THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 1, 1994 TAG: 9409010689
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
After being hired in December to spearhead the inaugural season of women's soccer at Old Dominion, Linda Hamilton's first task was a fairly basic one.
Find some players.
Since it was too late to start recruiting junior college players, Hamilton focused on graduating high school seniors. The result? Twelve of the 20 players on the ODU roster are freshmen.
``I would have liked to have more seniors,'' said Hamilton, 25.
Hamilton, a defender on the U.S. National Team, attended tournaments and used her contacts in the soccer world to scout out potential players.
``This year I was just trying to get athletes so I could form a team,'' she said. ``Next season I'll be able to recruit for position.''
Some players are on scholarship, while others are at ODU to play different sports.
Some, including starting goalie Pam Dennis, are walk-ons.
One of five sophomores on the team, Dennis decided after joining the squad that she didn't really want to play soccer. Fortunately for Hamilton, Dennis had a change of heart after goalie Rachel Ankney, recruited out of Florida Atlantic to start in net, broke her ankle two weeks before the preseason began.
When the Monarchs make their debut Saturday at home against Virginia Wesleyan, injuries will affect the starting lineup. Two key freshmen, Allison Carr (foot) and Keri Nayoski (knee surgery), will be sidelined.
Tentatively, sophomore co-captain Kelly Martin, Jennifer Gillespie, and Carla Bauer will start at forward. Freshmen Michele Kubicek and Suzanne Shaw anchor the midfield along with Alison Brown.
Defensively, Carr and Nayoski, if healthy, will work to limit the workload on goalie Dennis. Co-captain Amy Churchill, the only junior playing for Old Dominion, will also spend time in the backfield, along with Andy Harrison, a sophomore out of Princess Anne High.
The Monarchs only have one other local player - freshman Laura Smith, a Maury graduate.
Even though it's the first year for women's soccer at Old Dominion, you couldn't guess it by the schedule Hamilton has set up for her team. Virginia, Temple, Berry College (last year's NAIA champions), and Colonial Athletic Association foes William and Mary and George Mason all are stern tests for the fledgling Lady Monarchs.
Old Dominion jumps right into its Colonial schedule Sunday at William and Mary.
``If we want to be the best, we have to play the best. It will give these players amazing experience,'' Hamilton said.
``Besides, we're the Cinderella team this year. No one expects anything of us. We can go in there and surprise some teams.''
According to Hamilton, what her team lacks in Division I playing experience, it makes up for with enthusiasm.
``They are working so hard. They're excited about starting the season,'' she said. ``They're confident, and they all want to win really badly . . . but they also want to get better with every game.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
TAMARA VONINSKI/Staff
Linda Hamilton, left, checks a point with assistant Julie Carter.
``This year I was just trying to get athletes,'' Hamilton says.
by CNB