JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — A new coach for the Lady Eagles in 2010 yielded similar results as the Carson-Newman College women's soccer team repeated as South Atlantic Conference regular season champions under first-year head coach Carol Bonnes.
Now, beginning her second year in command, Bonnes has brought in a huge roster of new players, including 12 freshmen, to expand her depth to keep the injury problems that cost the C-N women in last year's SAC Tournament.
Carson-Newman (1-0) gets its first real test Wednesday afternoon when the Lady Eagles travel to face the University of North Alabama. Their Monday match with Milligan was postponed by rain. C-N officially opened against outmatched Chowan last Thursday, winning 12-0 on the new McCown Field.
Though the Lady Eagles must find a way to replace a departed All-American, midfielder Morgan Gruenenfelder, the 2011 version of the team should be superior to last year's 11-7-0 (8-1-0 SAC) team.
"We've got a good combination of girls," Bonnes said. "The tradition of Carson-Newman doesn't graduate. It lives in the culture that we've created. If the girls want to keep that alive, that's something you can't coach."
Still, it might help to negate the loss of Gruenenfelder since she's still around, this year as a Graduate Assistant coach. Replacing her on the field, however, is a fact of life, but Bonnes feels like she has the ladies that can do it.
Veteran junior midfielder Lizeth Munguia (Wilmington, N.C.), redshirt sophomore Sylvia Palermo (Wintergarden, Fla.) and junior transfer Brooke Ehman (Chelsea, Mich.) will all see significant minutes at midfield. Munguia was a key contributor on last year's team, starting 17 games with one goal and two assists. Palermo missed all of 2010 with an injury and Bonnes says that she's in the best shape of her young career.
The most exciting player to watch of the three may be Ehman.
"She (Ehman) is a great addition to our squad," Bonnes said. "She's got the two-year college experience. She's a little more mature and doesn't have to deal with those freshman nerves coming out of high school. She's going to be a player to watch. She's tenacious and a great playmaker."
Sophomore Sarah Tompkins will be back in goal for the Lady Eagles where she started 13 games last season and recorded 71 saves.
"She (Tomkins) had a great spring," Bonnes said. "She's fitter than she's ever been. Her strength is there. Sarah has had a major turnaround."
Tomkins will be backed up by freshman Alyssa Crum (Greeneville, Tenn.), who is already turning heads.
"She (Crum) has great stature," Bonnes said. "She's pushing Sarah and should be able to step in and do a quality job for us."
While the Lady Eagles must find a way to replace their star midfielder, two of their most productive forwards will return. Senior Trenna Howell (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) led the team in goals last season with 12 and added 4 assists. Howell is a team leader who is ready to go out in style in her final year.
"She (Howell) is the most relaxed kid I've ever seen in my career," Bonnes said. "She just gets the job done. She shoots her goals perfectly, going for placement over power. Her movement is neat and she has great speed. We're blessed to have her back for another season."
Sophomore Bianca Hall (Newcastle, England), who started 16 game in 2010, was fourth on the ream with five goals and two assists.
"Bianca is on form right now," Bonnes said. "She has a hunger and she's just going for it."
The Lady Eagles begin conference play on Saturday, Sept. 17 when they host Brevard. That's when Bonnes and the C-N ladies can get a little payback for that fourth-place prediction in the preseason SAC Coaches' Poll.
"For me, what happens in season is what counts," Bonnes said. "It just motivates us that little bit more. It gives us something to prove. It will take the coaches a little while to see if we're still a contender. Every year we have to prove it on the field."
-C-N-
