TCU HORNED FROGS
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CHAMPIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT
2009 SEASON PREVIEW
The 2009 Women’s Soccer Preview
THE RUN FOR NO. 1 The pieces are in place in 2009 for the Horned Frog womenʼs soccer program to make a serious run at a conference title and NCAA Tournament berth. With 10 of 11 starters returning, including its top-four goal strikers and entire defensive backline, TCU has the potential to be one of the top teams not only in the Mountain West Conference, but also the country in 2009. Led by fifth-year head coach Dan Abdalla, TCU came within an overtime goal of making the NCAA Tournament in 2008 and should have plenty of motivation to capture even more magic after posting the most successful season in program history last fall. The Horned Frogs will enter 2009 looking to improve upon a program best 14-4-2 record overall and 4-2-1 mark in conference action.
Between the posts, Kelsey Walters and Lauren Wysoski return with Walters most likely to start after recording one of the most dominating sophomore campaigns in program history.
TCUʼs last line of defense this fall will consist of two-year starter Cheryl Martin, as well as sophomores Katie Taylor, who earned all-conference honors in 2008, Lindsay Holmes and Alex Mechalske. The quartet started nearly every contest last fall and will once again play a key roll in TCUʼs success in 2009. Sophomore Chelsey Wilgenburg will also probably start at some point during the season after showing some dominating stretches of play late in the year in 2008.
The midfield position could be one of the most dangerous positions this fall for TCU as the Horned Frogs return junior Chelsea Cody, who has started nearly every contest during her time in Fort Worth and Jackie Torda, a talented attacker that earned MWC All-Tournament honors following her efforts at the 2008 MWC Championships. Junior Nikki Wilbur is also back for the Purple and White after starting every contest for TCU in the midfield last season. Both Kaylie Garcia and Michelle Nguyen should push for starting spots as well this fall after netting multiple goals during the 2008 campaign. Finally, look for senior Kelly Faerber to offer added depth to the starting lineup after battling through injuries the past two seasons.
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Women’s Soccer Media Guide
Up front, TCU possess one of the most dangerous attackers in the nation in sophomore Jordan Calhoun. Calhoun is coming off an AllAmerican freshman campaign in which she rewrote nearly every record in route to MWC Freshman of the Year honors. Along side Calhoun will be two-time all-conference selection Lizzy Karoly. Karoly, a senior from California, netted 11 goals in 2008 and is poised for something special during her final season. Sophomore Jenna Hayes should also factor into the forward mix this fall after sitting out 2008 with an injury. Speedy sophomore Katie Runyon will provide TCU another attacking forward off the bench after playing in 19 matches last fall. A handful of newcomers will grace the TCU roster this season with as many as five expected to compete for serious playing time.
TCUʼs schedule in 2009 features nine home matches and contests with 14 teams that played in post-season competition. The non-conference home slate is highlighted by matches against the Mexican National Team, UTSA, Houston Baptist, Texas Tech and Stephen F. Austin, who all played in post-season play in 2008. The Purple and White will play a total of five non-conference matches at Garvey-Rosenthal Soccer Stadium.
On the road, the Horned Frogs will open the month of August with a road-match against 2008 NCAA tournament participant Texas in Austin. TCU will also play away matches against Rice, Colorado College, Denver, Weber State and Alabama, who played in SEC post-season action last fall. The conference schedule consists of three home matches and four road games. TCU will host Air Force, Wyoming and San Diego State. TCU's MWC road schedule includes games at New Mexico, Utah, BYU, who captured the MWC title in 2008, and UNLV.
The Purple and White will begin their quest towards a National Championship on August 21 against the University of Texas in Austin. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.