2017
WOMEN’S SOCCER
WOMEN’S SOCCER PREVIEW 2017
S
pring Hill College (SHC) women’s soccer head coach Allison Whitworth begins her second season at the helm of the Badgers by welcoming 18 new faces to the roster, so she has spent much of the preseason on team-building. “We’ve done a lot of work to build familiarity among the players and spent a great deal of time getting in sync,” she says. “One of the biggest questions we face this year is can we play as a team?” One of Whitworth’s themes for this year is “One Step at a Time” because she believes that how fast her team can come together as a unit will be a major determinate of how this year plays out. Central to the success of any soccer team is the defense anchored around the goalkeeper. To address this issue Whitworth has brought in a sophomore transfer in HP Fluharty of Jacksonville, Fla. “HP has the edge right now in preseason,” Whitworth says. “There’s going to be lots of responsibility on her as a young player this year, so we have to get her into a rhythm with the team as quickly as possible.” Red shirt sophomore Hannah Shankman of Alachua, Fla., who appeared in seven matches with six starts in 2016, is ready to step in if needed. Junior Melissa Schwartz of New Hyde Park, N.Y., and sophomore Sydney DeJohn of Hoover, Ala., also have the skills to protect the net if necessary. While Whitworth admits she will have a young back line on defense, she feels confident in senior defender Aiesha Ledda of Memphis, Tenn., who moves to the center back position this year. “That move allows some of our younger players to move up into the attack much quicker. We want to increase the attack from our flanks and we will have three freshmen stepping into those roles in Hannah Fogt from Sidney, Ohio, Abby Lollar of Rossville, Tenn., and Kylee Harrell from Odenville, Ala.” Other defenders shoring up the Badger wall this year will include seniors Becca Roth of O’Fallon, Mo., and Shannon Gleespen of Hendersonville, Tenn., along with Sabrina Cruz of Miami, Fla., Kiersten Turpeau from New Iberia, La., and Lauren Parnell out of Mary G. Montgomery High School in Mobile. On offense, Whitworth wants to take more shots this season. “We weren’t prolific shooters and we simply didn’t hit the frame enough last year,” she says. “But this year we have two top scorers returning in DeJohn and junior Gabrielle Burmaster of Harvey, La. We
also add freshmen Lilli Hanks of Tallahassee, Fla., and Sidney Spivey from Edgewood, Ky., to that mix to create a dangerous combination with a lot more movement. It will be difficult for defenses to keep up with them. DeJohn has really stepped up for us as a leader and that’s important on any team.” Also contributing to the Badger attack this year will be senior Madison Camet of Kenner, La., juniors Schwartz and Hannah Houseknecht from W.P. Davidson High School in Mobile as well as freshmen Caroline Lewis of Parker, Colo., Olivia Hall of Memphis, and Audrey Butler of Tavernier, Fla. Whitworth sees her attacking midfield as her squad’s biggest threat to opponents in 2017. “Freshmen Devin Fry of Johnson City, Tenn., and Jenna Pecot from Madisonville, La., are really understanding our goals,” she says. “Devin loves to distribute the ball while Jenna can play many positions and roles for our team.” Despite the youth of Fry and Pecot, Whitworth still points to her midfield as the most experienced portion of her line-up. “Seniors Kaelin Dull of Plano, Texas, and Francesca Talotta from Faith Academy in Mobile, along with junior SarahBeth Hyde of Hattiesburg, Miss., have been through the battles before and bring all that experience with them and that’s hard to beat. They can help mold our freshmen in Regan Gaudreault of Jacksonville Beach, Fla., Julia Hayes of Brentwood, Tenn., and Mackenzie Howell of Fairhope, Ala.” Sophomore Johanna Meister from Germany is recovering from an injury obtained at the end of last season, but looks to return for a solid second campaign. With this new attack, we expect to score a lot more goals this year,” says Whitworth. “But there are no days off on our schedule. That will be the hard part for the youngsters and they will have to step up immediately and make the adjustments. Talent-wise, we can compete immediately, but we have to see how we will handle the bumps and bruise along with the ups and downs of a season. “We have to stick to our One Step at a Time philosophy,” she says. “If we stick to that then a lot of good things will happen. It’s a brand new group and everyone has enthusiasm for what SHC and can do over the next four years and beginning NCAA Division II play. If we weather the storms as players and coaches then it will be exciting to watch these great ladies put their best foot forward out there.”
