Completed Event: Soccer versus BYU on October 30, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 2
Final Score
Soccer
0
vs BYU
2
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The University of Utah Athletics
2000 Utah Soccer Outlook
7/12/2000 12:00 AM | Soccer
July 12, 2000
In just its fifth season of existence, the Utah women's soccer team won a share of its first-ever conference championship in 1999. Finishing with its best overall record of 13-7 and a 5-1 mark in Mountain West Conference play, the Utes served noticed that they had arrived.
After all that success, what can be expected of the Utes in 2000? Simply more of the same... and then some.
Sure, Utah has some losses-namely its all-time leader in goals and assists in Staci Burt-but a steady influx of top-notch talent has insured that the Utes will have an abundance of skilled players for quite some time. With 14 newcomers last year and nine more this season, Utah's future is full of potential. However, with 14 letterwinners and seven starters returning from last season, including eight of the top 10 scorers and the goalkeeper, the present also possesses promise.
"I think we'll be in the top three of the conference again," says head coach Amy Freeman Winslow, who was named the 1999 Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year. "We've got that constant battle going now with BYU and San Diego State, and that's a good battle. Last year we were picked to finish fifth in the conference, with people knowing that we were young. After last year's success, I don't think there's any question that people will pick us higher this year."
As youthful as Utah was last season, it is even more so in 2000. The Utes bid farewell to four starters and one other letterwinner after last season, three of those starters were in the line-up for the vast majority of the games since they were freshmen. And, with no seniors and only three juniors on the roster, the Utes' line-up will be dominated by underclassmen.
"One of the weaknesses we saw in the spring was a lack of leadership, and having that experience out on the field to calm people down or get the team going in the right direction," reveals Winslow. "That was something that slowly began to develop in the spring, and we're going to need to continue to work on that during the preseason."
While the Ute coach will need to find some leaders, she won't be lacking in experienced play-makers. All of Utah's seven losses in 1999, with five coming to Top 25 teams, were by one goal. By playing her freshman liberally last season, Winslow now has 13 sophomores-five of whom are returning starters-who are comfortable with playing in big games and pressure situations.
"We were so young last year, but that team was very competitive and there was just a feeling that they were never out of a game," conveys Winslow. "That's so good with the number of freshmen that we started. It was also huge for the confidence of the team to do as well as it did in conference. We have continued high hopes for where this group can go."
Helping to expedite the development of the team, a number of athletes played over the summer on semi-pro teams. Amy Kofoed, Shauna Gurr and Jen Williams played with the Utah Spiders. Megan Maxwell and Alli Cerruti played with the Portland Rain, while Katie Tate and Maren Harper played with the Sacramento Storm.
"Our players that played locally and in Portland were on teams with some excellent college players. Katie and Maren played with a lot of California college players, as well as some older women who were very good in their prime and are still very experienced players. They all learned a lot. Playing over the summer does a lot for their development, and they also come into the fall in much better condition," explains Winslow.
Forwards
Despite the loss of Burt, the Utes should be solid up top. Kofoed was named first team all-West by SoccerBuzz and first team all-Mountain West Conference last season. The junior from Layton, Utah, led the team with 13 goals 85 shots 28 and points last season. She also paced the conference with six-game winning goals.
"Replacing someone the caliber of Staci Burt is going to be very difficult, but overall we'll be able to balance out the field from a talent standpoint," says Winslow. "We've moved Katie Tate from the midfield to a forward position. Combined with her ability to score, Amy Kofoed's speed and Shauna Gurr's ability to play with the ball at her feet, then I think we have three excellent forwards."
Tate was named to the all-West freshman team by SoccerBuzz and closed out her debut season by making the Mountain West Conference all-tournament team. The sophomore was fourth on the team with three goals and 18 points last season. Gurr, a sophomore who will be a co-captain this season, was second on the team with nine goals and 66 shots in 1999. Winslow also expects freshmen Missy Dennis, who redshirted last year, and Amber Brower to contribute.
