2017 WOMEN’S SOCCER
WOMEN’S SOCCER PREVIEW 2017
Spring Hill College (SHC) women’s soccer head coach Allison Whitworth begins her second season at the helm of the Badgers by welcoming 18 new faces to the roster, so she has spent much of the preseason on team-building. “We’ve done a lot of work to build familiarity among the players and spent a great deal of time getting in sync,” she says. “One of the biggest questions we face this year is can we play as a team?” One of Whitworth’s themes for this year is “One Step at a Time” because she believes that how fast her team can come together as a unit will be a major determinate of how this year plays out.
Central to the success of any soccer team is the defense anchored around the goalkeeper. To address this issue Whitworth has brought in a sophomore transfer in HP Fluharty of Jacksonville, Fla. “HP has the edge right now in preseason,” Whitworth says. “There’s going to be lots of responsibility on her as a young player this year, so we have to get her into a rhythm with the team as quickly as possible.” Red shirt sophomore Hannah Shankman of Alachua, Fla., who appeared in seven matches with six starts in 2016, is ready to step in if needed. Junior Melissa Schwartz of New Hyde Park, N.Y., and sophomore Sydney DeJohn of Hoover, Ala., also have the skills to protect the net if necessary.
While Whitworth admits she will have a young back line on defense, she feels confident in senior defender Aiesha Ledda of Memphis, Tenn., who moves to the center back position this year. “That move allows some of our younger players to move up into the attack much quicker. We want to increase the attack from our flanks and we will have three freshmen stepping into those roles in Hannah Fogt from Sidney, Ohio, Abby Lollar of Rossville, Tenn., and Kylee Harrell from Odenville, Ala.”
Other defenders shoring up the Badger wall this year will include seniors Becca Roth of O’Fallon, Mo., and Shannon Gleespen of Hendersonville, Tenn., along with Sabrina Cruz of Miami, Fla., Kiersten Turpeau from New Iberia, La., and Lauren Parnell out of Mary G. Montgomery High School in Mobile.
On offense, Whitworth wants to take more shots this season. “We weren’t prolific shooters and we simply didn’t hit the frame enough last year,” she says. “But this year we have two top scorers returning in DeJohn and junior Gabrielle Burmaster of Harvey, La. We
also add freshmen Lilli Hanks of Tallahassee, Fla., and Sidney Spivey from Edgewood, Ky., to that mix to create a dangerous combination with a lot more movement. It will be difficult for defenses to keep up with them. DeJohn has really stepped up for us as a leader and that’s important on any team.” Also contributing to the Badger attack this year will be senior Madison Camet of Kenner, La., juniors Schwartz and Hannah Houseknecht from W.P. Davidson High School in Mobile as well as freshmen Caroline Lewis of Parker, Colo., Olivia Hall of Memphis, and Audrey Butler of Tavernier, Fla. Whitworth sees her attacking midfield as her squad’s biggest threat to opponents in 2017. “Freshmen Devin Fry of Johnson City, Tenn., and Jenna Pecot from Madisonville, La., are really understanding our goals,” she says. “Devin loves to distribute the ball while Jenna can play many positions and roles for our team.” Despite the youth of Fry and Pecot, Whitworth still points to her midfield as the most experienced portion of her line-up. “Seniors Kaelin Dull of Plano, Texas, and Francesca Talotta from Faith Academy in Mobile, along with junior SarahBeth Hyde of Hattiesburg, Miss., have been through the battles before and bring all that experience with them and that’s hard to beat. They can help mold our freshmen in Regan Gaudreault of Jacksonville Beach, Fla., Julia Hayes of Brentwood, Tenn., and Mackenzie Howell of Fairhope, Ala.” Sophomore Johanna Meister from Germany is recovering from an injury obtained at the end of last season, but looks to return for a solid second campaign.
With this new attack, we expect to score a lot more goals this year,” says Whitworth. “But there are no days off on our schedule. That will be the hard part for the youngsters and they will have to step up immediately and make the adjustments. Talent-wise, we can compete immediately, but we have to see how we will handle the bumps and bruise along with the ups and downs of a season.
“We have to stick to our One Step at a Time philosophy,” she says. “If we stick to that then a lot of good things will happen. It’s a brand new group and everyone has enthusiasm for what SHC and can do over the next four years and beginning NCAA Division II play. If we weather the storms as players and coaches then it will be exciting to watch these great ladies put their best foot forward out there.”