GENERAL FACTS:
COACHING STAFF
Allison Whitworth – Head Coach
Allison Whitworth was named the head coach of Spring Hill College women’s soccer in December 2015 following a successful three-year stint as the lead assistant/goalkeeper coach and recruiting coordinator with the Ohio University Bobcats in Athens, Ohio. While at Ohio, Whitworth’s keepers tallied 322 saves with 10 shutouts over three seasons and in 2014 she joined the Region II Olympic Development Program staff as a goalkeeper coach for various events. The Bobcats placed two players on the Mid-America Conference All-Freshman Team over the past three seasons along with earning nine MAC All-Academic Team members in 2015. Since 2011, every team that Whitworth has coached has been awarded a NSCAA Team Academic Award. As a recruiter for the Bobcats, Whitworth signed MAC All-Freshman Team member forward Steph Rowland who played in all 18 games for Ohio as a freshman during the 2015 season and led the team in five offensive categories, including goals (5), points (11), shots (33), shots on-goal (18) and shots on-goal percentage (.540) to set an Ohio record for freshman goals scored. Whitworth also recruited goalkeeper Vanessa Cordoba who earned the starting role for the Bobcats as a sophomore in 2015 after winning a gold medal at the Bolivarian Games with the U-20 Columbian National Team. Whitworth spent two seasons (2011-12) as an assistant coach/goalkeeper coach at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). During her time in Murfreesboro, the Blue Raiders went a combined 24-14-1 and recorded 14 shutouts. MTSU ended 2012 with the second-best record in school history, finishing with a 145-1 mark and claiming a share of the Sun Belt Conference regular-season title. While at MTSU, Whitworth was responsible for recruiting goalkeeper Kelsey Brouwer who finished her career with the school record for career wins, finished second overall in career saves, first in career shutouts with 27 and was named the winner of the C-USA Spirit of Service Award in 2013.
Emily Marcouiller – Assistant Coach
Emily Marcouiller joined the Badger staff in August 2017 after having served as the Girls Academy Director for Tennessee Soccer Club (TSC) in Nashville, Tenn., where TSC recently took steps to join the Elite Clubs National League, the premier league competition for girls’ soccer in the US. TSC also had seven teams win Tennessee State Championships, nine teams attend USYSA Regionals and two teams compete at USYSA Nationals, one of which won a National Championship in 2017. Prior to her time with TSC, Marcouiller served as the head coach at St. Cecilia Academy in Nashville where she led the program to three district championships and four trips to the elite round of the Tennessee High School Athletic Association playoffs. Under her development and leadership, the girls’ soccer program earned 28 All-District, 20 All-Region and five All-State player selections and Marcouiller was awarded Region Coach of the Year. Marcouiller was a Girls Director of Coaching at Harpeth Soccer Club for six years prior to leading the program at St. Cecilia. She was the direct point of contact for all coaches, referees, parents and players in programs. She was at the forefront in the technical development of the girls program while working hand-in-hand with players and staff to contribute to success of the younger athletes. She also assisted in the promotion, management and oversight of the competitive tryouts and program advancement. Emily has extensive playing experience after competing at the NCAA Division I level at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) as well as the Las Vegas Tabagators at the semi-professional level. Marcouiller holds her NSCAA National Diploma and USSF National licenses.
