No one expected much from the Northeastern women’s soccer team in 2003, and although it team finished fifth in the standings, just one spot ahead of where it was picked to finish in the preseason poll, it opened quite a few eyes by tying the school record for wins in a season with 11.
The surprise for many fans was the emergence of red shirt freshman Kristin Kowalik, who led the Huskies in scoring with 26 points (11 goals, four assists) and was named America East Freshman of the Year as well as earning a spot on the All-Conference second team. It is yet to be seen who the surprise player might be in 2004, but after winning 11 games in 2003, expect them to surpass that mark by at least one win.
Offense: Despite having the second best offense in the America East in 2003, the Huskies were shut out in all but two of their eight losses.
Kowalik will be expected to put up great numbers again this season, but she will not be alone. Joining her is senior Liz Dyjak, who was named to the All-Conference first team in 2003. Bringing 56 career starts to the table, Dyjak’s leadership and experience will be a crucial key for the Huskies if they want to set a new school record for wins.
Also returning for NU is senior Jennifer North who was third on the team in scoring last season with 20 points on eight goals and four assists. A veteran of 43 career starts, North’s three game-winning goals were good for fourth in the conference last year.
Since she started her first game as a freshman two years ago, NU junior Jess Pfeifer has been a legitimate threat to score, compiling 30 points on 10 goals and 10 assists in her 37 career starts. Pfeifer and sophomore Kristen Blake should both add to their solid 2003 stats and help the Huskies put on the field one of the most potent offenses in the America East this season.
Prediction: In 2003 the only team in the conference with a better points per game average was Maine, whose 5.89 points per game were just slightly higher than NU’s 5.63. With Maine losing three of their top four scorers, and NU returning all five of their leading scorers from a year ago, the 2004 Huskies will have the number one ranked offense in the league and score close to six points per contest.
Grade: A+
Defense: In 2003 Northeastern faced the second fewest shots in the conference (75) and ranked third in goals against average (1.29). Once again the backfield will be loaded with speed in 2004, and on defense speed is crucial to covering the field. While experience wasn’t a huge advantage in `03, this year’s squad doesn’t lose a single starter and the trials and tribulations that took place a year ago should only prove to be the glue that keeps this team together.
Two-time All-Conference honorable mention selection Andi Matthews will once again anchor the defense in her senior campaign. With 42 career starts at NU, she is the elder statesman of the bunch and should be a stabling force in the backfield.
Joining Matthews in the backfield are juniors Jackie Spellman and Tara McLarney, who have 51 career starts among them. Spellman started all but one game for NU last year, while McLarney saw some time at stopper during the 2003 season. Sophomore Amanda Sesto started eight games as a freshman last year, which brings the total number of starts in the back field to 101, a number that should only help the Huskies improve on their already fine numbers from a year ago.
Prediction: The only concern on defense is depth, but with a defense-heavy recruiting class that shouldn’t be a problem. With the speed and experience this team has in the backfield they should rank among the top two teams in the America East in shots against while being a perfect compliment to the impressive offense.
Grade: B
Keeper: Senior Cynthia Slowik has started all of NU’s games the past two seasons and has been solid in net, ranking fourth in save percentage (.769) and third in goals against (1.24) last year. With 39 career starts it would seem she is the odds-on favorite to land the starting job; however, other keepers will be competing with her for the job in 2004.
Sophomore Annie Petrofsky had a strong spring and will be fighting for the starting keeper job this preseason. Petrofsky played in four games as a freshman last year, starting one. The one game she did start she recorded her first career shut out and looks primed to take advantage of every chance she gets. University of Maryland transfer Mariel Wilner has also impressed this spring and will be another challenger this preseason for the starting job.
Prediction: A little competition has never hurt anybody, and in this case it will only help whoever ends up with the starting gig. The Huskies defense does a good job of preventing shots. With an experienced defense in front of them, any of the possible candidates should thrive this year and be among the top keepers in the conference.
Grade: B-
Coach: In the past the wrap on head coach Ed Matz was that he’s good at making something out of nothing. Well this year he has a loaded roster full of experience and flat out talent and it should be fun to see how far this team can go.
Prediction: Matz has proven time and time again that he is a winner no matter what, and this year should be no different. With the talent he has to put on the field this year and the memory of last year’s season ending 2-7 loss to New Hampshire still fresh in the minds of his players, look for the Huskies to set a new record for wins in a season with 14 wins and an appearance in the 2004 America East championship game.
Grade: A+