COACHING STAFF
Allison Whitworth – Head Coach
Allison Whitworth was named the head coach of Spring Hill College women’s soccer in December 2015 following a successful three-year stint as the lead assistant/goalkeeper coach and recruiting coordinator with the Ohio University Bobcats in Athens, Ohio.
While at Ohio, Whitworth’s keepers tallied 322 saves with 10 shutouts over three seasons and in 2014 she joined the Region II Olympic Development Program staff as a goalkeeper coach for various events. The Bobcats placed two players on the Mid-America Conference All-Freshman Team over the past three seasons along with earning nine MAC All-Academic Team members in 2015. Since 2011, every team that Whitworth has coached has been awarded a NSCAA Team Academic Award.
As a recruiter for the Bobcats, Whitworth signed MAC All-Freshman Team member forward Steph Rowland who played in all 18 games for Ohio as a freshman during the 2015 season and led the team in five offensive categories, including goals (5), points (11), shots (33), shots on-goal (18) and shots on-goal percentage (.540) to set an Ohio record for freshman goals scored. Whitworth also recruited goalkeeper Vanessa Cordoba who earned the starting role for the Bobcats as a sophomore in 2015 after winning a gold medal at the Bolivarian Games with the U-20 Columbian National Team.
Whitworth spent two seasons (2011-12) as an assistant coach/goalkeeper coach at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). During her time in Murfreesboro, the Blue Raiders went a combined 24-14-1 and recorded 14 shutouts. MTSU ended 2012 with the second-best record in school history, finishing with a 145-1 mark and claiming a share of the Sun Belt Conference regular-season title. While at MTSU, Whitworth was responsible for recruiting goalkeeper Kelsey Brouwer who finished her career with the school record for career wins, finished second overall in career saves, first in career shutouts with 27 and was named the winner of the C-USA Spirit of Service Award in 2013.
Emily Marcouiller – Assistant Coach
Emily Marcouiller joined the Badger staff in August 2017 after having served as the Girls Academy Director for Tennessee Soccer Club (TSC) in Nashville, Tenn., where TSC recently took steps to join the Elite Clubs National League, the premier league competition for girls’ soccer in the US. TSC also had seven teams win Tennessee State Championships, nine teams attend USYSA Regionals and two teams compete at USYSA Nationals, one of which won a National Championship in 2017.
Prior to her time with TSC, Marcouiller served as the head coach at St. Cecilia Academy in Nashville where she led the program to three district championships and four trips to the elite round of the Tennessee High School Athletic Association playoffs. Under her development and leadership, the girls’ soccer program earned 28 All-District, 20 All-Region and five All-State player selections and Marcouiller was awarded Region Coach of the Year.
Marcouiller was a Girls Director of Coaching at Harpeth Soccer Club for six years prior to leading the program at St. Cecilia. She was the direct point of contact for all coaches, referees, parents and players in programs. She was at the forefront in the technical development of the girls program while working hand-in-hand with players and staff to contribute to success of the younger athletes. She also assisted in the promotion, management and oversight of the competitive tryouts and program advancement. Emily has extensive playing experience after competing at the NCAA Division I level at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) as well as the Las Vegas Tabagators at the semi-professional level. Marcouiller holds her NSCAA National Diploma and USSF National licenses.
GENERAL FACTS:
Institution: Spring Hill College
City/State/Zip: Mobile, AL 36608
Founded: 1830
Enrollment: 1,500
Nickname: Badgers
School Colors: Purple, white
Home Facility: Library Field
Capacity: 500
Affiliation: NCAA Division II
President: Christopher Puto, Ph.D.
Athletic Director: Jim Hall
Alma Mater: Grinnell College, 1995
Compliance: Chad LeBlanc
Faculty
Athletic Representative: Steven Almquist, Ph.D.
Athletic Department Phone: 251-380-3485
Athletic Department Fax: 251-460-2196
Sports Information Director: Jim Stennett
Alma Mater: Mississippi State, 1990
SID Phone: 251-380-4468
SID Email: jstennett@shc.edu
Athletic Web Site: www.shcbadgers.com
Twitter: SHCBADGERS
Facebook: SHCBADGERS
Instagram: SHCBADGERS
COACHING STAFF:
Head Coach: Allison Whitworth
Alma Mater: Auburn, 2007
Record at school: 0-15-3 (1 year)
Career record: 0-15-3 (1 year)
Office Phone: 251-380-4475
Best time/day to reach coach: 10 a.m.
