By
Audrey DeAnda
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Starting positions wide open
Junior midfielder Marisa Padula has been named as a student assistant coach this season after suffering a third knee injury this spring in a game against UNLV. Padula tore her anterior crucient ligament for the third time in her career.
First-year head coach Cathy Klein called the moment Padula injured her knee one of the saddest moments in her career in coaching.
According to Klein , an ACL tear is the most serious injury a soccer player can suffer.
Padula's new role will include serving as an assistant to Klein, who met with the midfielder following the injury to discuss her future.
"In the interest of making sure (Padula) can walk at 30 years old, we both felt it was the right time for her to step aside and begin her coaching career," Klein said.
Last year's starters won't necessarily be in the opening day lineup, according to Klein.
"(From) the first meeting (on) the first day, I said we were starting from ground one," she said.
According to Klein, the first weeks of practice, not previous experience, will determine who takes the field for the Wildcats, a team that finished the 1999 season with a 7-10-2 record.
"Every starter at this stage has earned it," Klein said. "Their behavior on and off the team has earned them that spot, whether they're a freshman or a senior."
The Wildcats will be sporting new uniforms in 2000.
Last season, Arizona wore white uniforms at home and red uniforms on the road.
It is unsure as to whether this season's uniforms will be similar to previous jerseys.
The team's new uniforms will be unveiled at Arizona's first game in Tennessee on Sept. 1. The Wildcats make their home debut on Sept. 8 against Pittsburgh.
