By Lizzy Warner

Gargoyle staff reporter

Posted Wednesday, March 28, 2007, The OG, sports & girls soccer

THE 2007 UNI GIRLS soccer team begins its season this afternoon at 4:15 at DCR Fields, with the varsity playing first, followed by the junior varsity. The Illineks will kick off against St. Thomas More, a new opponent that didn't have a girls soccer team until this year. Because of this, the Uni girls don't know what to expect going into their first match.

“It's pretty much anyone's guess,” says junior midfielder Zoë Schein, a key returning player from the 2006 varsity team. “I've heard things ranging from ‘They're not that good' to ‘They're all 5-foot-9 and have played [club soccer] since they were 7.'”

Although Uni finished last season with a 4-15 overall record (3-15 against varsity opponents) and was shut out in 12 of its losses, this year's squad has high expectations.

The Illineks ended the 2006 regular season with a 1-0 win against Champaign Central's JV team, but they were still seeded No. 6 in their seven-team sectional.

Uni went 2-2 in the East Central Illinois Conference, defeating Judah Christian and Decatur Christian but losing to Normal Calvary Baptist and conference champion Decatur Lutheran. The Illineks lost a second time to Decatur Lutheran when the teams faced each other in the first round of the Class A playoffs.

That game turned out to be Bill DeJarnette's finale as girls head coach. (He continued with the boys varsity in the fall.) Taking over this year is veteran Little Illini coach Phil Anders, whose coaching strategy differs from that of DeJarnette. Last year the team ran a formation with four defenders, four midfielders, and two forwards, whereas this year Anders is having the team run with four defenders, three midfielders, and three forwards, a style that is rather new to the team.

Players have also noted that there is more of a focus this year toward conditioning instead of skill training. After a preseason of scrimmages, lunges, and lots of running, Schein has begun to appreciate all the running and hard work.

“I never really got the appeal of running as a sport until soccer conditioning this year,” she says. “But after you work hard for a couple hours, it feels pretty good. I'm not switching to track, though. Running is still more fun with a ball at your feet.”

The team lost some strong senior players from last year, including Tough Illinek winner Roveiza Irfan, who was an ECIC honorable mention, and Emma Marshak, an ECIC all-conference first-teamer who won Uni's leadership award.

But plenty of key players have returned, including junior forward Suran Yoo (an ECIC first-teamer who was Uni's top scorer), senior goalkeeper Mandy Grill (an ECIC honorable mention who recorded three shutouts and was the varsity's most valuable player), junior midfielder Sarah Pfander (an ECIC honorable mention who won the Illineks' defense award), senior defender Amelia Breault, Schein (most dedicated), senior Krista Olson (sportsmanship), junior Shara Esbenshade (most intense), sophomore midfielder Joy Shapley (junior varsity MVP), and junior Jessica Stark (JV most improved).

Younger players eager to make a name for themselves will also have their chance — Anders, wanting to put an emphasis on dedication, has decided not to make distinct varsity and JV teams.

Although certain players will play mainly varsity or JV, Anders has said he will move up players from JV each week to play in varsity games based on how dedicated they've been and how well they've performed. Some new players who have already been mentioned as possible varsity players include freshmen Michelle Wong, Erika Belmont, and Isaure Hostetter, and sophomores Annie Machesky and Jessi Sullivan.

“I think that we definitely have a stronger team this year just on enthusiasm and energy alone,” says Yoo, who led the Illineks in scoring last year with 7 goals.

In any case, the team is ready for a fresh beginning.

RELATED

— Looking ahead: 2007 girls soccer schedule

— Looking back: Decatur Lutheran knocks Uni out of sectionals

— Looking back: 2006 team awards