2003 season should be a kick for Oakville girls’ soccer team

By STEPHEN GLOVER

For the Call

2003 just may be the year of the Tiger when it comes to girls’ high school soccer.

To be more specific, the Oakville Senior High School girls’ soccer team could not only be one of the best squads in the area, but the entire state.

“Things have been looking pretty good,” Tigers head coach Dave Robben told the Call. “We’ve got a pretty good mix in terms of numbers. We’re wanting to pick up where we left off from last season.”

Oakville returns 13 players from last season’s roster, which posted a record of 16-4-2 during the 2002 campaign. The Tigers’ season ended last year in the championship game of the district tournament with a 2-1 loss to Nerinx Hall.

“Our depth is promising,” Robben said. “Right now we have the potential to score from several different positions.”

The Tigers return their top scoring threat in junior midfielder Lisa Pucci who hammered out 12 goals and five assists for 29 points. Of Pucci’s 12 goals, four of them were game-winning goals.

“Lisa’s going to have a little more freedom in going up forward to the goal,” Rob-ben said. “She’s a fun player to watch when she’s really on.”

Senior midfielder Megan Brockman was also a major scoring threat for the Tigers as she scored six goals and tied for the team lead in assists with seven for 19 points. Robben looks for the upperclassman to become more involved with the team’s defense this year.

“Megan is perhaps the most experienced player in terms of her play at the club level,” Robben said. “She’s going to have more of a defensive responsibility on this year’s team.”

Senior midfielder Alison Jones and junior forward Cathy Headrick racked up five goals a piece with Jones making six assists to Headrick’s four.

“Alison’s a consistent and hardworking player who set up and scored some really nice goals for us,” Robben said. “Cathy is certainly a threat every time the ball is sent upfield.”

Senior defender Kerry Westwood will look to lead this year’s defense as she serves as Oakville’s top marking and tracking back. In 2002, Westwood scored four goals and made two assists for 10 points.

“Kerry’s going to be one of our main marking and tracking backs this season,” Robben said. “She scored two huge goals in our 2-0 win over Lindbergh in districts.”

One player that Robben is hoping to have a breakout season is senior midfielder Calli Fischer. Last season Fischer saw limited action due to injury.

“Calli is a player who has the potential to have a breakout season this year,” Robben said. “She’s very quick with the ball and has a knack of attacking the goal.”

The Tigers are very deep in the goalkeeping department in senior Kelly Thouviner and junior Val Vogler. Both goalkeepers combined for 13 shutouts last season as they carried a 0.454 goals-against average. Robben hopes that using a system of rotating keepers will serve Oakville in its best interest this season.

“They’re both excellent keepers,” Robben said. “Kelly’s really good on the line and has good size. She has the ability to start the attack quickly for us.”

Vogler amassed a record of 12-2-1 in the net for the Tigers, while making 60 saves last season for a 0.923 save percentage. Thouviner on the other hand went 4-1-1 for the Tigers while recording 73 saves for a 0.936 save percentage.

“Val is very similar to Kelly in many ways,” Robben said. “She’s a true student of the sport and really analyzes the game.”

Junior midfielder Jaclyn Roepke received third team all-metro honors last season and will be one of the key pieces to this year’s defense. Another player who will be a major contributor to the defense will be junior Jessica Liss.

“Jessica’s the general of our backfield,” Robben said. “She’s very good with the ball in terms of distribution. Jaclyn is going to be our main marking and tracking back. She’s just an excellent defender.”

Junior forward Melanie Meade could also have a breakout season after scoring three goals and making two assists for eight points. Sophomore forward Kayleigh Kozemczak and defender Sara Cook will look to make an impact on this year’s squad after joining the varsity squad last season.

“Sara’s a promising player who worked her way into a starting role last year,” Robben said. “Melanie is a hardworking player who has the potential to contribute to this year’s team and Kayleigh is capable of playing several different positions.”

Oakville opens up the season at the Rosary Invitational Tournament at Rosary Senior High School in north county. The first game of the tournament for the Tigers will be against Ursuline at 5:30 p.m. Monday. Oakville will then face Rosary at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Columbia, Ill., at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

2003 season should be a kick for Oakville girls’ soccer team

By STEPHEN GLOVER

For the Call

2003 just may be the year of the Tiger when it comes to girls’ high school soccer.

