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2012 SEASON: 7-8-4, 2-5-1 WCC (7th)
KEY RETURNERS: Mackenzie Krieser (Forward, Jr., Medford, OR), Christina Moberg (Midfielder, Sr., Kristiansand, Norway), Madalyn Schiffel (Goalkeeper, So., Roseville, CA), Jaciara Mello (Midfielder, Jr., Newbury Park, CA), Rochelle Weerackoon (Forward, So., Cypress, CA), Kelly Hoose (Defender, Sr., Los Gatos, CA)
KEY NEWCOMERS: Katherin Woodrum (Midfielder, Fr., Santa Rosa, CA), Jessica Nakae (Defender, Fr., Torrance, CA), Amanda Whittle (Midfielder, Fr., Torrance, CA), Lexi Krueger (Forward, Fr., Portland, OR)
The University of San Francisco's women's soccer team took steps in the right direction last season under new head coach Jim Millinder and with many of the same pieces returning, the Dons could make another leap forward in the West Coast Conference.
The Dons finished 7-8-4 last season after a 6-14 campaign in 2011. The team followed that up with a strong spring session where the Dons went 4-1-2.
USF returns its five top point leaders, including junior Mackenzie Krieser who led the team with 20 points. Christina Moberg, Jaciara Mello, Abigail Phillips and Rochelle Weerackoon also return to a squad that expects an upper tier finish in the WCC.
Millinder, who was a two-time Pac-10 Coach of the Year, said his team made substantial strides in his first year.
"They made a lot of headway," he said. "That first season is always about finding consistency. We used last spring as a springboard. Nobody in America has worked harder than us."
Millinder said this year's team is better than the 2012 version and that there are four freshmen who could come right in and start, creating competition for jobs. Freshmen Lexi Krueger, Jessica Nakae, Katherin Woodrum, and Ali Schaffer are part of a great recruiting class that Millinder believes they will all have a chance to make an immediate impact.
The Dons face an uphill battle in the WCC, which is a conference that featured four teams ranked in the Top 25 at the end of last season (BYU, Portland, Santa Clara, Pepperdine) and begins this season with multiple teams on various preseason Top 25 lists.
"We've got to be jumping out of the gate to give ourselves a chance," Millinder said of reaching the NCAA Tournament and winning a WCC championship.
FORWARDS
Teams will likely focus on Mackenzie Krieser and rightfully so. The junior collected a team-best 20 points last season, on nine goals and two assists, and was the focal point of the USF offense. Krieser was named to the All-WCC Second Team and, according to Millinder, still has plenty of upside.
Sophomore Alex Alugas improved on her post play last season and came into her own down the stretch. She is going to be looked to provide more of a punch on offense.
Sophomores Sydnie Telson, Rochelle Weerackoon and senior Kelsey Moe are vying for one starting job and Millinder is looking for someone to rise above the rest. "Somebody's got to breakout and be more consistent than the others and score goals and be more dangerous," he said.
Freshman Lexi Krueger will also factor into the starters conversation and Millinder thinks she has the potential to become a dangerous scoring threat on the college level.
MIDFIELDERS
Expectations are high for senior Kelly Hoose and junior Jaciara Mello, who enter the season as experienced leaders in the midfield. Hoose has been strong in the middle and played bigger than her 5-foot-5 frame. Millinder said Mello has to play a bit quicker this season, a year after she tallied six points.
Senior Christina Moberg has been an all-conference player and brings a wealth of experience back to the midfield.
Millinder sees freshman Jessica Nakae potentially making a push for a starting role. Tyler Campagna also has the opportunity to earn a starting role. The senior has the ability to score from distance and this could serve her well in the preseason competition.
DEFENDERS
Millinder loves Halle Bissin's tenacity on balls in the air and thinks the junior needs to be better with her on-ball defense. Sophomore Leticia Torres, who has recovered from a torn ACL, is back after training with the Chilean National Team over the summer. Senior Layla Martin has great vision and understanding of the game. Freshman Ali Schaffer has great determination and pace.
These four will be competing for two spots on the back line.
After a solid season in sophomore season, Abigail Phillips returns for hold down the right back spot. "She can get forward, get endline to endline," Millinder said. "She's got a great engine to get up and down."
Martin, Katherin Woodrum, and Ally Beck will all be competing for the left back position.
GOALKEEPERS
Millinder believes sophomore goalkeeper Madalyn Schiffel has the potential to be one of the best goalkeepers in the country. She played 10 games last year before having season cut short due to a concussion.
"Maddy Schiffel for her age is, I think, one of the top two or three goalkeepers in America and I think the kid before she leaves has a chance to be an All-American" he said.
Schiffel, who was part of the Team USA U-20 National Team, recorded three shutouts and was second in the WCC with a .838 save percentage.
2013 Schedule
8/23 - at Nevada, 7 p.m.
8/30 - San Jose State, 5 p.m.
9/1 - Detroit, 11 a.m.
9/6 - UC Davis^, 7 p.m.
9/8 - Harvard^, 11 a.m.
9/13 - Nebraska^^, 11:30 a.m.
9/15 - at Kansas^^, 10 a.m.
9/20 - at Oregon, 7 p.m.
9/22 - at Portland State, 1 p.m.
9/26 - at Long Beach State, 6 p.m.
9/30 - Cal, 7 p.m.
10/5 - at Saint Mary's*, 1 p.m.
10/10 - BYU*, 7 p.m.
10/12 - San Diego*, 2 p.m.
10/18 - at Pacific*, 7 p.m.
10/27 - at Santa Clara*, 1 p.m.
11/1 - Pepperdine*, 5 p.m.
11/3 - Loyola Marymount*, 12 p.m.
11/7 - at Gonzaga*, 2 p.m.
11/9 - at Portland*, 7 p.m.
^ - USF Tournament
^^ - Kansas Invitational
* - West Coast Conference match