Assistant Coach: Emily Marcouiller (1st year)
Head Athletic Trainer: Dani Ellis, ATC Trainer’s Phone: 251-380-3493
TEAM INFORMATION:
Overall Record Last Year: 0-15-3
Conference/Finish: GSC 0-10-2 (13th of 13)
Final 2016 NCAA Ranking: n/a
Return/Lost/New: 13/13/17
Starters Return/Lost: 5/6
Returning Letters: 12
2017 ROSTER
2L Hattiesburg, Miss./Sacred Heart Catholic HS
N.Y./New Hyde Park Memorial HS
Tenn./Briarcrest Christian HS
27 Olivia Hall FWD Fr. 5-6 HS Memphis, Tenn./Saint Beneditct of Auburndale
28 Devin Fry MF Fr. 5-5 HS Johnson City, Tenn./Science Hill HS
30 Kiersten Turpeau DEF Fr. 5-0 HS New Iberia, La./New Iberia Senior HS
32 Lauren Parnell DEF Fr. 5-5 HS Mobile, Ala./Mary G. Montgomery
33 Hannah Fogt MF Fr. 6-0 HS Sydney, Ohio/Lehman Catholic HS
34 Audrey Butler FWD Fr. 5-2 HS Tavernier, Fla./Coral Shores HS
2016 RESULTS
Date Opponent Site Result
Aug. 26 University of Mobile (Exhibition) Library Field L; 0-5
Sept. 1 at Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach, Fla. L; 1-2
Sept. 3 vs. Malone University West Palm Beach, Fla. L; 1-2
Sept. 9 Florida Southern College Library Field T; 1-1 (2ot)
Sept. 11 Rollins College Library Field L; 1-5
Sept. 16 *Christian Brothers University Library Field L; 0-1
Sept. 18 *Union University Library Field L; 0-1
Sept. 23 *at University of West Georgia Carrollton, Ga. L; 0-1
Sept. 25 *Valdosta State University Library Field T; 1-1
Sept. 28 *University of North Alabama Library Field L; 1-10
Oct. 7 *at Lee University
Cleveland, Tenn. L; 0-4
Oct. 9 *at Shorter University Rome, Ga. T; 1-1 (2ot)
Oct. 12 at Auburn University at Montgomery Montgomery, Ala. L; 2-3
Oct. 16 *at University of West Florida Pensacola, Fla. L; 0-5
Oct. 21 *University of West Alabama Library Field L; 0-4
Oct. 23 *University of Alabama in Huntsville Library Field L; 0-3
Oct. 27 *at Delta State University Cleveland, Miss. L; 1-2
Oct. 29 *at Mississippi College Clinton, Miss. L; 0-7
Nov. 6 Auburn University at Montgomery Library Field L; 1-3 * GSC matches
2016 GSC FINAL STANDINGS
1-7-4 1-11-5 Delta State 2-10 6-11
Shorter 0-10-2 1-14-2
Spring Hill* 0-10-2 0-15-3
*Not eligible for the GSC Tournament during reclassification process
2017 SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Site Time
Sept. 1 vs. Embry-Riddle University
Sept. 3 vs. Eckerd College
Sept. 8 *Lee University
Sept. 10 *at Shorter University
Sept. 15 *at Union University
St. Augustine, Fla. 5 p.m. (EST)
St. Augustine, Fla. 11 a.m. (EST)
Library Field 3:30 p.m.
Rome, Ga. 1 p.m. (EST)
Jackson, Tenn. 5 p.m.
Sept. 17 *Christian Brothers University Library Field 1 p.m.
Sept. 20 at Georgia Southwestern State
Americus, Ga. 3 p.m. (EST)
Sept. 22 Auburn University at Montgomery Library Field 1 p.m.
Sept. 24 at University of Montevallo
Sept. 29 *at Valdosta State University
Montevallo, Ala. 1 p.m.
Valdosta, Ga. 5 p.m. (EST)
Oct. 2 Florida Southern College Library Field 12 p.m.
Oct. 6 *University of Alabama in Huntsville Library Field 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 8 *at University of West Alabama Livingston, Ala. 1 p.m.
Oct. 12 *at Delta State University Cleveland, Miss. 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 15 *Mississppi College
Library Field 1 p.m.
Oct. 20 *University of West Georgia Library Field 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 22 *at University of North Alabama Florence, Ala. 1 p.m.
Oct. 26 *University of West Florida Library Field 3:30 p.m.
*GSC matches
www.shcbadgers.com
