posted August 28, 2008
The Lee women's soccer team opens the 2008 on Friday at 7 p.m. and will be hosting King College (Bristol, Tenn.). The Lady Flames are ranked No. 3 nationally by the NAIA and are coming off a 22-2 2007 season and a top-four finish in the NAIA National Tournament.
For Lee coach Matt Yelton Friday's match will have a special meaning. Yelton played his college soccer at King and was the head coach of King's women's team before accepting the head job at Lee.
Entering his sixth year at Lee, Yelton has turned the Lady Flames into one of the NAIA's top powers. Before being upset by Martin Methodist in the semi-final round of the national tournament last season, Lee was ranked No. 1 for the final six weeks of the regular season.
Yelton admits his 2008 club has a chance to be strong again. His biggest task will be trying to replace three-time first-team NAIA All-American Janaina Novaes. The outstanding forward holds the Lee career-scoring mark (118) over her brilliant four-year career.
However, the Lady Flames have a host of returning players, including first-team NAIA American Kristina Chase and second-team All-American Tiffany Cox. Candice Shelton was named the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) Newcomer of the Year, while Jenna Achten, Julie Donnestad, Samantha Hare and Kristi Koudelka were all named to the All-SSAC and All-Region XIII teams.
"I believe we have added five players to our squad that should push for playing time right away. With freshmen Chris and Linn Christensen coming in after a year of red-shirting, we know the quality of play they are going to bring after having them in training last year," said Yelton. "Both should be in the starting lineup and I am looking for Chris to fill some of the goal-scoring needs that we will have after Jana's departure."
"Linn will be counted on to give us an attacking presence in the flanks that I believed we lacked last year," he added. "Jamie Achten and Sandra Kaelin should give us a great attacking presence and again will be counted on to pick up some more of our goal-scoring needs. Kristen Carbine will be a great addition to our backline and has a great opportunity to earn a starting role."
After Friday’s opener, the Lady Flames will travel up Lookout Mountain to test Covenant College on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
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