2014 Womens Soccer Preview: Turning the Page

2014 will be the final hurrah for seniors (L-R): Beatrice Giles, Jessica Parer, Sara DelaCruz, Caitlin Padian and Alexandria Gambala

CARSON -- A postseason appearance as recent as four years ago may be a feather in mosts soccer programs' caps, but that hiatus is far from acceptable for the Cal State Dominguez Hills women's soccer program, one that boasts an NCAA Championship and four trips to the NCAA Final Four, including one that saw CSUDH reach the 2009 NCAA Championship game.

Having bid farewell to eight seniors from its 2013 squad, the Toros welcome first-year head coach in Aileen Nasypany as well as 10 newcomers looking to regain the swagger that hasn't been seen since 2009, a confidence that takes time to rebuild, and a challenge the head coach has taken on with aplomb.

"This year is about creating a new generation with a culture of unity, selflessness, sacrifice, communication, and commitment," she begins, leaving no room for misinterpretation. "I will lay out the groundwork for my standards of fitness, technical, and tactical ability, and introduce my expectations of success in the classroom, on the pitch, and in our community.

"I am very excited to mentor this talented group of young women as they have already started to demonstrate their inner drive and love for the game."

Invoking the great Martin Luther King, Jr., who declared that "You don't have to see the whole staircase; just take the first step," Nasypany knows that winning the championship game does not completely a champion make, but that it is the pinnacle of an arduous and exhausting journey filled with a gamut of emotions in between.

"Although the current players have had widespread success throughout their youth careers, they have not seen or felt what it is like to be in the NCAA postseason yet," she says. "That's okay because being a champion is not just about the match on December 6th (the day of the NCAA title game).

"We are building a championship mentality by learning to act like a champion every day," she continues. "We are focusing on overcoming our daily hurdles as a team and taking care of the little things first, finding triumph one step at a time towards our ultimate goal."

Here's a closer look at those who have begun their first steps.

FORWARDS

Offense will be the biggest question mark on a team that welcomes eight freshmen to its roster after the Toros were outscored by a 26-23 count last year. While the goal differential was respectable, a 7-0 road drubbing of Humboldt State by the Toros accounted for over 30% of the team's goals, and is a category that needs to be improved upon for CSUDH to be competitive in arguably the toughest Division 2 league in the nation.

Playing time up front will be hotly contested as the Toros do not return one scoring forward from last season. In fact, the two returning forwards in junior Megan Guzman and sophomore Kristin Osuna combined for just 12 shots and one assist, a fact Nasypany knows will need to change in 2014.

"Returners Megan Guzman and Kristen Osuna will need to rise to the occasion," Nasypany says candidly. "I will look to see what other players did their homework over the summer and want to fight for the starting spots within my system of play, including freshman Moa Eriksson, Ida Eriksson, Megan Steinberger, Bianca Mora, and Naomi Willey."

MIDFIELDERS

The middle looks to be the strongest and deepest position for the Cardinal and Gold, led by fourth-year junior Sami Feinstein and sophomore Naomi Linares, both of whom provided year-long impacts.

Feinstein started 14 of 15 games played in the 2013 season, tying for the second-highest total in both points and goals on the team. She scored three goals on the year and posted her lone assist against Point Loma Nazarene (Sept. 5).

"A co-captain, Sami Fienstein is a true leader and will provide an excellent example for the rest of the line to follow."

Linares, meanwhile, started 14 of 16 games played and scored her first collegiate goal against Chico State (Sept 29). The Norwalk native tallied 18 shots on goal, including four in a 1-1 draw against Cal State East Bay (Oct. 13), but continually provided skillful passing and defensive pressure in the midfield.

A trio of returning mids in Gabrielle Pena (11 starts, 17 games, 2 assists), Rachelle Chavez (5 starts, 18 games, assist) and Beatrice Giles (2 games) also give Nasypany experience at that position, with Caitlin Padian adding senior depth.

"Upperclassmen Gaby, Beatrice and Caitlin will need to rely on their experience to bring some composure to a midfield unit that both is versatile and dynamic," Nasypany begins.

