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Penn State's Danielle Toney - Goal Scorer Extraordinaire

For Penn State, the 2009 regular season ended much as the last eleven had, with the Nittany Lions lifting the Big Ten trophy as champions. Unfortunately for coach Erica Walsh, the postseason ended much as recent ones had as well, leaving PSU well short of the College Cup. Going down in the second round was bad, but the circumstances involved made things much worse, with a Virginia team Penn State had beaten in the first match of the year scoring six unanswered goals to erase a two goal lead.

Walsh’s team will have to refocus in 2010, aiming for a staggering thirteenth consecutive conference championship. Their task could be harder than ever with more rivals than ever ready to take the Nittany Lions’ throne. As many as seven teams can harbor realistic hopes of walking away with glory at the end of the conference campaign, while Penn State obviously harbors hope of claiming a bigger prize at the end of the grueling season.

The Nittany Lions will be hoping for a better start to 2010 after digging themselves a mighty hole with some adverse results last year, including a draw to Bucknell. They might not be able to bank on a stirring fightback this year as replacements must be drafted in for many key positions in the lineup, none more so important than in goal. Alyssa Naeher has departed for a pro career with the Boston Breakers, leaving behind an unsettled situation in goal. Kristin Hartmann only played thirty minutes last year, while Krissy Tribbett redshirted in 2009 after making three starts in 2008. Making matters worse is the loss of Maura Ryan and Tara Davies from the defense. It’ll be up to Lexi Marton to lead the defense while the Nittany Lions have to hope Meghan Gill returns healthy after a lost season and hotshot recruit Briana Hovington hits the ground running for coach Erica Walsh.

Penn State figures to be a little more settled going forward, despite the loss of Katie Schoepfer, who tallied fourteen goals in her senior season. Danielle Toney will likely ascend to the role of leading goal getter for the Nittany Lions, although true freshmen Hayley Brock and Maya Hayes could also feature. Redshirt freshman Tani Costa returns after missing 2009 and could end up being the best of the bunch. Running the show from midfield will be full U.S. international Christine Nairn, who will have to be on top form if Penn State is to make a deep run into the postseason.

After coming up just short of a conference title in 2009, Ohio State will set their aim on going one better than their second place finish of a year ago. The Buckeyes return most of their starters from last season, but the players that do depart are big losses. Lauren Robertson was a four year starter that posted her best GAA by a mile in her final year in Columbus. Katie Baumgardner figures to fill her shoes going into the season, but besides a small stretch in 2008 when Robertson was injured, the junior has played little. The other keepers on the roster also lack experience at this level.

US U-23 midfielder Ashley Bowyer also leaves after a thirteen point senior campaign. Canadian youth international Danica Wu could step in and make up for some of the skill lost with Bowyer’s graduation, but Bowyer’s leadership will be harder to replace. Senior utility player Lauren Steuer could fill the void after racking up the most points on the team in 2009. The attacking trident of Paige Maxwell, Lauren Granberg, and Tiffany Cameron returns intact, although a combined output of sixteen goals between the three must improve if coach Lori Walker’s Buckeyes are to advance far in the postseason. With Penn State coming to Columbus, Ohio State are a tempting pick to upset the odds and take the Big Ten title, but a lack of year-to-year consistency in recent seasons could equal a step backwards for the Buckeyes after a strong 2009.

Ironically, Paula Wilkins may have the best chance at destroying what she helped create at Penn State. After a few years in the wilderness, Wilkins’ Wisconsin Badgers returned to contender status in 2009 with a third place finish in the Big Ten and a trip to the Round of Sixteen before falling by a 1-0 margin to Boston College. With almost all of the key players back from last year’s successful squad, the Badgers may finally be ready to overtake their rivals.

The solid Michele Dalton returns in goal with most of 2009′s defense returning in front of her, a good sign considering that stingy unit only conceded twenty-five goals over the course of the season. Most of the concerns will likely be going the other way, with goals sometimes hard to come by during last season. Laurie Nosbusch was top scorer with six goals, but half of those were in a dominating performance against Indiana. Joint second top scorers Erin Jacobsen and Paige Adams also return. The Badgers will hope that another year in Madison for potential star Alev Kelter coupled with the addition of highly regarded freshman midfielder Catie Sessions will help open up opportunities for the strike force. With goalkeeper Dalton and defensive cog Taryn Francel the only seniors that get extensive minutes, it’s safe to say the best may be a year away for the Badgers. But Wilkins is a shrewd operator from the touchline, and who’s to say she won’t get Wisconsin to the promised land a year early?

Of the handful of sides with claims of being snubbed on Selection Monday, Minnesota was likely the most aggrieved party. The Golden Gophers had reason to think they were in the field safely having beaten Wisconsin and Purdue during the regular season and having won their last two matches in Big Ten play. But Minnesota could only watch in horror as the likes of Duke and Arizona State, well stuck in mid-table in their conferences made the cut while the Gophers were left out in the cold.

