2009 ALMA SCOTS WOMEN'S SOCCER

SEASON PREVIEW

The goal for the 2008 Alma College Women's Soccer Team was to take a step towards competing for an MIAA Championship. The Scots, under fourth-year Head Coach Jeff Hosler, achieved that and more. The Scots completed the most successful season in school history by making it to the League Championship game and and tying a school record by winning 12 games.

In just three short years, the Scots have gone from four wins in 2006 to last season's 12 (12-7-1 overall, 7-3-2 in MIAA) and have seen their offensive production go from 16 goals in the season prior to Hosler's arrival to a school-best 47 tallies last year. The gains have been significant on the defensive side of the ball as well as they have gone from allowing 42 goals in 2006 to surrendering just 22 in 2008.

"When I came here, we changed the philosphy of our team to become more offensive minded and the players have really bought into the system and it really paid off last season," said Hosler. "In the Championship game, Calvin clearly demonstrated their experience in playing games of that magnitude. But our girls have faith in our system and played very hard to the end. I believe we came away from last year knowing that Alma can compete as an elite MIAA team."

In 2009, Alma looks to continue the improvement that has made them one of the big stories in MIAA Women's Soccer. Hosler knows that the road ahead is not easy, but is confident that his Scots' squad is ready for the challenge that lies in front of them.

"Our teams have continued to get better each year and we are at a point now in our program where we have depth at every position with talented players that are more than capable of stepping on the field and making an impact," said Hosler. "

2009 OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK

Offensively, the Scots are hoping that they have a lot of players involved in the attack and are deep enough that not only the starters, but that the players that come off the bench can add a dimension to their offense.

"We are very versatile with the group of players that we have, a lot of players that can play different spots," commented Hosler. "Our attacking players and offense from the upperclassmen the past three years has come from senior captains Tara Fitzsimmons and Kelley Walsh and junior Jessica Swan. Walsh, has been instrumental in organizing and distributing through the midfield and is looking forward to a big final season."

"But, we have also added some midfielders that have been able to add versatility and depth to our offense. Becky Marton and Carly Reising have found ways to join our attack our of the midfield and become very dangerous. We really feel like this year when our starting group is in there, and then when we bring in that next group off the bench, they actually have the ability to raise the level of our play."

2009 DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK

Defensively, one of Alma's philosophies, is that if they are on the attack, they are not defending, so they look to possess the ball as often as possible. The Scots look to get forward when they can and their backs have an understanding of what the forwards are trying to do. Alma's defense reads the game very well and have a good understanding of the squad's plan.

"Morgan Rudd, in her junior year, has anchored our back line and had a confidence building season in 2008,"said Hosler. "She is a no-nonsense kind of player that earns respect from her teammates. Morgan and Brooke Bergeron have started the past two years on the backline and have been staples for us. We have also brought in some very capable young players that can play in the back for us. Nobody can replace Christine's leadership and communication in the back, but in the preseason, we have seen Morgan and Brooke take on more of the responsibility."

"Our goalkeeper situation is one where we have a lot of eyes on as we have four goalkeepers on the roster and all of them are capable players. It is an open competition, as they are all players that could compete here or at other schools."

  2008 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

As a result of the team's success in 2008, individual honors came next as the Scots had a school-best five players recognized as All-MIAA.  F Jessica Swan (Romeo, MI/Romeo), who will be a junior in 2009, and M/F Kelley Walsh (Linden, MI/Linden) garnered First-Team honors, while F Tara Fitzsimmons (Marshall, MI/Marshall), M/F Carly Reising (Ottsego, MI/Ottsego) and D Morgan Rudd (Jackson, MI/Jackson) earned Second-Team recognition

  PRE-SEASON

As has been his style thus far in his tenure, Hosler has put together a 2009 schedule that will test his squad. The Scots will played an exhibition game against a Division I opponent (Western Illinois) and will play two games versus Division II foes (Northwood and Ferris State). In addition, Alma will host Washington University (MO), which finished last season ranked #8 in Division III and #20 Denison on the road.

"In our schedule this year, both in our exhibitions and our non-league schedule, we wanted to challenge our players. Putting them in tough situations, playing against some of the best teams in the region," remarked Hosler. "We believe that this will the team ready for the challenges that lie ahead in the MIAA. In the past, we have played an exhibition at home, but we wanted to get on the road to get used to the big games away from home during the season."

The team worked hard during the summer and came into camp in shape and ready to go. Captains Fitzsimmons and Walsh, along with senior leadership really set the tone in the fitness testing, as all of them either ran their best times or right up there with their best in their four years at Alma.

COACHING STAFF

Jeff Hosler '02, joined the Alma College Athletics staff as the Scots women's soccer coach in 2006 and has helped the Maroon and Cream rise as one of the most talented young teams in the MIAA, one that reached the league championship in 2008 for the first time in school history.

Hosler, a 2002 graduate of Alma College and a standout on the soccer pitch for the Scots, has built a program that is on the rise and he looks for even better results in his fourth season on the job. During his tenure, Hosler also has created the Reserve program, which allows even more players the ability to experience Alma Soccer.

In 2009, Hosler is assisted by two new incoming coaches. Kristi Evans begins her first season as an assistant coach for Alma this season after being the junior varsity soccer head coach at Lasher (MI) High School since 2007. Kristi was a three-year starter and captain at Oakland University. Erica Rohren is also entering her first year with the Scots' women's soccer team and comes to Alma after  playing four years collegiately at Central Michigan University. The coaching staff is dedicated to continuing the growth of the program and making it one of the elite in the MIAA.

"We are always looking for talented student-athletes that can help us on the field, but more importantly, understand the value of the education that is available at Alma College," said Hosler."It does not matter whether they come from small club teams in obscure parts of Michigan or top club teams from other areas of the Midwest, there is always a place for hard-working, competitive athletes to join the Scots Women's Soccer family."

After getting a taste of success last season, the Alma Scots look to 2009 with great anticipation. A very good group of returning players, combined with a talented recruiting class, gives the team the belief that they can contend for an MIAA title and continue the rise of the program.