DePaul University Athletics
DePaul Begins Search for its Best 11
8/5/2011 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S SOCCER
Aug. 5, 2011
CHICAGO - The DePaul discovery process gets underway Sunday when the women's soccer team takes on Indiana at noon in an exhibition match at Wish Field.
The Blue Demons will face six Big Ten teams this season with an exhibition match at Northwestern Aug. 12 and regular-season showdowns against Iowa (Aug. 19 season-opener), Michigan, Michigan State and Minnesota.
DePaul coach Erin Chastain will keep a watchful eye on all the proceedings inside Cacciatore Stadium as she begins to identify the best 11 players on her roster.
Which style of play is going to work best for the 2011 Blue Demons?
"We'll put players in pressure situations and see how they respond," Chastain said. "We'll try a lot of different kids in different spots.
"This is the time for players to show what they have and what they can bring to DePaul women's soccer. These exhibition games will help us figure out what the starting group is going to look like and who will be the key reserves."
Having seen her current players help spark 2009's "Turnaround Team" and then drive DePaul to its first BIG EAST Conference Championship victory in 2010, Chastain has a pretty good idea who will lead this program to the next level of success.
"Our returning players have established themselves as the nucleus of our team," Chastain said. "That would be veterans like Michelle Scandora, Kelly Blumberg, Morgan Celaya, Chelsea Grant, Casey Mercurio and Beth Perry.
"We have a lot of players who have performed in big games and made some clutch plays for our team. I'm looking for that to continue and for those players to get even better."
Four Blue Demons who played extensively as freshmen last season will enhance that veteran core.
Leading the way is Ashleigh Goddard, who was selected to the All-BIG EAST Rookie Team last November.
In addition, classmates Rebekah Roller and Kylie Nordness combined with Mercurio and Perry to anchor the back line while Natasa Radosavljevic was tied for third on the team in goals.
"We haven't had exhibition games the last couple of years, and I'm excited we get a chance to play them again," Chastain said. "You can attain match fitness, and it's a nice way to break up the preseason.
"Training can be long and taxing, and when you have a chance to compete against another school, it keeps the preseason fresh and lively."
Unlike a lot of coaches, Chastain won't hesitate to test out a freshman right away.
"With such a young group that includes 10 freshmen, it's really important to give them a chance in exhibition games to show us what they can do and what they can add to our program," Chastain said.
"It's a fresh start for everyone. Who is going to come in and make their mark?
"I'm anxious to see the potential of our group."
