CSR (2005 Calvin Women's Soccer Outlook)

CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR August 20, 2005

(Editor's Note: Second in a series of fall sports previews)

WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM HOPES TO BE IN HUNT FOR LEAGUE CROWN

Over the last four years, the Calvin women's soccer team has developed a
consistent pattern. The Knights have been in the thick of the MIAA title hunt
but have been unable to get over the hump for a league championship.

In 2001, the Knights took second place behind league champion Albion and then
took third in 2002, finishing just six points behind the Britons who repeated
as league champion.

The last two years have put the Knights on the brink as they finished in
second place behind rival Hope in both 2003 and 2004, finishing just one point
behind the Flying Dutch in both league campaigns.

Heading into his fifth year as Calvin women's soccer coach, Mark Recker
would like to see his team take the next step.

"We've been very close the last two years and that's exciting because
our players know they are capable of competing for the title," said Recker.
"But at this point, we'd like to taste (a championship) instead of just
getting a whiff. To do so won't be easy as I suspect our conference race will
be very competitive once again."

Recker will build Calvin's 2005 hopes around a blend of veterans and a
mammoth freshman class. The Knights return 16 letterwinners from a team that
posted a 14-5-1 record a year ago. An influx of new talent will also move in as
Recker has brought in a freshman class of 21 players - the largest freshman
class in Calvin women's soccer history. The large roster has allowed Recker
to develop a reserve team schedule for the first time.

"For the first time we have enough players to put together a 'B' team
schedule," said Recker. "We'll have some freshmen that won't be playing
in every varsity game but we still want them to get game experience. We have a
handful of 'B' team games this fall and that will allow some of our younger
players to continue to develop. I'm very excited about this freshman class.
It has great potential."

Recker is also excited about his returning veterans, particularly up front as
junior forwards Sarah Weesies (Kalamazoo Christian HS) and Jill Capel (Unity
Christian HS) both return. Weesies was the league scoring champion in 2003 and
was later named the MIAA's Most Valuable Player. A two-time first team
All-MIAA selection, the speedy Weesies collected 16 goals, eight assists and 40
points a year ago. With just two collegiate seasons under her belt, Weesies is
already ninth on the Calvin career list for goals (36), eighth in assists (22)
and 10th in points (94).

Capel captured the 2004 MIAA scoring title, collecting 19 goals, 14 assists
and 51 points in league play, becoming the fifth Calvin player to capture an
MIAA scoring crown in women's soccer. Her point total was the fifth-highest
total in MIAA single-season history, while her goal total is the sixth-best and
her assist total the third-best. Overall, Capel tallied a team-leading 57
points on the strength of 21 goals and 15 assists. Her assist total was a new
Calvin single-season record, breaking the previous record of 14 held by three
other players. Also possessing excellent speed, Capel has spent the summer
months as a starting forward for the West Michigan Firewomen, a member of the
United States "W" League. Capel led the Firewomen in scoring this summer
with six goals and 12 points. Heading into her junior campaign, Capel is
currently seventh on the Calvin career list in points (102), assists (23) and
goals (39).

In the midfield, the Knights return seniors Kara Zuidema (San Marcos, CA),
Noell Berghuis (Unity Christian HS) and juniors Leah Scholten (Unity Christian
HS) and Jennifer Evens (New Alexandria, PA). Zuidema was a second team All-MIAA
selection last fall as she popped in 10 goals to finish third on the Calvin
team in scoring. A first team All-MIAA selection in 2003, Berghuis suffered a
pair of early-season ending injuries last year and was forced to shut her
season down after just four games. Berghuis suffered another unfortunate injury
this summer and may miss the upcoming 2005 season. Scholten moved to the
midfield last fall after serving as a defensive stopper in 2003. The move paid
off for Scholten as she scored two goals and picked up nine assists. Scholten
has also spent the summer playing for the West Michigan Firewomen. Evans
appeared in all 20 games in 2004 and started in 12. She was credited with a
pair of assists.

Scoring has not been a problem for the Knights as they have led the MIAA in
scoring (league games) the last four years. However, Calvin has not led the
MIAA in defensive scoring since 1996. Coincidentally, the 1996 season served as
the second of three straight MIAA titles for the Knights.

"It's no secret that defense wins championships," said Recker. "Our
defense over the last few years has been good at times, but I feel that it can
get a whole lot better."

The Knights do return three members of its 2004 defensive backfield as well as
its starting goalkeeper as seniors Karla VanBeveren (Ancaster, ON) and Linda
Heilman (South Christian HS) and juniors Tricia DeVries (Grand Rapids Christian
HS) and Laura Rooks (Holland Christian HS) return. A marking back, VanBeveren
was a second team All-MIAA selection in 2003 but struggled at times during the
2004 season due to injury.

Rooks also stepped into a marking back position last fall and started in 19 of
a possible 20 games. DeVries has served as Calvin's sweeper back the past two
years and was named to the 2004 All-MIAA first team after receiving second team
honors in 2003. Heilman went out for soccer for the first time last fall and
immediately stepped into a starting role at goalkeeper. Heilman started in all
20 games for the Knights and posted seven shutout victories along with 72 saves
and a goals-against-average of 1.27. Heilman also logged more than 1,838
minutes of playing time as she was the only healthy goalkeeper on the Calvin
roster for much of the season.

According to Recker, expect to see some freshmen in Calvin's defensive
alignment this fall. "We have some very skilled and athletic freshmen that
will challenge for starting positions," said Recker. "We also have three
freshmen goalkeepers which improves our depth at that position
dramatically."

Other returning letterwinners include junior Lisa Campbell (Richland/Gull Lake
HS), and sophomores Ashley Besteman (Hudsonville/Home Schooled), Lindsay
Hutchison (Arlington Heights, IL), Lynn Marsh (Virginia), Chelsea Muller
(Portage/Kalamazoo Christian HS) and Kate Otten (Sheboygan, WI/Sheboygan County
Christian HS). Of note, Besteman has also been playing for the West Michigan
Firewomen this summer.

The non-conference schedule is an exciting one as the Knights open the season
with a trip to Southern California Labor Day weekend where they will face NAIA
Division I powers Azusa Pacific (Sept. 2) and Point Loma Nazarene (Sept. 3).
Both games will be played at Point Loma Nazarene, just north of San Diego.

"Our California trip will be a tremendous experience for our players,"
said Recker. "It will be a bit of a homecoming for Kara Zuidema as she is
from the San Diego area. I know she is excited about playing in front of her
hometown fans. But the rest of our players are excited about playing in San
Diego too. We'll be playing a pair of fine collegiate programs and we'll
also have time for some sight-seeing and team bonding."

Other non-conference games include road trips to NAIA Madonna University and
to Division III power, The University of Chicago. The game at Madonna is
scheduled for September 10. A year ago, Madonna captured the Wolverine-Hoosier
Athletic Conference regular season title. The University of Chicago will play
host to Calvin on Tuesday, October 4. The Maroons advanced to the round of 16
in last year's NCAA III Tournament before being eliminated by eventual
national champion Wheaton (IL). Chicago finished the year ranked 16th in the
final NSCAA Division III Top-25 poll.

Calvin is scheduled to open its MIAA campaign on September 7 when it plays
host to Olivet. Calvin will close the regular season schedule by playing three
of its final five league games at home as the Knights host Kalamazoo on October
18, Hope on October 26 and Alma on November 1.

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Sat Aug 20 12:40:49 2005