The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Sports

February 3, 2009

Faber named MSU women’s soccer coach

By Dan Stillwell

Heather Faber is on the job.

The new Mountain State University women’s soccer coach has wasted little time in jumping on her No. 1 priority, recruiting.

“I’ve talked to a lot of kids, a lot of schools,” she said Monday as she began her second week on the job. “I’ve talked to pretty much every athletic director in the state, or it seems like it.”

Faber takes over from Kelly Borck, whose contract was not renewed after guiding MSU to 6-10 and 9-7-2 seasons.

She’ll inherit a team that, while talented, was short on numbers. The Cougars finished second in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference despite having just 15 players on the roster.

They usually dressed fewer than that because of injuries, and over the holiday break, former KIAC goalkeeper of the year Christina Baker transferred to Sweeneysburg College in her home state of Pennsylvania.

Faber wants to expand the roster to, at minimum, 20 players.

“I’m looking for girls who want to help build a solid soccer program — girls who want to get out and play ball instead of sitting on the bench,” she said.

Currently, she’s in serious talks with several players from southern West Virginia, and is also in contact with the school in Dublin, Ireland, that provided current MSU player Carolanne Birkby.

Faber’s father, former Riverside coach Bill Faber, is proving another good resource.

“He’s excited,” she said. “He’s already trying to help me out. He stays in contact with a lot of coaches in the area and also referees high school games.”

Faber has met several times with her new team, which returns all-KIAC first-teamers Jessica Hupp (the conference defensive player of the year), Erica Alderman (forward) and Jessica Proudfoot (midfielder), plus second-team selections Lindsey Denny (forward) and Manuela Acosta (midfielder).

“I really like the girls. They seem to be focused and know what they want to accomplish,” she said. “They listen and pay attention.

“I tell them it’s not just my team, it’s their team. I’m big on team bonding.”

Faber had a fine playing career, earning all-Mountain State Athletic Conference and honorable mention all-state honors as a goalkeeper in 2001 at Riverside.

She attended Waynesburg College in Pennsylvania. While primarily a goalkeeper, she played several positions after the team was hit by injuries.

After graduation, Faber returned home to assist her father and coach Riverside’s junior varsity from 2004-2006. She’s also coached and played indoor soccer.

Her last job was as admissions counselor and recruiter for Job Corps.

Getting to coach MSU is Faber’s “dream job come true.”

“Anybody with a love for the game wants to coach on the college level,” she said. “And it’s close to home, so you can’t beat that.”

— E-mail:

dstillwell@

register-herald.com

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