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Women's soccer coasts over Cosal Carolina
By Margaret McKenzie
Old Gold and Black Reporter

Setting the tone for the 2002 season, the women’s soccer Demon Deacons routed the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 5-1 in exhibition play on Aug. 24. Utilizing the home field advantage and stifling defense, the Deacons emerged victorious in their first competition of the year.

It took the Deacs the first half to find their groove and begin to play as a team. In the first half neither team truly dominated, but the Deacs did strike first. Junior forward Alena Thom completed a penalty kick to score the first goal of the game. The Deacons’ offensive attack was a little shaky in the opening and Thom’s goal was the only scoring for the Deacs in the first half. Coastal Carolina answered the goal before the half was over.

The Chanticleers managed to score on their first shot of the game, a rocket shot from Roberta Parsons that slipped past senior goalkeeper Erin Regan into the back of the net. The first half ended in a 1-1 tie.

But the Deacons’ nerves settled in the second half as they slowly and methodically put the game out of reach. Reclaiming the lead with four goals in the second half, the Deacs began to play together on the field after senior forward Joline Charlton was moved up to help spark the offensive attack. Head coach Tony de Luz’s plan worked as Charlton scored twice in the second half with one shot unassisted and sophomore midfielder A.B. Robbins getting credit for the assist on the second goal.

Freshman defender Melanie Schneider made use of her playing time assisting junior defender Katherine Winstead to another goal for the Deacons.

Thom added a second goal to her stats after one of her game-high seven shots found its way into the goal.

The defensive intensity also stepped up in the second half. While the Deacons took a total of 31 shots in the game, Coastal Carolina only managed one shot for the entire contest.

"We will still be a possession oriented team," Winstead said, explaining the Deacs’ offensive strategy. "If we (work together), we will have a successful season."

The victory in the exhibition match gave the Deacs a boost of confidence after losing several key players from last year’s team. Stacey Roeck and Emily Taggart, both All-ACC players, graduated last year along with second team all-ACC player Sarah Kate Noftsinger.

Last year Noftsinger became the first female athlete from the university to be drafted by a professional sports team. Currently Noftsinger is a member of the Washington Freedom and Roeck plays for the Carolina Courage.

The Deacs are picked to finish sixth in the conference, but are hoping to surprise the rest of the ACC and quickly move up the rankings.

The regular season for the Demon Deacons opens with a series of difficult opponents. The Deacs travel to Tallahassee, Fla., for the Nike Invitational to face Oregon on Aug. 30 followed by Oregon State on Sept. 1.