Exclusive Fall Athletics Preview
Football
Coach: Roger Caron
Years as Head Coach: 8
Last Season’s Record: 4-4
Top Returning Players: Matt LaCoss QB, Josh Meier DB, Pat Maloney LB, Bobby Boeche DL, Dana Madlem OL, Ben LaCoss TE, John Samples RB.
Key Newcomers: Joe Cappola DB, Art Przybyl FB, Marc Stepper LB, Raudric Curtis DB.
Goals for Upcoming Season: The Sagehens have a young team and start few seniors. Goals will be competitive every week, to stay healthy, and develop the younger players.
Expectations: The team expects to be strong and to have a winning season.
Outlook: The Hens are small, but if they play with enthusiasm and take advantage of their team speed, they should be able to improve upon last year’s record.
Key Games: 10/6 La Verne (H), 11/3 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (A)
Mens’ Soccer
Coach: Bill Swartz
Years as Head Coach: 14
Last Season’s Record: 16-3
Top Returning Players: Netza Bravo (’04), Ian Preikschat (’03), An-Yen Hu (’04)
Key Newcomers: Scott Coleman, Alex Pickrell, Patrick Sullivan.
Expectations: To compete for first place in the conference.
Outlook: With a young team, many with all-league honors already under their belts, Pomona-Pitzer has the energy to compete with any SCIAC team, as well as a solid base for the next few years. However, losses to CMS and Redlands have left them an uphill battle to fight. This young team will need strong leadership if it is to fulfill its potential.
Key Games: 9/22 Cal Lutheran (H), 10/10 CMS (A)
Womens’ Soccer
Head Coach: Eli Koenn-Bollinger
Years as Head Coach: 1
Top Returning Players: Torrey Shelton (center midfielder), Taylor Matheson (center midfielder), Susan Houge (midfielder), Jo Kirsch (stopper), Lauren Salvail (forward).
Key Losses: Sharon Silveira, Sarah Thalmann, Rebecca Hummel, and Orianna Campenelli.
Key Newcomers: Izzy Smith, Aliza Norwood, Maggie Curnutte and Rebecca Lipeles.
Goals for Upcoming Season: The women Sagehens have their sights set on third place or higher this year.
Expectations: "We can only get better," said captain Torrey Shelton. "We’re still learning how to play with one another as we adjust to our new coach." They expect to bounce back from their present 2-4 record. In their 2000 season, the Hens lost five of six first round SCIAC games, but came back to finish in third place. Expect more of the same this season.
Key Games: 10/6 La Verne (H), 10/10 CMS (H)
Volleyball
Coach: Valerie Cowan
Years as Head Coach: 8
Last Season’s Record: 11-14
Top Returning Players: Colleen Chrisco, Renee Faulkner.
Key Newcomers: Alysha Lascano, Jennie Kenmotsu
Outlook: "Outdig, Outhustle, Outlast!" This motto is a good summary of what the defense-oriented Sagehens will need in order to improve on last year’s disappointing finish.
Key Games:
9/28 CMS (A), 9/29 Cal Lutheran (H), 10/6 Occidental (H)
Water Polo
Coach: Gary Troyer
Years as Head Coach: 7
Last Season’s Record: 8-14
Top Returning Players: Ben Speicher (’03, Captain), Eric Kort (‘04.), Luke Johnson (‘02., Captain), and Ryan Meckel-Parker (‘02, Captain)
Key Losses: Ryan Williams, Dusty Baker, and Marc Cavagnolo
Key Newcomer: Andrew Shetterly
Goals for Upcoming Season: Although the University of Redlands is the odds-on favorite to win the league, the Sagehens are looking to mirror last year’s fourth-place finish in the conference and maybe turn some heads in the playoffs.
Expectations: The Sagehens have a defense-oriented style of play with an eye for fast breaks.
Outlook: This may be a transition year for the Hens. They are a young team that lost several key starters, including 3-time all-SCIAC player Ryan Williams, nevertheless, the team has a great two-meter setter in Ben Speicher.
Key Games: 10/12-10/13 Claremont Convergence tournament, 10/24 Redlands (H), 11/03 CMS (A).
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