An experienced squad mixed with impact newcomers has 22-year head coach Mark Duble excited about his 2015 Covenant women's soccer team. The Lady Scots embark on the new campaign on Tuesday against Berry at 5 p.m. at Scotland Yard.
Covenant returns eight starters from last year's squad and features six seniors and six juniors off of last year's team that finished sixth in the USA South and just missed a quarterfinal round upset of Methodist in the USA South Tournament.
"We want to finish in the top four this year so that we can host a tournament match," said Duble, whose teams have won 14 USA South matches over the last two years.
"Ultimately, though, we want to win the conference. We have a lot of returning upperclassmen who are very experienced, so this could be a year for us to move up."
Duble believes he has a team capable of big things in 2015. He returns his top goal scorer from last year in junior Anna Porch and has a backfield of players with a wealth of experience.
Porch is the top option on the offensive side. The junior registered a career-high 12 goals and four assists a season ago and was an All-USA South second team selection. Joining Porch at the forward positions are sophomores Christy Barton, who scored five goals in her rookie season, and Allie Vannoy.
"I think we'll be more dangerous this year up front," Duble said. "Anna is a tremendous player and Allie has a knack for finding goals. Christy had a great freshman season."
A strength the last couple of years has been the play of the backfield. Juniors Andrea Hunt, Kaitlyn Winking and Natalie Smith all return this year. That group has played and started nearly every game of their collegiate careers together.
"They are all big and strong," Duble said of the trio. "Andrea and Kaitlyn are two of the best defenders in the conference. Natalie has turned into a great player because teams try to avoid the other two."
Joining the fold in the back line is senior Ruth Terry. Terry spent her first three years in the midfield, but will move to the back this year. "Ruth will just add to our already strong backfield. She plays with great pace and will help seal up that position," added Duble.
Duble and his staff will break in a new goalkeeper this year. After the departure of Lucy Johnson, Duble will turn to freshman Rachel Lemay. The 5-foot-11 newcomer from Apopka, Fla., had an outstanding prep career at Circle Christian School and will look to continue that success as a Lady Scot.
"Rachel is going to be just fine this year," said Duble of his new keeper. "She'll go through a transition period, like all freshmen do, but she has played at a high level before and has great expectations for herself."
In the midfield, Covenant is again loaded with experience as seniors Jenna Vreeland, Anne Charlotte Strawbridge and Rachel Bernard lead the group. Junior Gabby Powell and senior Rachel Buys will also vie for significant playing time in the midfield.
Other returners this year include senior Bekah Kanoff, junior Katherine Keller along with sophomores Landry Jenkins, Rebekah Gravitt and Grace Bartelt.
Among the newcomers, Duble expects freshmen Hannah King, Taylor Winking and Carter Steedley to provide depth at the midfield positions. Winking is the younger sister of Kaitlyn Winking. Freshman Gina Hungerford could also push for playing time on the defensive end.
Duble also brought in sisters Summer Bader and Callie Bader. The older sister, Summer, is a transfer from Division III SUNY Potsdam where she played for two seasons in the midfield. Other newcomers include freshmen Grace Buys, younger sister of Rachel, and juniors Jordan Brett and Savanna Cingilli. Brett is an All-USA South softball player at Covenant and will serve as the backup keeper.
"These are all good players," said Duble of his recruiting class. "They will all have to adjust, but they have good pace of play and can contribute to this team."
Overall, Duble expects his team to compete with the top of the USA South this year. All five of the top teams in the conference's preseason poll will visit Scotland Yard this season which could be used as the boost the Lady Scots need to vault into the top tier of the league.