Ambitious New Coash Signifies Fresh Beginning for Sagehen Women's Soccer

By Lauren Sauter
Sports Associate

Women’s soccer at Pomona reminds me of Carl’s Jr. buying out Hardee’s. The new advertising slogan goes something like this, “It’s how the last place you go for a burger will become the first.” Recently, people who wanted burgers in the fall would flock to men’s soccer games, football games and volleyball matches before showing up to women’s soccer. No one can deny that the women’s soccer team is comprised of talented and hardworking players who dish up a mean game of soccer. Despite this, women’s soccer fans were limited to roommates, boyfriends, and events staff employees.

This fall, however, promises to produce a sea change in women’s soccer. There is a new face on the field: Coach Jennifer Scanlon. Scanlon boasts an impressive resume: she was a three-time women’s soccer All-American, two-time MIAC player of the year, and holds the record as all-time leading scorer at Macalaster College in Minnesota, where she received her BA. After grad school at University of New Hampshire, Scanlon moved on to work as an assistant women’s soccer coach at Macalaster, followed by a head coaching position at Kenyon College in Ohio.

|Scanlon, originally from southern California, is enthusiastic about her move to the Pomona-Pitzer community. She enjoys the atmosphere of a high-quality liberal arts school like Pomona and Pitzer and the intimacy of Division III athletics. However, because P-P is D III, the previous women’s head soccer coach was also responsible for coaching women’s softball, forcing her to divide attention between the two teams. Scanlon will be focusing solely on soccer, allowing her to devote more time and energy to both recruiting and coaching.

“I have been lucky to step into a situation where the players were ready to work hard, improve and compete,” says Scanlon of her team. Saturday’s away game against Cal Lu marks the start of SCIAC play, and P-P may take a lot of people by surprise. The team has set high standards for what they would like to accomplish this year, and Scanlon is just the woman to take them there. She believes they have legitimate prospects for achievements at conference as well.

The players, as well, are keen to get into the season with their new coach. Senior Kate Sundquist remarked, “She [Scanlon] really knows the game, not just technically, but tactically.”

In addition, there is considerable new speed and fresh skills on the field, due to a large number of freshmen joining the team. In general, it is a young group, with only 6 upperclassman out of 25 girls. Not only does this influx of talent promise a better season in 2003, but such an early start will give these freshmen and sophomores time to develop and specialize as a team. Kate Walker, a freshman from Des Moines, Iowa, says she is looking forward to the challenge of the season, “Everyone has been very inclusive, and we have developed a good team dynamic.”

Some players attribute the disappointing 2002 season to a lack of confidence and being “in a rut.” Sophomore forward Anna Renery says, “We’ll be a lot better this year. We are more motivated to succeed.” Renery is obviously a motivated individual. Last year, as a freshman at Pomona, she made first team all-SCIAC. However, Renery is just one of the players to watch this year. Returning senior Sarah Staller and sophomore Lauren Denny were both second team SCIAC, and many of the first-years have exhibited serious potential. Sundquist agrees, “As a whole, we’re really excited to be starting a new season with a new coach. It’s good to have a fresh perspective.”

Nevertheless, the question remains: Are Carl’s Jr.’s new hamburgers really that good? They sure sound good: flame-broiled, all-beef patties with melted swiss on a sesame seed bun, topped off with their signature sauce. I know I want one.
The women’s next home game is Saturday, October 4 at 11 A.M. against Redlands.