitas was named to the NJCAA Region X All-Region Second Team in 2009 in recognition of her strong play in the net. Another Aussie, freshman Jess Marchant, will also join the squad from down under for 2010. Jess is a center mid, she is good distributing the ball out of the midfield and in using her defensive skills to help break up counterattacks. Sophomore Soledad Bucaram, a forward from Ecuador, will round out the international contingent. “Sole was a big help to us up top and in the midfield last year and led the team academically as well,” said Glass.
Georgia will provide three players to the team. Jess McMains of Savannah comes in as a freshman and plays either stopper or sweeper. Dana Crews of Waynesville can play midfield or up top. Desiree Rosario, of Brunswick, will return to the team for her sophomore year after starting for the Indians at center back in 2009.
As always, the Indians look to South Carolina for most of their players. Returning to the squad from the Palmetto state for their sophomore year will be defender/forward Amanda Diaz of Beaufort, midfielder/defender Manny Floresca of Walterboro, and midfielder Nicole Evans, also from Walterboro. They will be joined by several freshman recruits including two forwards, Jessica Vido of Beaufort and April Cathcart of Bluffton. Devon Cocuzza, who is also from Bluffton, can play either goalkeeper or mid-field. Lashera Chisholm, another freshman who plays attacking midfielder, is from Chester, SC. The team also will feature Katelyn Cochran and Mary St. John two freshmen defenders from nearby Barnwell. “We are thrilled to have the support of the nearby communities, especially the South Carolina high school coaches and athletic directors who have been recommending our program to their soccer players,” said Glass.
Training camp for the 2010 season will begin on Monday, August 2, and the Indians will face Brewton-Parker College in an exhibition match at 6 pm on August 14 in Mount Vernon, Georgia.
The team will play an exhibition match at home versus Wesleyan College at 6 pm on August 26.
On August 28 the Indians will kick off the regular season at 6 pm with an away game at Middle Georgia College in Cochran, GA. Their first regular season home match will be versus South Georgia College on August 31 at 4 pm. “We have the players to make a lot of noise in NJCAA Region X this year,” according to Glass, “how well we do will depend a lot on intangibles like team chemistry and our camaraderie on and off the field.”
Glass is looking to surpass the success of the 2009 campaign when the Indians went 7-8-2. The 2010 team will miss several key players from the 2009 side including Lisa Routt and Ebony Davies who made first team all region last year and Nicole Fluker who was named second team all region. Therefore, the returning players and 2010 recruits will have their work cut out for them.
Two Australian players from last year’s squad will return to the Indians. Ashur Amai-Eden is an attacking player who is also a good defender when called upon to fill that role. Goalkeeper Zaf Papanikitas was named to the NJCAA Region X All-Region Second Team in 2009 in recognition of her strong play in the net. Another Aussie, freshman Jess Marchant, will also join the squad from down under for 2010. Jess is a center mid, she is good distributing the ball out of the midfield and in using her defensive skills to help break up counterattacks. Sophomore Soledad Bucaram, a forward from Ecuador, will round out the international contingent. “Sole was a big help to us up top and in the midfield last year and led the team academically as well,” said Glass.
Georgia will provide three players to the team. Jess McMains of Savannah comes in as a freshman and plays either stopper or sweeper. Dana Crews of Waynesville can play midfield or up top. Desiree Rosario, of Brunswick, will return to the team for her sophomore year after starting for the Indians at center back in 2009.
As always, the Indians look to South Carolina for most of their players. Returning to the squad from the Palmetto state for their sophomore year will be defender/forward Amanda Diaz of Beaufort, midfielder/defender Manny Floresca of Walterboro, and midfielder Nicole Evans, also from Walterboro. They will be joined by several freshman recruits including two forwards, Jessica Vido of Beaufort and April Cathcart of Bluffton. Devon Cocuzza, who is also from Bluffton, can play either goalkeeper or mid-field. Lashera Chisholm, another freshman who plays attacking midfielder, is from Chester, SC. The team also will feature Katelyn Cochran and Mary St. John two freshmen defenders from nearby Barnwell. “We are thrilled to have the support of the nearby communities, especially the South Carolina high school coaches and athletic directors who have been recommending our program to their soccer players,” said Glass.
Training camp for the 2010 season will begin on Monday, August 2, and the Indians will face Brewton-Parker College in an exhibition match at 6 pm on August 14 in Mount Vernon, Georgia.
The team will play an exhibition match at home versus Wesleyan College at 6 pm on August 26.
On August 28 the Indians will kick off the regular season at 6 pm with an away game at Middle Georgia College in Cochran, GA. Their first regular season home match will be versus South Georgia College on August 31 at 4 pm. “We have the players to make a lot of noise in NJCAA Region X this year,” according to Glass, “how well we do will depend a lot on intangibles like team chemistry and our camaraderie on and off the field.”
