By
Ryan Finley
Arizona Summer Wildcat
Women's soccer looking forward to tough schedule
In her first season as the head coach of the UA women's soccer team, Cathy Klein tried to install a "warrior mentality" in her team. When Arizona's season starts Sept. 7 against New Mexico, Klein's team will have to develop a winner's mentality as well.
The Wildcats - a team that went into overtime in 10 of its 20 matches last season - must learn how to develop a killer instinct in the new season. Last year's UA team went 3-15-2 and failed to win a Pacific 10 Conference match.
"We're not looking really to change anything, except that we need to learn the 'winner's mentality' that the other women's teams at the UA have," Klein told the UA sports information department. "We were so close to winning so many games (last season) and I think we've addressed our weaknesses with this year's recruiting class."
Klein's second recruiting class is especially impressive considering the Wildcats' 2000 record.
Five true freshmen - Vanesha Bailey, Courtney Moseley, Lindsey Peeples, Courtney Russell and Heather Nelson - should contribute to an already-young team. Bailey was the 2000-01 Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Nevada, while Moseley helped lead Bishop Montgomery High School in Redondo Beach to a league crown.
Klein said the players' athleticism and commitment to winning should help impact a program in desperate need of success.
"We've got a large influx of new players, all built around our need for speed," she said. "We are expecting great things from this incoming class. Every one of these players we're bringing in is a proven winner and therefore is capable of contributing right away."
Arizona's forwards - Liz Bartlett, Sierra Cristiano, Kristi Loro–a and Tiffany Sabado - should provide a much-needed offensive attack in 2001. Bartlett led all Wildcats in scoring last season.
At midfield, the Wildcats will be led by senior Twila Kaufman, one of the team's few veterans. Kaufman, who started all 20 matches last season, has failed to crack the starting lineup in just two of her 54 career matches as a Wildcat.
Cassidy Guinn, a senior who transferred from Creighton two seasons ago, should be the Wildcats' top returning defensive player in 2001. Senior Shannon Monti, the Wildcats' goaltender, finished seventh in the Pac-10 among goalies last season and should improve as the projected starter after splitting time with Inger Airheart last season, who has since graduated.
The challenge of competing in the 2001 season will not be easy, either. Of the Wildcats' 18 opponents, 10 qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season.
"Our schedule is very challenging and full of NCAA Tournament teams," Klein said. "Our non-conference schedule is difficult, and our conference schedule is awesome. That combination forces us to be prepared to compete and to excel at a high level right from the very first kickoff."
To succeed, the Wildcats will need more than just improvement. They will need to be warriors.
