Published: August 15, 2008 12:07 am      

Newcomers should make impact for MSU

Building off last season’s 6-10 record should be easy for Mountain State University’s women’s soccer team.

A talented quintet of newcomers is making an immediate impact, even in practice, according to coach Kelly Borck.

“They are very motivated. They have something to prove,” said Borck, who led the Cougars to a six-match win streak in their first season. “It’s an entirely different practice this year.”

Although Borck was stung by several recruits reneging on their decision to come to Beckley, she’s happy with the talent and effort she’s seeing.

The new players include midfielder-defender Jessica Proudfoot from Hurricane, midfielder-forward Brittany Nelson from Ripley, defender-forward Jessica Rigsby from Roanoke, Va., defender-goalkeeper Megan Alderman from Beckley and midfielder-defender Ella Osborne from St. Albans, a transfer from Concord.

Another player, Lourdes Mondoza, a midfielder-forward from Peru, recently joined the team as a walk-on.

“They’re good communicators and distributors,” Borck said. “They (bring) a whole change of pace for our team.”

The Cougars return nine players from last year’s squad, including leading scorer Erica Alderman, standout center midfielder Manuela Acosta and all-KIAC goalkeeper Christina Baker.

Alderman scored 23 goals and comes back in great shape.

“Erica has lost 25 pounds and she’s extremely fit,” Borck said. “Last year she was our lone scorer and had a lot of pressure on her. She had to be the one to finish.”

Many of Alderman’s goals came off assists from Acosta, a native of Colombia.

“Manuela has unbelievable foot skills,” Borck said. “She can find Erica with ease.”

Baker starred last season despite playing on a bad knee. She returns healthy and focused.

“Tina has good hands and she’s very determined,” said Borck, a former standout goalkeeper herself. “She’s fearless, and mentality in goal is everything.”

Other returnees include sweeper Jessica Hupp, who excelled last season despite never having played the position before; defender-midfielders Nicole Gardner, who is tenacious on defense, and Lindsey Denny, who has the ability to take on attackers; center midfielder Carolanne Birkby from Ireland, a strong tackler who is fully recovered from ACL surgery; hustling midfielder Paige Butcher; and hard-working forward Tegan Sladky.

Borck hopes to add several more players to the roster before the season begins.

The Cougars will scrimmage Charleston at home Aug. 20 before traveling to Bluefield College Aug. 27 for the season opener.

“We’re a work in progress,” Borck said. “We won six games as a first-year program and that doesn’t happen very often.

“(The MSU men’s team) won nine games their second year, so we’re pushing for nine. It will be struggle, but the new group of girls will make a definite impact.”

— E-mail:

dstillwell@register-herald.com