Midfielders
Depth with be a huge strength in this area with five midfielders returning from last season and the addition of five newcomers. "We didn't have a lot of depth in the center/midfield last year," explains Winslow. "This year, a lot of the players we have coming in either are midfielders, or are capable of playing the midfield positions. I think I see a lot of freshmen stepping in at those positions, especially at center-mid. Our maturity will help us be solid here."
Cerruti, a two-year starter and a co-captain last season, will be one of the team's leaders in the middle. The junior from Blodgett, Ore., was second on the team with four assists and tied for fourth with six points last season. "It was a new position to her last season, and I saw Alli make huge strides during the spring in the midfield," says Winslow.
Joining Cerruti will be junior Brittany Harlan, who had two game-winning goals last season. Also back are sophomores Cortney Johanson and Sandi Fouts, who played in over three-fourths of Utah's games last season. Newcomers Bobbie Benegas and Kari Keddington will provide depth.
With so many good players stockpiled, Winslow experimented last spring with using wing midfielders in a 3-5-2 formation as opposed to Utah's traditional 4-3-3.
"We've got such strong forwards that a 4-3-3 works well, but we are also sacrificing our midfield," explains Winslow. "Now that we have brought in some more midfielders, and because we are speedy and quick when we play five in the middle, we can attack with speed on the outside. A lot of teams will have trouble matching up with us athletically. The team really likes the 3-5-2 and does a good job with that. I think that we will look to play a combination of both formations."
Defenders/Goalkeepers
The other element necessary for making the 3-5-2 formation work is having solid defenders who can handle their responsibilities. Utah has those in returning sophomore starters Harper and Lesa Zollinger.
Zollinger, a converted forward, started 12 matches last season after an injury-riddled first year, for which she received a medical hardship. The Millville, Utah, native was named second team all-Mountain West Conference. Harper started all 20 games in 1999.
"I anticipate that Maren will play our defensive center-mid position-and she did a great job there last spring-and a freshman will be used as a center-back with Lesa," reveals Winslow.
Brianne Chamney and Esther Imotan are expected to contend for the starting position next to Zollinger.
The Utes also possess a rising star in goalkeeper Courtney Hills. The sophomore from Orem, Utah, earned a spot on the NSCAA West Region third team in 1999, while SoccerBuzz also named her third team all-West and an honorable mention freshman All-American. The Mountain West Conference first team and all-freshman team selection ranked second in the league with 114 saves and seven shutouts. Hills will be a co-captain this season.
"Courtney improved so much over the season," confides Winslow. "I see a huge maturity in her this year, and she'll be more of a leader defensively."
Freshman Lynnsey Asay, a first-team all-state selection from Lehi, Utah, has been brought in to back-up Hills with returnee Jill Carman.
The Schedule
Utah has five games against teams that went to the NCAA Tournament in 1999. Montana and San Diego State received bids but were eliminated in the first round. Brigham Young, San Diego and Southern California advanced to the second round.
Also on the Utes' 2000 schedule are South Carolina and Georgia, which were bubble teams for the 1999 NCAA Tournament after participating the previous year. Utah fans should be treated to some excellent home games with Brigham Young, San Diego, San Diego State and Southern California visiting Ute Field.
"I tried to get us a little bit of an easier schedule this season, but its still pretty tough." says Winslow. "In terms of balance, we don't have as many home games, but I've never had to worry about this team showing up regardless of where we were playing. What we're looking for this fall is for them to continue with that mentality."
After the Utes, Cougars and Aztecs, Winslow expects UNLV and Air Force to be the next two strongest teams in the Mountain West Conference. "But, New Mexico could surprise us," cautions Winslow. "I thought Air Force and UNLV made huge strides at the end of last year."
After winning a piece of the conference championship last season, the next accomplishment on the horizon for Utah is earning the elusive NCAA Tournament bid. Winslow thinks her team is capable of doing just that this year.
"We don't want to be just a bubble team for the NCAAs this year," challenges Winslow. "At the beginning of last year, I didn't know if we were the type of team capable making the tournament. But by the end of the season, I felt that we were.
"This year, we well be very young. I thought that we were young last year, but this year we'll be even young," the Ute coach concludes. "However, I believe that this team has the mentality and the ability to reach the NCAA Tournament. Our goal is to just keep building."
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