The good news is that Minnesota should be suffering from no shortage of motivation as 2010 begins. They also won’t be suffering from any lack of talent on the pitch. If forward Katie Bethke prowled around a more illustrious team, she’d be on the shortlist for one of the best forwards in the country. As it stands, her eleven goal, seven assist haul in 2009 may have been an opening act for a 2010 season that could permanently etch her name in Gopher lore. Bethke will have a great sidekick in Molly Rouse, an ironwoman who has started every match over the past two seasons and chipped in five goals from midfield last year to boot. The Golden Gophers may even be better in defense with towering senior Kylie Kallman and Hermann Trophy shortlisted senior Jennie Clark set to stifle opposing offenses. Sophomore goalkeeper Cat Parkhill simply bleeds upside and could round into one of the nation’s best. Odds are Minnesota won’t be worrying about missing the field come this Selection Monday and are worthy dark horses in the Big Ten title race.

The fond memories of the Purdue side of 2007, one of the most entertaining in NCAA history, must seem like fleeting visions after two years of mixed fortunes for the Boilermakers. The two leading goal getters of 2009, Jessica Okoroafo and Sylvia Forbes are both gone, as is the four goals of Katie Seeger. Jessica Stellhorn and Remi Gibba also have appeared to have left Purdue early. To make matters worse, the Boilermakers will be breaking in a new keeper, with the long serving Jenny Bradfisch having also graduated.

With no big name recruits coming into West Lafayette, Purdue may be looking at a long term rebuilding project, not a great sign with some of the sleeping giants of the Big Ten rousing from their slumbers. Katie Leinert is the leading returning scorer, but her four goal haul from nineteen matches in 2009 is worrisome. Lauren Montenegro should continue to be one of the leading midfielders in the conference but likely lacks the offensive punch to be a major contributor in front of goal. Liz Secue and Brookley Rogers return in defense where they might be on red alert with with the tall, but green senior Carianne Betts likely to take over goalkeeping duties full-time. Coach Robert Klatte has done some great things in West Lafayette, but the season ending loss to Central Michigan a season ago may be a foreboding sign.

Michigan State went as Laura Heyober went in 2009. When the star forward went down through injury, the Spartans’ chances for a sustained postseason run went down with her. When Heyboer is healthy, as 2008′s twenty-one goal, nine assist haul can attest to, she is one of the deadliest strikers in the country. Keeping her off the training table must be a top priority for the Spartans who no longer have the goals of the talented Lauren Hill to fall back on. After an eight goal outburst in 2008, there is hope that Cara Freeman can be the safety valve up front Michigan State so badly needs, but the senior slipped to three goals last year. Olivia Stander entered East Lansing with major accolades to her name, but contributed a modest return in her first season.

The Spartans should be in good shape elsewhere on the pitch. Jill Flietstra was more than capable in goal in her first season as the full-time starter. She’ll be playing behind a solid, settled defense that adds big time recruit Annie Steinlage to their ranks. If Heyboer and company aren’t firing on all cylinders, this Spartan team does look to have the ability to win through defense. Further up the pitch, Jordan Mueller enjoyed a solid first season in midfield, while Hannah Peterson could develop into one of the Big Ten’s best midfielders. On the surface, this team may be All About Heyboer, but the collection of ancillary parts to the Spartan machine are good enough to give anyone in the Big Ten a fright.

Northwestern seem to be stuck in a frustrating holding pattern, too good for the real dregs of the conference, but not good enough to hit the heights of the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats did beat Indiana, Michigan State, and Illinois, which eased them towards a respectable league finish, but the real signature win for the resume never materialized. The worry is that the program may be regressing, with 2009′s ten losses the most since the Wildcats also lost ten in 2006.

It doesn’t take a rocket science to figure out what kept Northwestern down in 2009. The Wildcats tallied a mere fifteen goals through nineteen matches, an unacceptable total for any team harboring hopes of postseason play. To make matters worse for 2010, the six goals of Alicia Herczeg are gone. No other player had more than two. Northwestern may have a ready made replacement though with Mexican youth international Natalie Lagunas, scorer of the goal that clinched a spot for Mexico in the U-20 World Cup. The Wildcats look merely average defensively, with rotation players likely to make up the bulk of the defense. Sophomore central defender Briana Westlund is a notable exception, having played every minute in central defense in her first collegiate season. Northwestern will probably be respectable in 2010, but too many questions linger for a significant move up the table.

Greg Ryan probably anticipated a somewhat challenging rebuilding process when he took the helm of the Michigan Wolverines before the 2008 season, but perhaps not this challenging. His first season produced only four wins, and last year only brought six, although Michigan did beat Central Michigan, Miami (FL), and Illinois. They also lost to Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Arkansas, and Cal State Fullerton, showing there’s still a way to go before his Wolverines are true title challengers.

