Soccer team hopes to kick it up a notch

OREM — The schedule and competition are tougher. And with the increased level of play, the UVSC women's soccer team also has increased its goals for the 2004 season.

Last year Utah Valley finished its first year of NCAA play with a 7-7-1 record. Now, the Wolverines are gearing for their first year with a complete Division I schedule.

On this year's docket are games at Mountain West Conference champion Utah, Portland State, Utah State, Weber State and Southern Utah.

"I'm so excited we are playing the U.," head coach Gabrielle Smart said. "It will give us a good idea what it is like to compete against teams in the top 20."

UVSC will host Big Sky champion Idaho State, Gonzaga, Boise State, UTEP, Nevada and Cal State Northridge.

While Smart acknowledges topping last year's mark will be hard, she is confident she has a team that can accomplish the feat.

"That's not going to be a walk in the park, but it is definitely a possibility once I get my whole team healthy," the Wolverine coach said.

Smart expects to have her team healthy by its home opener on Sept. 10 against Cal State Northridge.

Utah Valley's six returning players are Jessica Joyner, midfielder; Kera Baugh, midfielder; Heidi Walker, defender; Nichole Averett, midfielder; Carolyn Theurer, forward; and Alyssa Woodbury, defender/midfielder.

Chelsea Arnell, Robyn Rasmussen and Amberlee Nelson are just a few of the first-year players who have made an instant impact on this year's team.

Smart is grateful the players she targeted in the recruiting process all committed to Utah Valley.

"I was so picky with this recruiting class," she said. "I don't know what I'd have done if I did not get the girls I wanted. I didn't have a second tier. I knew these were the girls I needed. I wanted to put together a team that had good team chemistry. This team has the best team chemistry I've ever seen."

2004 UVSC soccer schedule

    
            

        	
		
        
                
Sept. 2		@ SUU	W, 2-1
    
            

        	
		
        
                
Sept. 10	Cal St. Northridge5 p.m.
    
            

        	
		
        
                
Sept. 11	@ Utah St.	1 p.m.
    
            

        	
		
        
                
Sept. 13	Gonzaga		3:30 p.m.
    
            

        	
		
        
                
Sept. 17	Boise St.	4 p.m.
    
            

        	
		
        
                
Sept. 24	Texas-El Paso	4 p.m.
    
            

        	
		
        
                
Sept. 25	UC-Davis	1 p.m.
    
            

        	
		
        
                
Sept. 30	Nevada-Reno	4 p.m.
    
            

        	
		
        
                
Oct. 2		Idaho St.	noon
    
            

        	
		
        
                
Oct. 7		So. Dakota St.	4 p.m.
    
            

        	
		
        
                
Oct. 9		@ Weber St.	3 p.m.
    
            

        	
		
        
                
Oct. 14		@ Portland St.	1 p.m.
    
            

        	
		
        
                
Oct. 16		@ Utah		4 p.m.
    
            

        	
		
        
                
Oct. 30		No. Colorado	2 p.m.
    
            

        	
		
        
                
Nov. 4		@ Colorado Coll.3 p.m.
    
            

        	
		
        
                
Nov. 6		Kennesaw St.*	noon
    
            

        	
		
        
                

* — Nov. 6 game will be played in Colorado Springs.