"We will look for continued growth from sophomores Naomi and Rachelle Chavez to have a positive effect on our attack, with redshirt freshmen Johana Rosas and Megan Mahoney providing a substantial spark as well."

DEFENDERS

Despite the graduation of four-year starter Evans after the 2013 season, the backline will be anchored by a quintet of experienced and talented players who helped the Toros boast 5 shutouts and hold opponents to just one goal in 6 other contests.

Juniors Lindsey Armstrong and Katelyn Fregosi, along with seniors Jessica Parker and Alexandria Gambala will lead the competition for time in the back after combining for 40 starts last year, with Fregosi's 17 and Parker's 12 leading the way.

Fregosi is just one of two returners who saw action in all 18 games in 2013 and tallied seven shots on the year, including four in a scoreless draw against San Francisco State (Sept 22), while Parker made 12 starts in 14 games played.

Gambala, who also competed on the track and field team last season, made six starts in 15 games played, and notched her first goal as a Toro against perennial power Sonoma State (Oct 6). Armstrong, meanwhile, started 5 games in 15 total played, and talllied four shots on goal from the backline.

The only 4-year senior, Sara DeLaCruz will conclude her career in Cardinal and Gold this season after seeing action in four games last year, with one shot on goal in a blanking of Cal Poly Pomona (Nov 3).

"Our backline will be anchored by junior co-captain Katelyn Fregosi and senior Jessica Parker as their communication and work ethic provide good leadership for the rest of the group," Nasypany begins.

"They have a strong support cast looking to complement them in seniors Alex Gambala and Sara DeLaCruz, junior Lindsey Armstrong, and freshmen Elisa Martinez and Anju Takei."

KEEPERS

Junior Jennifer Ackerly returns for her third year after starting all 18 games played last year, but is embroiled in fierce competition between four talented netminders.

"In addition to Jenna Ackerly returning for her third year, we have four stellar keepers vying for the starting spot, with junior Michelle Mendez and freshmen Cortney Coyle and Bri Calderon bringing valuable strengths of their own," begins Nasypany, leaving the keeper spot up for grabs.

"It has been great for the program because it not only pushes them on a personal level, but also elevates the level of our team trainings."

As the lone keeper to see action last year, Ackerly posted a goals against average of 1.38 with 64 saves, adding 5 shutouts to her year-end statline including a season-high 9 saves at power Sonoma State. An unsung hero for the Toros, her win-loss record was tainted by CSUDH being blanked 7 times itself, and scoring just one goal in 5 games. Despite this, Ackerly finished the regular season 6th in saves and shutouts, 7th in saves per game, and 9th in shutouts per game in the CCAA.

Even with four qualified and hungry keepers at her disposal, however, Nasypany knows that the most a goalie can do is keep opponents off the board, and that the offense will have to do its part.

"There were numerous close matches last season, which is a good sign of a competitive team, but you can't win if you don't score," she begins. "One of our goals is to find our way onto the scoreboard in every match, which should help to put us on the winning side of the tight battles this year ahead."

FINAL THOUGHTS

Coming to an athletic program with a rich soccer history was a selling point for Nasypany, and one that continues to rub off on her players.

"Having a strong tradition is a key component to success," she begins. "It provides a good recruiting tool along with knowledge and confidence to the student-athletes that their dream of raising the NCAA trophy above head could come true here at CSUDH.

"It also serves as a daily motivator for our team to strive to become champions by being our best every day, not just on game days."

With just one week of double-days under her belt, there have been many pleasant surprises sandwiched in the three scrimmages before kicking off the regular season on September 4, despite the fact that Nasypany was hired less than three months ago, which left her with two months to recruit and build her plan for the future of the women's soccer program.

But being an efficient time manager, a trait inherent of someone equipped with a Business degree and minor in Computer Science who is on course to achieve a Master's in January 2015, has enabled Nasypany to make the most of her stay in Carson, and has allowed the first-year head coach to begin to mold the team in her likeness: tough, coachable, team-oriented and with a strong work ethic.

"The first week of preseason has been promising, but now that the actual season is finally here, I am really looking forward to getting to know each of the players on and off the field as I help them to reach their athletic and academic goals."

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2014 Womens Soccer Preview: Turning the Page