2000 TROJANS

"A Year of Change" is the motto for the 2000 Trojans Soccer Team. The biggest change of all will be all the new faces that will make up this team. Eleven new players have been added to begin a new era at UALR. Only seven players return from a year that was injury riddled and full of disappointments. To the returning players credit, every lost game except three were by two goals or less with four games going to OT. Coach Pratt believes "the injuries and a lack of depth led to a very frustrating 1999 season." " We have replaced and bettered what we lost and added the depth we need to be successful this year." "Change is not necessarily a bad thing but rather an opportunity to do things better." "And that is what we are going to do!"

COACHING STAFF

Coach Pratt enters his fifth season as Head Coach of the women's program and seventh season overall at UALR. Along with Coach Pratt will be Coach Greg Hess who enters his second year on the soccer staff. "Coach Hess has been instrumental in the success we had with recruiting this year." "He possess the knowledge and ability to mold our defense and keepers into some of the best in our conference." The Trojan soccer coaching staff will have to quickly gel a young team that faces the likes of Top-5-Ranked Nebraska, Tulsa, Southern Mississippi and Sun Belt Conference powers Denver, Florida International, North Texas and South Alabama.

GOALKEEPERS

The Trojans will take on a new look in goal for the 2000 season. Junior transfer Heather Friedman (UW-Green Bay) will bring a wealth of talent and experience to a young Trojan defense. Heather has the experience of playing against Nationally and Regionally ranked opponents and was the backbone of Green Bay's defense the last two seasons. Freshman goalkeeper Jayme Butts (Alamogordo, NM) will immediately compete for the starting role. Jayme's athletic background and technical training has made her one of the top goalkeepers to come out of New Mexico.

DEFENDERS

With only one returning starter in the back, the Trojan defense will be extremely young.  The lone starter is Senior captain Julie DiCianni (Gulf Breeze, FL) who will provide the leadership necessary to solidify the defense early on. During the off-season the Trojans added speed, size, strength and depth in aquiring Freshmen Vicki Berg (Albuquerque, NM), Amanda Beal (Lenexa, KS), Amy Willig (Houston, TX), Elaine Craven (Glendale, AZ) and Brittany Axford (North Little Rock, AR)

MIDFIELDERS

The most returning players will be in the midfield for the Trojans this Fall. Senior Jennifer Charron (Sault Ste Marie, ONT) returns after she red-shirted 1999 while healing a torn ACL. Juniors Leia Friedman (Humble, TX) and Kelli Johnson (Missouri City, TX) will provide experience and consistent play in the midfield. Sophomore Dayna Dabney (Los Alamos, NM) will return after a season ending knee injury from 1999. Through nine games in 1999, Dayna lead the team in scoring. Freshmen Jennifer Heinrichs (El Paso, TX) who led her team with 25 goals, Britnee Jones (Mesquite, TX) a standout performer from Dallas and Cassidy Fallik (Overlend Park, KS) a proven flank player, will all compete for starting roles early in the season.

FORWARDS

The Trojans return two players up top for the 2000 season. Junior Mary Spaulding (North Little Rock, AR) lead the offense with assists in 1999 and will be looked upon to provide more help this year. Sophomore Jana Sexton (Oklahoma City, OK) was second in goals scored and total points for the Trojans last season. Freshman Aurielle Dutchover (Las Cruces, NM) comes to UALR with an impressive resume and should  be an impact for the Trojans very early on.