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Season Preview
The United States women’s World Cup team this summer heightened the excitement around soccer for the entire nation. The Dordt College women’s soccer team hopes to create some excitement of their own on the field this fall. The Dordt women are coming off a 13-6 season in 1998 and will enter 1999 under the direction of a new head coach, Steven Westra. “I would like to try and take this team to the next level,” says Westra. “It’s my hope that Dordt can achieve the status of being one of the top teams in the region, and because of that become a nationally recognized program in the NAIA.” The Lady Defenders have qualified for the Independent Region play-offs the last three years, losing in the second-round at Huron (South Dakota) last season. Westra takes over as only the second head coach in the history of women’s soccer at the college. Jeanie Elgersma had been with the program since it achieved varsity status in 1996. Over the last three years the Lady Defenders have compiled a 36-15-2 record. “Jeanie did a great job with this team over the last three years,” said Westra. “I hope to build on the excellence that is already in place at Dordt.” Junior Kalie Gaskill (Sioux City, Iowa) returns this season after leading the team with ten goals in 1998. Sophomore Liz Dykstra (Grandville, Michigan) is also back after contributing seven goals in her freshman year. Keeper Kristin Zomermaand returns for her third season in the box after allowing only 15 goals as a sophomore (.78 goals against average per game). Westra is very optimistic about the upcoming season, since ten of 11 starters and 17 of the 20 team members will be back from last year’s winning team. The women open their season on Wednesday, September 1 at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa at 3:00 p.m. |
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