JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn – Part one of a four-part series breaking down the Carson-Newman women's soccer team features a look at the goaltending position, featuring former Carson-Newman goalkeeper and assistant coach Sarah Tompkins.
The Eagles return one goalkeeper from the 2013 season, Katy Hill. She recorded 24 saves in five games last season, making two starts. Hill set the 2013 season-high total with 13 saves against Alabama-Huntsville. Hill ended the season with a 1-1-1 record with her win coming against Milligan College.
Carson-Newman added three keepers during the offseason: freshman Vittoria Boscatto, from Sao Paulo, Brazil, freshman Katie Cottrell, a Knoxville, Tenn. native, and sophomore Taylor Hammond, a Division-I transfer from Jacksonville State University.
A competition has developed at the keeper position for coach Richard Moodie and assistant coach Sarah Tompkins.
Hill has been sidelined during the preseason due to an illness, which has allowed Boscatto and Hammond to compete for a spot in the Eagles' Starting XI.
While she did not see any action as a freshman at Jacksonville State, Tompkins said that Hammond knows how to be a keeper at the college level.
"(Hammond) brings a lot to the table. She knows how the game style should be played with the quick speed of play and can get the ball out of the box a lot quicker."
Boscatto's grit and toughness has shown at during the preseason, Tompkins said.
"She is very aggressive and she's not afraid to come out her box and take players 1-on-1, which is huge in the girls' game because it's hard to find players like that."
Part two of the series continues Tuesday with a look at the defenders from sophomore right-back Elissa Lane.
