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Judson News
Women's Soccer - Thu, Sep 2, 2010
Interview with Diego Cevallos
   
Interview with Tatum Teevans, Erin Gunville, and Kathryn Pansino
     
2010 Mugshots
     
2010 Season Preview
 
Continuing to build on the success of the 2009 season, head coach Diego Cevallos high hopes for his team in 2010. After finishing third at the NCCAA National Tournament and receiving votes in the NAIA National Poll, the women's soccer team is geared up to make a push for their first-ever CCAC regular season championship.
 

It won't be an easy road for Judson as they have a hard schedule in front of them. Judson opens the 2010 season at Embry-Riddle in Arizona and also faces #14 California State University-San Marcos . The schedule also includes three other national ranked teams and one team receiving votes.

To play some of the stiffer talent in the country, Cevallos has signed some great talent. Coming in to help replace All-American Christina Thornton is Bruna Dos Santos (Brazil) and Kari Sichenedar (Des Moines, Iowa).

The returning core is as strong as it has been in years as 13 players return from last year's team. Leading the charge, offensively, will be both sophomores Kaylee O'Brien (Lake in the Hills, Ill.) and Kamila Marchi (Brazil). Marchi was the CCAC Freshman of the Year and led the CCAC in assists while O'Brien struck for four goals and nine assists.

The defense also will be solid with junior Mackenzie Fowler (Crosby, Texas) in goal. The third-year starter has 15 career shutouts and had a 1.05 GAA last season. She also had a career-high 22 saves vs. #6 Graceland. Senior's Erin Gunville (Chatham, Ill.) and Kathryn Pansino (Elgin, Ill.) return to the backfield to stop opposing strikers. Also piping up in the middle is All-CCAC member Jenna Schiller (Hawthorn Woods, Ill.).

The 2010 season kicks off on Friday, September 3rd, in Prescott, Ariz., against Embry-Riddle. All eyes will be on the new team as they start their push for a championship.

Local Players
Judson features 14 players from within an hour of Elgin, Illinois, on this year's team. Here is the list:
Sara Hoffman (Fr. - Huntley, Ill.)
Kristin Rukhaberlen (Jr. - Hoffman Estates, Ill.)
Kathryn Pansino (Sr. - Elgin, Ill.)
Kaylee O'Brien (So. - Lake in the Hills, Ill.)
Kristina Barreto (So. - Huntley, Ill.)
Krystle Arizmendi (Jr. - Elgin, Ill.)
Kelly Creager (Fr. - Huntley, Ill.)
Jenna Schiller (So. - Hawthorn Woods, Ill.)
Tatum Teevans (Jr. - Bartlett, Ill.)
Brenda Lemus (Fr. - Harvard, Ill.)
Kailyn Quinn (Fr. Algonquin, Ill.)
Angie Gonzalez (Sr. - Harvard, Ill.)
Lauren Opolony (Huntley, Ill.)
Kelli Johnson (So. - Elgin, Ill.)
 
Tough Schedule
Judson starts the season off facing two top 25 teams in the first four matches. In the second match of the year, Judson takes on #14 California State University-San Marcos and then a week later faces #7 Graceland University. Thrown into that is a consistently strong program in Grand View University after
playing Graceland.
 
After the opening two weekends, Judson starts CCAC play and will take on the challenge of the strong conference. Two teams are nationally ranked in #15 Olivet Nazarene and #20 Trinity Christian, already, and Robert Morris is receiving votes. Needless to say, the road to a CCAC Championship will be the path less taken and rough along the way.
 
NAIA National Recognition
The 2009 season was the first season that Judson had received votes in the NAIA National Poll. The 2010 season is set up for Judson to have that same success and vault into the top 25 if Judson can knock off some of the tough opponents they face. They will have that chance facing four top 25 teams in the country. This is the third year in a row that Judson has had at least four top 25 teams on their schedule.
 
Replacing a Legend
A large hole was left after the 2009 season when Christina Thornton finished her career. The all-time goals and points leader for Judson had a stellar career and was a three-time All-American for NCCAA and two-time NAIA All-American. The list of accolades she received fills an entire sheet. Judson will now have to find a duo to replace the 20 goal average she had a year over her career.
Interview with Diego Cevallos
 

How is the season shaping up for your team? - It is going great so far. Lots of new talent put together with most of the team returning from last season. It's great to have a problem of depth in soccer. We don't quite know who will be on the starting eleven.

In your third year, have you changed anything in your coaching style or for preseason? - Not really. Our preseason was a bit tougher and more intense but we keep the same basis.

Talk about some of your returners and what they mean to the team this year? - We have only two seniors in our squad this year. They both came ready to play their last year and that shows great for the rest of the team. They are a great example. Erin (Gunville) and KP (Kathryn Pansino) are those two seniors. We have other great returners in Nina (Barreto), Kaylee (O'Brien), Kamila (Marchi) and Jenna Schiller who are only sophomores and had great seasons last year as freshmen. Tatum Teevans also returns to us as a captain ready to compete. All of these women are disciplined lead by example. They are great not only on the field but great people. They make each other work hard.

How have you replaced Christina Thornton with the newcomers and what impact will they have on the team? - We have brought more attacking players to try to fill the whole that someone like Chris leaves behind. Kelly Creager has stepped up right away and provided some creativity to the attack. We also have added Bruna Dos Santos to our line up on top. The impact they will have on the team will be shown throughout the season as we compete.

How is the CCAC shaping up? - Always stronger each year. All the teams have the ability to bring good talent in their recruiting classes, so there are really no bad teams at all. The competition level has increased within the last two years I have been head coach and I am sure it will continue in such way.

What impact will your non-conference schedule have on your preparation for the CCAC? - Ever since I took over as the head coach, the women's schedules have been extremely competitive. This year we added more strength to our schedule and I hope it can prepare us to play against the best competition, our CCAC. That is what we hope to accomplish in the end. Conference play takes over any other games. It is very important to us to do well in the CCAC as I am sure everyone else would agree.