Thursday, September 5 - No. 15 Rollins vs. S.C. Aiken -
5 p.m.
Reigning SSC regular season champions Rollins will travel to
Aiken, S.C. to open the 2013 season, matching up with the
University of South Carolina Aiken Pacers at 5 p.m.
ROLLINS AT A GLANCE: The 15th ranked Tars look
to build from a season a year ago where they were crowned SSC
regular season champs for the third time in program history and
first since 2009 but were upset in the NCAA tournament for the
second straight year by conference foe, Tampa. Rollins said goodbye
to a trio of top performers from last year's team, including
All-American selection Anita
Cox, but reloaded with a talented group of freshman.
The Tars also return nine starters from last season and a total
of 14 letter winners. Four of last years top-five point scorers
return, highlighted by a pair of juniors, leading scorer and
All-American Brenna
McKee (11g, 6a, 28pts) and All-SSC first teamer, Azure
Dorsey (7g, 2a, 16pts). McKee is currently 13th in
school history with 14 career goals while Dorsey is not far behind,
sitting in a tie for 19th with nine.
In goal, junior Mary
Spring ranks among the programs all-time best, sitting third in
Rollins history in shutouts (8) and is also currently third in
goals against average, allowing just 1.00 goals a contest. Spring
started every game last season, racking up 51 saves in over 1700
minutes in goal.
S.C. AIKEN AT A GLANCE: Coming off a 2012
season that featured an extremely young team, head coach Sue
Vodicka's 2013 USC Aiken women's soccer team looks as though it
should be experienced and up for the challenges that a tough
schedule brings. The 2012 team lost five one-goal contests in a
demanding Peach Belt Conference.
Megan Smits leads the way for the Pacer offense, scoring a team
high four goals last season and assisted on another for a total of
nine points.
In goal, seniors Alli Edens and Melissa Westphal return for the
Pacers. The duo combined to play every minute between the pipes
last year and have an experienced back line in front of the this
season. The pair combined for 96 saves a year ago.
THE COACHES: The Rollins women's soccer team is
led by reigning Sunshine State Conference Coach of the Year Alicia
Schuck. Coach Schuck enters her third year at the helm of the
women's soccer program, holding a record of 26-8-4 after serving as
the top assistant for six years. Since being promoted to head coach
in Feb. 2011, she has led the Tars to a berth in the NCAA
tournament twice and has been named both the NSCAA South Region
Coach of the Year and SSC Coach of the Year.
The Pacers are lead by Head Coach Sue Vodicka. Coach Vodicka
enters her ninth season at the helm, compiling a career record of
37-98-10. She led the Pacers to an overall record of 4-11-3 last
season, 3-7-1 in conference.