There are pieces for perhaps a double digit win season in 2010 though. Jackie Carron is an uncompromising rock at the back who has started every match in her Michigan career. Goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer shined in her redshirt freshman season and figures to be one of the Big Ten’s best once again. Like many teams struggling to improve, goals are a big issue with Michigan. Top scorer Alex Jendrusch is gone, although the Wolverines will be hoping for a leading scorer with more than four goals in 2010. Those goals could come from a great recruiting class, specifically the international connection of Mexican U-20 player Shelby Chambers-Garcia and Canadian powerhouse Nkem Ezurike. Coach Ryan also raided Canada for prospects Shelina Zadorksy (defender) and Vicky Correa-Parsons (GK). The youthful Wolverines are probably still a year or two away from a return to the NCAA Tournament but should cause a few more waves in the Big Ten race this year.

The Sweet Sixteen run of 2007 must feel like an eternity ago for Mick Lyon and the Indiana Hoosiers who slumped to a ninth place finish in 2009. The season had started with so much promise, the Hoosiers having beaten Central Michigan and Florida entered league play having won eight of nine. Then the wheels promptly fell off as the Hoosiers won only two matches in the Big Ten, losing their last four to end the season.

The good news for Hoosier fans is that most of the pieces to a potentially dynamic offense return in 2010. Colombian forward Orianica Velasquez enjoyed a solid start to her college career with a five goal return, while strike partner Carly Samp nabbed four goals of her own. Both return. Also returning is Canadian midfielder Devon Beach who did a little bit of everything from the midfield with four goals and five assists. Defense is a worry though with most of the defenders besides junior Kerri Krawczak lacking experience and goalkeeper an unsettled issue between Lindsay Campbell and the erratic Lauren Hollandsworth. If the offense is firing, the Hoosiers could creep up the table, but more talent is needed for a wholesale charge up the standings.

After a strong run in the Big Ten for many a year, Illinois suffered a crushing fall from grace in 2009. The Illini put together a respectable effort in the non-conference schedule before a stunning collapse in the Big Ten season. Despite decisive defeats to Ohio State and Penn State, Illinois seemed to have righted the ship with a 5-0 spanking of Michigan State. But puzzlingly, Illinois lost 1-0 to both Michigan and Northwestern, stopping their streak of NCAA Tournament appearances dead in its tracks.

With many major contributors returning, the Illini should feel confident of a rebound back up the Big Ten table. Jordan Hilbrands may only stand 5’0″, but the senior forward had a big breakout season in 2009 with six goals, and Illinois needs her to keep scoring in her final collegiate season. Hilbrands can’t do it all herself though, and more of a contribution from sophomores Shayla Mutz and Marissa Holden will be needed if Illinois is to reach their potential. Marissa Mykines had a great second year with four goals and three assists and will need to be on form with most of the Illini’s personnel losses in midfield this year. The defense is in good hands with Danielle Kot leading an experienced unit into battle. Alexandra Kapicka’s numbers slipped appreciably from 2008 to 2009, and coach Janet Rayfield will be hoping for a rebound season from both Kapicka and her Illini teammates. Illinois still aren’t quite up to par with the Big Ten’s top tier, but should be well in the discussion for an NCAA Tournament spot come November.

Iowa were in a familiar position come the end of the 2009 season, bringing up the rear of the Big Ten standings. With improvement across the board in the conference, it’d take a very brave pundit indeed to pick anything other than the wooden spoon for the Hawkeyes who had seven of their nine 2009 wins come against teams ranked at 150+ in the RPI. It could be more of the same in 2010 with plenty of softballs being tossed Iowa’s way in the non-conference schedule which features such luminaries as Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa, and Loyola (Ill.).

The Hawkeyes shouldn’t be struggling for goals with six goal Alyssa Cosnek and Morgan Showalter returning in addition to leading scorer Keli McLaughlin who tallied nine times in 2009 after seven goals in 2008. Those goals at Michigan and Northwestern could have boosted those teams into NCAA Tournament contention, but unfortunately for Iowa, their defense wasn’t up to scratch in 2009. The Hawkeyes shipped three goals to Missouri, Ohio State, Illinois, Michigan State, and Purdue while conceding four times against Penn State. For better or for worse, the bulk of the Iowa defense returns, including all-Freshman selection Jade Grimm. It means goalkeeper Emily Moran might be busy between the pipes once more. The Hawkeyes have a few talented pieces to work with, but it still looks to be a long climb from the foot of the table.

Projected Order of Finish

1. Penn State
2. Wisconsin
3. Minnesota
4. Ohio State
5. Michigan State
6. Illinois
7. Michigan
8. Purdue
9. Indiana
10. Northwestern
11. Iowa
    

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