To be more specific, the Oakville Senior High School girls’ soccer team could not only be one of the best squads in the area, but the entire state.

“Things have been looking pretty good,” Tigers head coach Dave Robben told the Call. “We’ve got a pretty good mix in terms of numbers. We’re wanting to pick up where we left off from last season.”

Oakville returns 13 players from last season’s roster, which posted a record of 16-4-2 during the 2002 campaign. The Tigers’ season ended last year in the championship game of the district tournament with a 2-1 loss to Nerinx Hall.

“Our depth is promising,” Robben said. “Right now we have the potential to score from several different positions.”

The Tigers return their top scoring threat in junior midfielder Lisa Pucci who hammered out 12 goals and five assists for 29 points. Of Pucci’s 12 goals, four of them were game-winning goals.

“Lisa’s going to have a little more freedom in going up forward to the goal,” Rob-ben said. “She’s a fun player to watch when she’s really on.”

Senior midfielder Megan Brockman was also a major scoring threat for the Tigers as she scored six goals and tied for the team lead in assists with seven for 19 points. Robben looks for the upperclassman to become more involved with the team’s defense this year.

“Megan is perhaps the most experienced player in terms of her play at the club level,” Robben said. “She’s going to have more of a defensive responsibility on this year’s team.”

Senior midfielder Alison Jones and junior forward Cathy Headrick racked up five goals a piece with Jones making six assists to Headrick’s four.

“Alison’s a consistent and hardworking player who set up and scored some really nice goals for us,” Robben said. “Cathy is certainly a threat every time the ball is sent upfield.”

Senior defender Kerry Westwood will look to lead this year’s defense as she serves as Oakville’s top marking and tracking back. In 2002, Westwood scored four goals and made two assists for 10 points.

“Kerry’s going to be one of our main marking and tracking backs this season,” Robben said. “She scored two huge goals in our 2-0 win over Lindbergh in districts.”

One player that Robben is hoping to have a breakout season is senior midfielder Calli Fischer. Last season Fischer saw limited action due to injury.

“Calli is a player who has the potential to have a breakout season this year,” Robben said. “She’s very quick with the ball and has a knack of attacking the goal.”

The Tigers are very deep in the goalkeeping department in senior Kelly Thouviner and junior Val Vogler. Both goalkeepers combined for 13 shutouts last season as they carried a 0.454 goals-against average. Robben hopes that using a system of rotating keepers will serve Oakville in its best interest this season.

“They’re both excellent keepers,” Robben said. “Kelly’s really good on the line and has good size. She has the ability to start the attack quickly for us.”

Vogler amassed a record of 12-2-1 in the net for the Tigers, while making 60 saves last season for a 0.923 save percentage. Thouviner on the other hand went 4-1-1 for the Tigers while recording 73 saves for a 0.936 save percentage.

“Val is very similar to Kelly in many ways,” Robben said. “She’s a true student of the sport and really analyzes the game.”

Junior midfielder Jaclyn Roepke received third team all-metro honors last season and will be one of the key pieces to this year’s defense. Another player who will be a major contributor to the defense will be junior Jessica Liss.

“Jessica’s the general of our backfield,” Robben said. “She’s very good with the ball in terms of distribution. Jaclyn is going to be our main marking and tracking back. She’s just an excellent defender.”

Junior forward Melanie Meade could also have a breakout season after scoring three goals and making two assists for eight points. Sophomore forward Kayleigh Kozemczak and defender Sara Cook will look to make an impact on this year’s squad after joining the varsity squad last season.

“Sara’s a promising player who worked her way into a starting role last year,” Robben said. “Melanie is a hardworking player who has the potential to contribute to this year’s team and Kayleigh is capable of playing several different positions.”

Oakville opens up the season at the Rosary Invitational Tournament at Rosary Senior High School in north county. The first game of the tournament for the Tigers will be against Ursuline at 5:30 p.m. Monday. Oakville will then face Rosary at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Columbia, Ill., at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.