Elizabeth Tuggle, left, returns as a junior this year
2003 Erskine Women's Soccer Preview
by Thomas Holland '00
This fall, Interim Women’s Soccer Coach Sheri Green takes over an Erskine College team that finished 2002 8-8-1 overall, finishing eighth in the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference, while qualifying for the conference tournament. She inherits a team with 14 returning players, including four seniors.
“I’m very excited about the upcoming season," said Green. "We have an experienced team and I think we have a chance to surprise some people."
Julie Brown (Charleston, SC/James Island H.S.) returns for her senior season to anchor a defense that helped the Fleet record six shutouts in 2002, while playing in all 17 games.
Fellow senior Shelly Roberts (Moore, SC/James F. Byrnes H.S.) will be counted on to lead the Erskine offense after leading the team in goals (10) and points (21), after missing much of 2001 with a knee injury.
Allison Johnstone (Greenville, SC/Eastside H.S.) missed four games last season, but still finished second on the team in assists (4) and fourth in points (10) and will look to improve on those numbers.
Rachel Freeman (Lexington, SC/Lexington H.S.) will look to use her speed to lead the Fleet offense, after leading the team in assists (5), while scoring six goals.
Junior defender Esther Udall (Lindon, UT/Orem H.S.) will look to continue her outstanding play after being named Second Team All-CVAC in 2002, but will have to recover from off-season surgery on her ankle.
Shantika Britt (Awendaw, SC/Wando H.S.) has been a two-year starter in goal for the Fleet and earned Second Team All-CVAC in 2002, allowing just 2.17 goals a game and making 88 saves while recording six shutouts.
Fellow junior Elizabeth Tuggle (Athens, GA/Clarke Central H.S.) will be counted on to provide a spark on offense. Tuggle played in all 17 games, while scoring two goals with one assist.
Jessie Pott (Chapin, SC/Chapin H.S.) enters her junior season and will help stabilize the outstanding Erskine defense.
Juniors Lydia Frazier (Charlotte, NC/Independence H.S.), Mary Tricebock (Charlotte, NC/South Mecklenburg H.S.), Ashley Cirelli (Pendleton, SC/T.L Hanna H.S.), and Rene Marshall (Greensboro, NC/Ben L. Smith H.S.) will be counted on to provide experience on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Cirelli only took four shots last season, but scored on each shot.
Junior transfer Holly Tallent (Shelby, NC/Campbell University) will bring Division I experience to the Fleet offense this season.
Sophomore Julie Jefferson (Lexington, SC/Lexington H.S.) tied Freeman for the team lead in assists (5) while scoring three goals and will be a valuable asset on the offensive side of the ball.
Sophomore Lindsay Zielinski (Florence, SC/South Florence H.S) will give Coach Green even more experience on offense. Zielinski scored two goals in nine games last season.
Five freshmen join Erskine in 2003, including goalkeeper Katy Jackson (Lexington, SC/Lexington H.S.). Brandi Stewart (Dallas, NC/Ashbrook High School) and Ashley Owens (Rock Hill, SC/Northwestern H.S.) will help in the midfield, while Jamie Locke (Brentwood, TN/Brentwood H.S.) and Anna Winters (Greer, SC/Eastside H.S.) will play in the forward position.
The Fleet will open up the season Sept. 6 as they host Mars Hill at 2 p.m.
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