Institution: Spring Hill College City/State/Zip: Mobile, AL 36608 Founded: 1830 Enrollment: 1,500 Nickname: Badgers School Colors: Purple, white Home Facility: Library Field Capacity: 500 Affiliation: NCAA Division II President: Christopher Puto, Ph.D. Athletic Director: Jim Hall Alma Mater: Grinnell College, 1995 Compliance: Chad LeBlanc Faculty Athletic Representative: Steven Almquist, Ph.D. Athletic Department Phone: 251-380-3485 Athletic Department Fax: 251-460-2196 Sports Information Director: Jim Stennett Alma Mater: Mississippi State, 1990 SID Phone: 251-380-4468 SID Email: jstennett@shc.edu Athletic Web Site: www.shcbadgers.com Twitter: SHCBADGERS Facebook: SHCBADGERS Instagram: SHCBADGERS COACHING STAFF: Head Coach: Allison Whitworth Alma Mater: Auburn, 2007 Record at school: 0-15-3 (1 year) Career record: 0-15-3 (1 year) Office Phone: 251-380-4475 Best time/day to reach coach: 10 a.m. Assistant Coach: Emily Marcouiller (1st year) Head Athletic Trainer: Dani Ellis, ATC Trainer’s Phone: 251-380-3493 TEAM INFORMATION: Overall Record Last Year: 0-15-3 Conference/Finish: GSC 0-10-2 (13th of 13) Final 2016 NCAA Ranking: n/a Return/Lost/New: 13/13/17 Starters Return/Lost: 5/6 Returning Letters: 12
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2017 ROSTER No. Player
Pos.
Class Ht.
Exp. Hometown/Previous School(s)
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 22 23 24 26 27 28 30 32 33 34
GK GK FWD MF MF FWD MF FWD MF FWD DEF DEF FWD MF DEF MF MF DEF FWD MF DEF FWD FWD DEF FWD MF DEF DEF MF FWD
So. R-So. Jr. Sr. Fr. Sr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. Sr. R-Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr.
TR 1L 1L 2L HS 2L 2L HS HS HS 2L HS HS HS HS 1L HS 2L RS 2L 2L 1L 1L HS HS HS HS HS HS HS
HP Fluharty Hannah Shankman Gabrielle Burmaster Kaelin Dull Regan Gaudreault Madison Camet Francesca Talotta Caroline Lewis Jenna Pecot Lilli Hanks Aiesha Ledda Sabrina Cruz Sidney Spivey Julia Hayes Kylee Harrell Johanna Meister Mackenzie Howell Becca Roth Hannah Houseknecht Sarah Beth Hyde Shannon Gleespen Melissa Schwartz Sydney DeJohn Abby Lollar Olivia Hall Devin Fry Kiersten Turpeau Lauren Parnell Hannah Fogt Audrey Butler
5-4 5-1 5-4 5-4 5-4 5-6 5-3 5-5 5-6 5-3 5-7 5-2 5-5 5-3 5-10 5-8 5-4 5-5 5-2 5-3 5-6 5-6 5-5 5-5 5-6 5-5 5-0 5-5 6-0 5-2
Jacksonville, Fla./Stanton College Prep Alachua, Fla./Santa Fe HS Harvey, La./St. Mary’s Dominican HS Plano, Texas/John Paul II HS Jacksonville Beach, Fla./Duncan U. Fletcher HS Kenner, La./St. Mary’s Dominican HS Mobile, Ala./Faith Academy Parker, Colo./Regis Jesuit HS Madisonville, La./St. Scholastica Academy Tallahassee, Fla./Leon HS Memphis, Tenn./St. Agnes Academy Miami, Fla./Our Lady of Lourdes Academy Edgewood, Ky./Notre Dame Academy Bretwood, Tenn./Brentwood HS Odenville, Ala./St. Clair Co. HS Waldshut-Tiengen, Germany/Hochrhein-Gymnasium Waldshut Fairhope, Ala./Fairhope HS O’Fallon, Mo./Saint Dominic HS Mobile, Ala./W.P. Davidson HS Hattiesburg, Miss./Sacred Heart Catholic HS Hendersonville, Tenn./Hendersonville HS New Hyde Park, N.Y./New Hyde Park Memorial HS Hoover, Ala./Hoover HS Rossville, Tenn./Briarcrest Christian HS Memphis, Tenn./Saint Beneditct of Auburndale Johnson City, Tenn./Science Hill HS New Iberia, La./New Iberia Senior HS Mobile, Ala./Mary G. Montgomery Sydney, Ohio/Lehman Catholic HS Tavernier, Fla./Coral Shores HS
2016 RESULTS Date
Opponent
Site
Aug. 26 Sept. 1 Sept. 3 Sept. 9 Sept. 11 Sept. 16 Sept. 18 Sept. 23 Sept. 25 Sept. 28 Oct. 7 Oct. 9 Oct. 12 Oct. 16 Oct. 21 Oct. 23 Oct. 27 Oct. 29 Nov. 6
