New Head Coach to Lead Talented Gator Squad

Aug 18, 2005

MEADVILLE, Pa. - The 2005 season looks to be one of transition and success for the Allegheny College women’s soccer program. Eight starters return to the squad, including two All-Region selections from a year ago. A new head coach in Michael Webber, however, and the loss of some talented seniors, means the team will need to make adjustments if it hopes to win its seventh North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Championship.

Webber takes over a program that has seen tremendous success. Since 1985, the Gators are 128 games over .500. In that same span, they are 116-39-9 in the NCAC and have earned two NCAA tournament births. Allegheny has won at least 15 games on six occasions and finished in the top 10 in the region 11 times.

Fortunately, Webber is no stranger to success. He spent the last four seasons leading Worcester State (Mass.) College and in his last season, guided the team to a conference championship and NCAA Tournament bid. He finished his four-year stint at Worcester State as the second-winningest coach in the program’s history.

On the field, five Gator seniors will help lead the way for Allegheny, who recently returned from a two-week training trip to England. Two All-Region midfielders return in Jen Bilec (Pittsburgh, Pa./ Mt. Lebanon) and Ashley Rogerson (Fairport, N.Y./ Fairport). Bilec and Rogerson combined for seven goals and six assists in 2004. Elizabeth Ferguson (Meadville, Pa.) also returns to the midfield, and looks to have a bigger impact this season.

“Bilec is one of the most technically talented players I’ve seen at this level,” said Webber. “Our responsibility is to get her to play to that level every day. If she does, we have the potential to do some special things.

“And Rogerson has the ability, with just a touch or two, to change a game,” said Webber. “Ashley is one of the most athletic players in the conference and is technically sound as well.”

In the back, Beth Van Parys (Erie, Pa./ Villa Maria) anchors the defense from the goalkeeper position. Van Parys has started every game between the posts the last two seasons and recorded six shutouts a year ago. Defender Stacy Miller (Wexford, Pa./ North Allegheny) also returns in the back after starting 16 games last season.

“Beth is going to win us some matches this season because she is an extremely mature player,” said Webber. “Stacy is just so solid in the back. She only made one mistake in our five matches in Europe. Both Beth and Stacy are leaders on and off the field for us.”

Leading the junior class will be Emily Spencer (Evergreen, Colo./ Evergreen), Robin Bunch (Pittsburgh, Pa./ Mt. Lebanon) and Mackenzie Mosher (Walkill, N.Y.). In 10 games a year ago, Spencer tallied two goals and one assist, while Bunch played in all 18 games and scored one goal and Mosher saw action in 13 contests.

Three talented sophomores are also back, led by Ashley Hughes (Wexford, Pa./ North Allegheny), who was Allegheny’s leading goal scorer from year ago with seven.
Also returning is Kelsey Boivin (Albuquerque, N.M./ Albuquerque), who had one goal and one assist in 2004, and Kristin White (Los Alamos, N.M./ Los Alamos), who notched one assist in 18 games.

According to Webber, his expectations for this season rose considerably after his team’s recent performance overseas.

“After the trip to Europe, my expectations for this year are extremely high,” said Webber. “The players handled themselves very well on and off the field, we trained very well and we are prepared to have a very good season.”

The 2005 season officially begins for the Gators on September 3rd and 4th at the Hartwick Tournament. The first home match for Allegheny comes on September 10th against Case Western Reserve at 1:00 p.m. NCAC tournament play is slated to begin in early November.

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