|
|
|
Some of UNLV's soccer goals unmet
By Jeff Wollard, Las Vegas Review-Journal
Nov. 11, 1999
With the 1999 season finally over, UNLV women's soccer coach Staci Hendershott could be satisfied with her team's 7-11-1 record. After all, the program has been around for only two years. Instead, Hendershott already is planning ways to make her team better for next season. To Hendershott, 1999 was a season of mixed success. While most teams would be pleased to win seven games in their second season of existence, the Rebels accomplished that after winning eight games during their inaugural season, finishing at 8-10-1. So Hendershott has been left to wonder whether her team showed improvement in 1999 or whether the program took a step backward. After more than a week of debate, she is seeing the positives. "Obviously, we would have liked to have improved on last year's record," Hendershott said. "But I really feel we played better soccer this year." She pointed out that her team's major problem this season was inconsistency. "At times we played brilliant soccer," she said. "I think the big thing is that we could have been more consistent at times." The Rebels also switched from the Western Athletic Conference to the Mountain West Conference this season, so the schedule was different. Hendershott said her team played tougher this season against teams it also faced in 1998. "Look at last year," she said. "Utah killed us 4-0. This year it was only 2-0, and I really felt that was anyone's game." Hendershott also pointed out that her squad remained relatively inexperienced this year, with only two seniors. That could work to her advantage next season, as the majority of the team will return to play together for a third year in 2000. "We're going to have a lot of juniors," she said. "I think that experience is going to help us." Goalkeeper Shannon Wilson should be instrumental. As one of the team's two seniors next year, the Bishop Gorman graduate should offer experience and consistency. "When she's on, we usually win," Hendershott said. But Hendershott said she is looking for an offensive leader to take over games when the Rebels really need a goal. "Everyone is still finding their niche, but we still need that goal-scorer," she said. Sophomores Anita Pedford and Janae Sims led the team this season with 12 goals apiece, but Hendershott expressed concern over her team's many scoring droughts. The Rebels were shut out nine times. There's room for improvement, but Hendershott feels her team learned valuable lessons this season that will carry into next year. "I think we'll definitely finish above .500 next year," she said. "We have to remember that this is a process, and it takes a while to build a successful program."
|
|
