The Observer, August 31, 2007
Volume XL, Issue 1
Youthful women's soccer program strives to improve
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This season, the Case women's soccer team is sporting a new face at the helm and a new attitude on the field. Youth and energy are the best way to describe what the Spartans will bring to their contests this year.
First and foremost is new coach Tiffany Crooks. Crooks, only five years removed from her playing days at Ashland University, is ready to handle the responsibility that comes with a head coaching job. She spent three seasons as an assistant at the College of Wooster after finishing her degree at Ashland, and most recently spent two years at Xavier, a Division I program, in an assistant role. "I feel like it's easier to relate to the girls since I'm young," said Crooks. "But I am removed enough to not want to be in college anymore and really be a coach."
This type of connection will be critical since nine out of her 20 players are freshmen. "We have a lot of raw talent coming in with this freshman class," said Crooks. "We are definitely going to have starters from each of the four classes."
A lot of this talent will be focused on the offensive side of the pitch this year. Last year the team lost seven games by only one goal. As a result, this year's team is looking to attack opponents. "I think last year we were more focused on defense," Crooks said. "This year we are going to risk giving up some goals, but if we score often, those one goal games may shift in our favor." Crooks says their game plan is simple: win the games they should win, be competitive with good opponents, and beat at least one team that they should not have beat.
This sounds easier than it really is. The UAA this year, as always, is stacked when it comes to women's soccer. Both Washington University and Rochester are ranked in the top 15 nationally, and the conference as a whole is the best in Division III. "There are no guaranteed wins; every team is very good this year," said Crooks. "The conference is really up for grabs."
The thing that the team really needs to stress is growth through the season. With their conference schedule starting nine games out, the Spartans need to get better each week in order to stir up the UAA. This is where Crooks will look to her seniors for leadership. While Katie Skillin will be out till midseason with a complicated injury, Kelly Goris and Bridget Mason are going to be pushing the Spartans through their growing pains. "Kelly is just a very solid and experienced player," said Crooks. "And Bridget is the one I expect the most leadership out of."
She is quick to point out, however, that this transition is definitely the hardest on these seniors and all of them have done an outstanding job. "These girls are just really committed to getting better and working extremely hard," Crooks said. "I am really impressed with the entire group. I asked a lot of them and they have responded well." If they keep this type of pace and work ethic up, the Spartans will impress not only their coach, but the rest of the conference as well.
