Women's Soccer Coach Hopes for Sweet Repeat

In a very short time, the Pennsylvania College of Technology women's soccer program has come a very long way.

Two years ago, the Lady Wildcats operated as a club team with very few players. Last year, in just its first full season, the team went 8-2 and won the Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association crown. Now, with seven key players returning, from that championship team, one can understand the optimism expressed by coach Dan Hibbs.

"I'm expecting good things out of them. If they play like they did last year, we should be right up there. I don't see why we can't be in the finals again this year," the second-year coach said.

Penn College opens its season at 4 p.m. Tuesday hosting what should be a strong Keystone College squad.

Leading the Lady Wildcats will be sophomores Rebecca Breary, (forward-midfielder from Lansdale Catholic High), Kim Kremer (midfielder, Mifflinburg), Melissa McKee (sweeperback, Milton), Charlee LaForme (stopperback, Warrior Run), Rose Larsen (stopperback, Williamsport Bishop Neumann), Katie Michora (midfielder, Central Mountain) and Laura Rudenstein (goalie, Lower Merion). Breary, Kremer and McKee earned all-PCAA honors a year ago and LaForme was tapped for all-Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference accolades.

"Their experience should carry them through. They know what to expect," observed Hibbs of his returnees.

"One thing I like about them is that they play soccer, they don't get caught up in the other antics of the game the talking and elbowing. I don't think we had a yellow card last year," the coach continued.

"They can all trap and pass. I'm thinking that we should be able to control the ball better (than last year). I think we'll hold possession better," Hibbs added.

In addition to those seven, Hibbs has five strong freshmen Mackenzie Tomazin (right back, Pine Grove), Heather Ebling (forward-midfielder, Wilson), Evva Gohn (midfielder, Red Lion), Nicole Crouse (forward, West York) and Elizabeth Pivirotto (forward, Williamsport Bishop Neumann) coming into the program on whom he is counting.

Also on the team are sophomore Tuesday Noll (Montgomery) and freshmen Katrin Haberstock (an international student from Germany), Nora Snider (Bedford) and Stacy Tittle (Middleburg).

"I can field 11 strong players and have a couple on the bench that I'd have no problem putting in. I feel confident with them," Hibbs said.

The coach's biggest concern entering the campaign is lack of conditioning. "We're not in game form, yet," Hibbs said. "Luckily, we get them (Keystone) again (in October)."