By Tressa Girodo
Arizona Daily Wildcat
August 29, 1997

Not Alone

Adam F. Jarrold Arizona Daily Wildcat UA junior soccer forward Nikki Jones looks to control the ball against two defenders during a drill yesterday at Murphy Stadium.

Until last Sunday, 5-foot-4 freshman goalkeeper Inger Airheart was defending the nets by herself for Arizona's women's soccer team. The new arrival was alone in goal because last year's starting goalkeeper Christa Conway could not decide whether or not to return for her junior season.

"Being the only keeper and not having anyone to do drills with made it difficult to train," Airheart said. "I spent the preseason learning how the other players played.

"My goal for the team is for us to finish over .500 and my personal goal is to get more shutouts than last year's team did."

Conway is back, but now she is waiting in line behind Airheart, who will start in goal this weekend.

The Wildcats defense, however, shouldn't suffer even though Airheart is young and the team lost four starting defenders. The senior leadership of returning starter Jen Ginsberg and co-captain Melissa Kessler make a formidable defense with junior Kate Mattson rounding out the UA backfield.

Returning junior Veronica Ramirez will rotate from the back to midfield providing additional strength.

"Everyone has something different to offer," Kessler said. "I may be stronger in the air while Veronica is stronger at distributing the ball."

Mattson added, "There is no big loss in the back. We have so much depth in a strong bench, there is no loss of skill."

With the return of sophomore starters Kristina Quiroz and Sara Field, who led the team in assists, and senior co-captain Emily Bumps, the Wildcat midfield will be a dangerous zone for opponents.

All-American freshman Marisa Padula was suppposed to make an immediate impact, but will redshirt the 1997 season due to a knee injury she suffered in the final game of the National Tournament. Padula is scheduled for anterior cruciate ligament surgery on September 11 at UMC hospital.

Up front the Wildcats are strong with the return of junior Nikki Jones, last season's leading scorer, and returning sophomore Jill Micone, who netted her two goals of the season in a three minute span against Arizona State University.

Freshman Elena Galvan, a Tucson native from Sunnyside High School, will also add support to the offensive attack.

"With Elena, Jill, and Nikki, we'll have a lot more depth up front this season," UA head coach Lisa Fraser said.

"Our style of play will be more direct in a possession game, and the outlook for the fall season will depend on how we play this weekend," Fraser said.

The Wildcats begin the 1997 season with a road trip against Arkansas and Tulsa.

Arizona will return for a home opener on the newly named Murphy Stadium against rival ASU on September 5.GOLF from 15