Click HERE to watch Head Coach Heather Cato and senior captain Haley Wenlock discuss their expectations for the 2014 season.CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State women's soccer team ushers in a new age as Head Coach Heather Cato takes the reins for the 2014 season as only the second coach in program history.
Cato has instilled a new attitude for the Hillcats emphasizing the team aspect of the game. A majority of preseason training has focused on building team chemistry and communication throughout all 24 student-athletes.
"The biggest thing we are looking forward to is changing the mentality of the program and then really we touch a lot on the tradition; what was before us and leaving a legacy. We always say leave it better than when we got in here," Cato said.
Her transition will be eased with the help of 16 returning players from a 2013 squad that is looking to rebound from a disappointing season where the Hillcats finished seventh in their first season in the NCAA Division II Heartland Conference.
RSU will have to do that while replacing two, four-year starting defenders, losing
Loren LeForce and
Cierra Lohaus to graduation.
Haley Wenlock is one of only three seniors on the RSU squad and will serve as a team captain, anchoring the back line. Wenlock started all 17 matches last season and was named Defensive Player of the Year for the Hillcats. Redshirt junior
Taylor James returns to the defense corps after earning 10 starts in 2013 and will join Wenlock as a center back.
"It's a huge benefit of going forward with Haley as a center, senior back but you've got to have three other people help you out there," Cato stated. "We are excited about Taylor's return. She has come in and stepped up to where we need to be. Then we have a couple of new players that are trying to fill that role."
Two players made the trek to the Hill from the West Coast as junior transfer
Amanda Jones and freshman
Lexi Ellingsen look to fill starting spots along the back line. Jones was an all-region forward at Walla Walla Community College before transitioning to be a defender during her sophomore season. Junior
Macy Travis returns to the lineup adding experience and depth along with newcomers
Briana Meneses, a junior transfer from Western Texas College, and freshman
Ashley Pruitt.
The Hillcats list only one goalkeeper on the official roster as
Teri Cocke returns to the Hill for her second season after serving as the backup to Third-Team All-Heartland Conference keeper
Jordan Harris in 2013. Cocke made only six appearances as a true freshman with one start, but her lack of collegiate experience does not concern Coach Cato heading into the season.
"We have been trying to build (Teri's) confidence to let her understand she has the tools and all the abilities in the world to be a conference goalkeeper, she just has to start believing it. Her confidence is growing every day and we are proud of her for it," Cato added.
The team knows that in order to turn their fortunes around it is going to take a committed effort from everyone involved.
"It takes 24 of us. It doesn't matter if you're on the bench at the beginning of the game versus who is on the field at the end. All 24 of the players, plus the two coaches, must come out and perform every day in practice. That is what makes us successful," Cato concluded.
Check back tomorrow for part two of the women's soccer season preview as the Hillcats get set for their season opener Sept. 4 at Southern Nazarene.
