Aug. 29, 2007

With much of its core group returning, the Indiana women's soccer team has high hopes for another top-four Big Ten finish and a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2007. Indiana returns six starters, including a pair of second-team All-Big Ten selections from last season, as well as a strong senior class that includes a pair of returning starters. Seniors Lindsay McCarthy and Katy Stewart were selected as captains for the 2007 campaign and will lead a group of 14 newcomers during the upcoming season.

GOALKEEPER
With the graduation of Stacey Van Boxmeer, the Hoosiers will have a tough task in filling the three-year starter's shoes in goal. Senior Megan Reinhardt has been with the Hoosiers for three seasons, but has seen limited playing time with Van Boxmeer and Lauren Fabbro playing in front of her. Last season, Reinhardt appeared in one match, keeping Texas Tech scoreless for the final 18 minutes of a 4-0 shutout. Also competing for time in goal will be freshman Lauren Hollandsworth, who was a four-year starter for Great Bridge High School in Virginia.

DEFENDERS
After holding opponents to a school-record 15 goals in 2006, the Hoosier defense will look to replicate its accomplishments. Leading the charge will be sophomores Kelly Lawrence and Jessica Boots, who both started every game they played in last season. Lawrence was a second-team All-Big Ten selection and an All-Great Lakes Region third team choice in her freshman campaign, while Boots, one of the most underrated players in the conference last season, had an outstanding summer as she led her Carmel Cobras club squad to the Under-19 National Championship.

Stewart and sophomore Taylor Fallon are the favorites to garner the other two starting spots in the back four. Stewart played 19 games on the defensive side of the midfield, making a pair of starts, and will make the move to defense for 2007. Fallon played in 19 games as well, starting 10, and was named to the Top Drawer Soccer All-Freshman Team following the season.

In addition to the four returnees, a trio of newcomers will challenge for playing time at the back. Jessica Krichbaum, Taylor Miller and Susan Swepston will all be in the mix for the Hoosiers in 2007. Krichbaum was a four-year starter for Indiana's Penn High School, earning All-Conference selections in each season. Miller was named East Suburban Conference Player of the Year after helping Benet Academy in Illinois to a 2007 regional championship. Swepston joins the Hoosiers after playing left back for four years at Dublin Coffman High School, helping the team to an Ohio State Championship as a freshman and runner-up finishes as a sophomore and senior.

MIDFIELD
Indiana returns three of its four starters in the midfield from 2006, including second-team All-Big Ten honoree Christie Kotynski. Along with Kotynski, seniors Beverly Markwort and McCarthy bring a wealth of experience and talent to the Hoosier midfield. Kotynski finished tied for the team lead with four goals last season, and her eight points were the third-most on the team. McCarthy played in all 20 games, making 18 starts, and scored a pair of game-winning goals for IU, while Markwort appeared in 18 games and made 11 starts, using her speed and intensity on both sides of the ball for the Hoosiers.

Three other returnees will be in the mix for a starting role in the middle, with senior Kate Nierman and sophomores Natalie O'Bryan and Kathryn Zachman all competing for a spot. O'Bryan played seven games for Indiana in 2007, showing significant improvement throughout the season. O'Bryan and Zachman both had strong spring campaigns, while Nierman brings a veteran presence to a young midfield squad.

One sophomore and three freshmen make up the remainder of the midfield, with Louisville transfer Nikki Bonacorsi the lone player of the four with college experience. Lyndee Collins was a first-team All-State selection in 2006 for Center Grove in Indianapolis. Chloe McKay joins the Hoosier squad after enjoying a standout career in Connecticut, earning four All-State selections and setting school and conference records with 109 goals and 89 assists in her career. Cameron Myers was named All-Sectional in 2006 for Illinois' Hinsdale Central, scoring six goals and five assists for the Red Devils.

FORWARDS
Three returnees from last year's squad highlight a young but talented group of forwards for the Hoosiers this season. Sophomore Kristin Arnold made 16 starts in 20 games last year, notching a goal and an assist for the Hoosiers. Classmate Liz Holby returns after appearing in 19 games, scoring one goal, and posting a strong spring campaign for IU. Senior Suzie Teixeira provides the bulk of the experience up front for Indiana this season, with 53 games under her belt.

Junior Ashley Seib is also in the mix for playing time after a strong spring campaign up front, while sophomore transfer Rachel Titus (Samford) will compete for a starting slot after scoring a pair of goals for the Bulldogs last season.

Five freshmen will also fight for both a starting spot and significant playing time. Leigh Anne Cummings joins the Hoosiers after being an impact player for both her club and high school teams in New York, while Aleah DeGeneres was an All-State selection for her Chatfield High School team in Colorado in 2006. Bloomington North standout Darby Hannon will have a short journey to her new location this fall, while Indianapolis speedsters Jocelyn Moses and Whitley Wynns have the athleticism and skill to be significant contributors for IU this season. Both Moses and Wynns were All-State selections in 2006 for North Central, while Wynns also earned All-State recognition in her other three seasons.

Big Ten Women's Soccer

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