University of Mobile (Exhibition) at Palm Beach Atlantic University vs. Malone University Florida Southern College Rollins College *Christian Brothers University *Union University *at University of West Georgia *Valdosta State University *University of North Alabama *at Lee University *at Shorter University at Auburn University at Montgomery *at University of West Florida *University of West Alabama *University of Alabama in Huntsville *at Delta State University *at Mississippi College Auburn University at Montgomery
Library Field West Palm Beach, Fla. West Palm Beach, Fla. Library Field Library Field Library Field Library Field Carrollton, Ga. Library Field Library Field Cleveland, Tenn. Rome, Ga. Montgomery, Ala. Pensacola, Fla. Library Field Library Field Cleveland, Miss. Clinton, Miss. Library Field
* GSC matches
Result L; 0-5 L; 1-2 L; 1-2 T; 1-1 (2ot) L; 1-5 L; 0-1 L; 0-1 L; 0-1 T; 1-1 L; 1-10 L; 0-4 T; 1-1 (2ot) L; 2-3 L; 0-5 L; 0-4 L; 0-3 L; 1-2 L; 0-7 L; 1-3
2016 GSC FINAL STANDINGS Team
West Florida Lee Miss. College West Alabama West Georgia Union North Alabama Christian Bros. UAH Valdosta State Delta State Shorter Spring Hill*
GSC
Overall
11-1 11-1 9-2-1 8-3-1 7-4-1 6-2-4 7-5 4-7-1 4-8 1-7-4 2-10 0-10-2 0-10-2
19-5 14-3-2 13-5-2 11-7-1 11-7-1 7-5-5 8-8 4-11-1 8-9 1-11-5 6-11 1-14-2 0-15-3
*Not eligible for the GSC Tournament during reclassification process
2017 ROSTER
0
1
2
3
8
10
11
17
18
19
26
27
HP Fluharty Sophomore
Jenna Pectot Freshman
Mackenzie Howell Freshman
Abby Lollar Freshman
Hannah Shankman R-Sophomore
Lilli Hanks Freshman
Becca Roth Senior
Olivia Hall Freshman
4
5
6
12
13
15
16
20
22
23
24
28 30
32
33
34
Gabrielle Burmaster Junior
Aiesha Ledda Senior
Sabrina Cruz Freshman
Hannah Houseknecht R-Junior
Devin Fry Freshman
Kaelin Dull Senior
SarahBeth Hyde Junior
Kiersten Turpeau Freshman
Reagan Gaudreault Freshman
Sidney Spivey Freshman
Shannon Gleespen Senior
Lauren Parnell Freshman
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Madison Camet Senior
Kylee Harrell Freshman
Melissa Scwartz Junior
Hannah Fogt Freshman
Francesca Talotta Senior
Johanna Meister Sophomore
Sydney DeJohn Sophomore
Audrey Butler Freshman
2017 SCHEDULE Date
Opponent
Site
Time
Sept. 1 Sept. 3 Sept. 8 Sept. 10 Sept. 15 Sept. 17 Sept. 20 Sept. 22 Sept. 24 Sept. 29 Oct. 2 Oct. 6 Oct. 8 Oct. 12 Oct. 15 Oct. 20 Oct. 22 Oct. 26
vs. Embry-Riddle University vs. Eckerd College *Lee University *at Shorter University *at Union University *Christian Brothers University at Georgia Southwestern State Auburn University at Montgomery at University of Montevallo *at Valdosta State University Florida Southern College *University of Alabama in Huntsville *at University of West Alabama *at Delta State University *Mississppi College *University of West Georgia *at University of North Alabama *University of West Florida
St. Augustine, Fla. St. Augustine, Fla. Library Field Rome, Ga. Jackson, Tenn. Library Field Americus, Ga. Library Field Montevallo, Ala. Valdosta, Ga. Library Field Library Field Livingston, Ala. Cleveland, Miss. Library Field Library Field Florence, Ala. Library Field
5 p.m. (EST) 11 a.m. (EST) 3:30 p.m. 1 p.m. (EST) 5 p.m. 1 p.m. 3 p.m. (EST) 1 p.m. 1 p.m. 5 p.m. (EST) 12 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 1 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 1 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 1 p.m. 3:30 p.m.
*GSC matches
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