2005 Team Preview
The leaf that is the 23rd edition of the Swarthmore women's soccer team has turned, bringing new faces to scenic Clothier Field. Eight seniors and head coach Amy Brunner have departed, signaling a changing of the guard for the Garnet.
Enter new head coach Todd Anckaitis, formerly of Lewis and Clark College (OR), by way of Amherst College (MA) and Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ). The former First Lieutenant has spent the last two years re-establishing the Lewis and Clark soccer program, dormant since 1990. Anckaitis produced immediate results, leading a youthful Pioneer squad to an early season No. 8 ranking in the West Region.
Anckaitis inherits a Swarthmore program with speed and tenacity, epitomized by junior striker Natalie Negrey (Harrisburg, PA - Bishop McDevitt). Negrey has accumulated 32 points (14 goals, four assists) in her first two seasons, earning an All-Centennial selection in 2003.
2004 All-Centennial selection Jane Sachs '06 (Fox Point, WI - Nicolett) and defender Kasie Groom '07 (Concord, GA - Dominion Christian) will be studying abroad this fall, but co-captains Laura Twichell '06 (Bolton, MA - Concord Academy) and Valerie Maulbeck '06 (Summit, NJ - Summit) are ready to patrol the midfield for the Garnet. Fellow midfielders Nicole Oberfoell '06 (Los Angeles, CA - CA Academy of Math and Science) and Becky Strauss (McLean, VA - McLean), and sophomore Danielle Tocchet (West Point, NY - James I. O'Neill), will provide offensive support for the Garnet.
Senior Lauren Stadler (Harvard, MA - Bromfield) returns with hopes of competing on the Garnet back line. Goal keeper Kristen Traband '08 (Swarthmore, PA - Ridley Park) is competing for a spot between the pipes, following a freshman campaign where she made 88 saves (fourth-most in the Centennial). On October 28 Traband posted her first career shutout, a 1-0 victory over Bryn Mawr.
With the addition of several talented first-years, the Garnet aim to improve their standing in the Centennial Conference. The Garnet open the 2005 season at Neumann College on September 1st, followed by a pair of tournaments, the annual Swat Kick Classic and the Widener Classic. Swarthmore begins the Centennial Conference portion of the schedule with a pair of home contests against Franklin & Marshall (September 17) and 2004 Conference champion Gettysburg (September 24). The Garnet will conclude the 2005 regular season at long-time rival Haverford College on October 29th.