Millersville, Pa. - The Millersville women's soccer team becomes the university's first team to take the field for regular season action Thursday evening. The Marauders travel to Philadelphia for a 4:30 p.m. start time.

SEASON OUTLOOK
The 2009 Millersville women's soccer team is looking for consistency.

The 2008 squad started quickly and finished strong, going 4-2 to open the year and 2-2-3 to close it including a double overtime tie with eventual PSAC East champ West Chester. However, it was a seven-game skid in between that doomed the Marauders to a fourth-straight season without a winning record.

Inconsistency and growing pains generally occur with young squads, and the 2008 team was just that. But by the end of the year, it was clear that that the team had progressed and hopes are that it can carry the momentum into 2009. Mike O'Brien is entering his fourth season as head coach and this club looks to be his most experienced. It boasts 14 returnees, 12 of which have started previously.

The roster includes just two seniors, but there are seven juniors and five sophomores—nearly all of which gained extensive playing time as rookies.

The Marauders graduated just two seniors a year ago, but Jaime Lancaster left some big shoes to fill at goalkeeper. She was the lone keeper on the roster, and despite it being her first season as a starter, she recorded five shutouts and a .795 save percentage on her way to being named All-Atlantic Region Honorable Mention. Also moving on was team leader Nicki Conzentino and leading scorer Kayla Hartley, who scored eight times.

Replacing the goalkeeper and leading offensive threat will not be easy, but a deep, veteran team infused with 11 newcomers should be able to compensate.

One year ago, the team was on the short side of seven one-goal decisions. After suffering through those heart-breakers, O'Brien and his team believe those close games will end up in their favor in 2009.

Forward
Millersville outscored its opponents by four goals last year but still managed just 1.53 goals per game, ranking it 12th in the 15-team PSAC. Part of the reason for the absence of Year was sheer inexperience on the attack.

Taylor Suskie started 13 of the 19 games as a freshman and was a pleasant surprise with three goals and three assists.

O'Brien will need contributions from his incoming crop of freshmen that include Jenna Gould, Lindsay Malpass, Chrissy McLaughlin and Alma Wilson. McLaughlin was an All-Lancaster-Lebanon League First Team selection in 2008.

Midfield
The Marauders are solid in the midfield with a tough, defensive-minded rotation. The key cog in the middle is junior Olivia Taylor, who is a two-time All-PSAC Eastern Division pick. Taylor has started all 38 games since arriving on campus, and in 2008, she led the team in assists with five and was second in goals with three.

One of the team's two seniors, Sarah Cameron, is an outstanding athlete and excellent passer. In her return from a severe knee injury, she scored four goals, brining her career total to seven. The senior has also started 39 career games, giving the Marauders some valuable leadership in the middle of the field.
Junior Ali Silva also provides a spark. She tallied three assists while starting 17 of the team's 19 games a year ago. Junior Kate Moeller started seven games and scored twice in 2008 and should continue to be a factor.

Ariel Gehringer produced a goal in 16 appearances and one start as a freshman in 2008. Also expected to be a contributor is junior Lauren Thomas who missed last season with an injury. In 2007, she started 14 games and recorded a goal and an assist. Sophomore Angela Sabatino will also look to crack the lineup after playing in two games as a freshman.

Freshmen looking to crack the lineup include Jenna Lininger, Brandi Tipton and Bethany Yingst.

Defense
The Marauders defense played brilliantly at times last year. It managed to hold teams to one goal or less 11 times and surrendered just five goals over the final seven games.

Sophomore Niki Roberts was impressive in her first season. In 18 starts, she scored once and ranked second on the team in assists with four. Classmate Allison Snyder started 13 times and produced an assist as well.  Madison Williams enters her junior season with 36 career starts already under her belt. She scored her first career goal in 2008 and should continue her progress.

Adding depth on defense is senior Kacie Stalb. She appeared in two games for the Marauders after spending two seasons at Delaware State. 

Several newcomers also figure into the mix. Vying for playing time are Anne Grandfield, Kelli Kerr, Brianna Pham and Lindsay Wilson.

Goalkeeper
It will be trial by fire for rookie goalkeeper Maria Alexandrowicz. She opened the year as the only true keeper on the roster and has to fill the shoes of Lancaster. She was successful at Ridley High School, setting the school record for shutouts, and she was a three-time All-Delco pick. She will look to be the starter from day one and continue to grow on the job.