Every Day Improvement Key to 2016 Season
8/19/2016 9:47:00 AM | Women's Soccer
    As the beginning of the women's soccer season quickly approaches, Toledo has finished its preseason training and set its goals for 2016. This year's installment of the Rockets will be led by an experienced and talented group of forwards and midfielders. Consistent and steady improvement throughout the season will be a key to the Rockets reaching the goals they have set for themselves.
    "I think our team has great goals," Toledo head coach TJ Buchholz said. "They're very fair goals. They want to get better every day. If we can do that, I feel we will play our best soccer at the end of the season and that's always a goal for our program."
    Helping UT improve each day will be senior midfielder Brooke Maletic (Springfield, OH), junior midfielder Isa Echeverri (Medellin, Colombia)and sophomore forward Regan Price (Bellefontaine, OH), who were selected team captains in a vote of their peers. This trio will be asked to lead the team and hold the group accountable both on and off the field.
    "Great leadership is extremely important to success," Buchholz said. "These three captains are a special group, and I'm excited about what they're going to bring to the table. We've definitely struck gold with the three captains we have."
    With the right captains leading the charge and a highly successful and an extremely competitive preseason under their belts, the Rockets are ready for a successful season and a return to being one of the top programs in the Mid-American Conference.
FORWARDS
    Toledo's seven forwards on the roster will be a good mixture of returning players, young talent and a transfusion of new blood via transfer.
    The forwards will be led by a pair of three-year letterwinners in seniors Kiersten Johnson (Cincinnati, OH) and Lauren Taylor (Frankfort, KY).
    Johnson appeared in all 21 matches last season and finished second on the team with nine points (four goals, one assist). Her fourth and final goal of the year was a match-winner in a 1-0 conference shutout of Eastern Michigan (Oct. 11). The Cincinnati, OH native made eight starts as a junior and will look to be in the starting lineup more frequently this season.
    "Kiersten is one of the most explosive forwards I've coached," Buchholz said. "She has an outstanding shot with both feet and has a great ability to get behind defenses and make special things happen."
    Taylor saw action in 17 matches off the bench last fall and was one of eight players to find the back of the net. She scored her lone marker in a 2-0 win at Central Michigan (Oct. 29).
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    "Lauren's a different type of player than KJ (Johnson)," Buchholz said. "She's very good with her back to the goal, and she has a great ability to keep possession. She's also very good inside the 18-yard line and a good finisher."
    Regan Price is one of the Rockets' most consistent forwards. Her competitiveness both offensively and defensively make her a necessity for the team.
    "Regan is somebody our team needs on the field," Buchholz said. "She just brings it, and our team feeds off her energy. Regan is a special player, and I believe she's going to have a great fall."
    In 2015, Price started 18 of 21 contests and totaled five points (two goals, one assist).
    A pair of junior college transfers, junior Leandra Garlinger (Menifee, CA) and sophomore Jamie Peters (Alhambra, CA), will also look to contribute in their first season at UT.
    Garlinger comes to Northwest Ohio from San Bernardino Valley College. At SBVC, Garlinger tallied a team-high 53 points (22 goals and nine assists), en route to earning second-team All-America honors by NSCAA for Junior College Women's Division III. The 2015 Foothill Conference Most Valuable Player led the league and finished sixth in the state in markers.
    Peters arrives at Toledo from Cerritos College. She tallied 10 goals and 13 helpers in 26 matches with the Falcons, who posted a 23-0-3 record.
    "For Leandra and Jamie, it's about learning the game at this level," Buchholz said. "They both have an explosiveness and their college savvy. We're hopeful that they can make a strong impact for our team."
    Coach Buchholz and his staff were also able to land highly decorated high school All-America selection Jordyn Greer from nearby St. Ursula Academy.
    "Jordyn has shown great signs of some special traits," Buchholz said. "Any time you can grab that kind of special player and keep her in town it's great. We feel very fortunate."
MIDFIELDERS
    There was a significant difference in preseason training for the Rockets in early August. Something was missing and it left a noticeable void in the center of the field.
    That missing piece was junior Isa Echeverri, who missed all of camp due to her commitment to the Colombia National Team that competed in the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
    "There was definitely a void with Isa gone," Buchholz said. "We were extremely excited for her and what she did at the Olympics."
    Last fall, Echeverri earned second-team All-MAC accolades for a second-straight year, tallying a team-high 15 points (six goals, three assists). The 2015 Academic All-MAC honoree finished third in the league in shots (51), fourth in shots per match (2.55), tied for eighth in goals and 10th in goals per contest (0.30).
    "She's the heart-and-soul of our midfield in a lot of ways," Buchholz continued. "With her experience at the highest level, it's hard to not have her being that engine in the midfield. She brings another level to our team."
    One of the Rockets' best passers is Brooke Maletic. The 2016 tri-captain had an outstanding preseason and is looking to carry that into the final year wearing the Midnight Blue & Gold.
    "Brooke really gets our philosophy," Buchholz said. "She is a perfect fit for her role because she's a great distributor. She's also an excellent finisher from 18 yards out, and I think that's important from that position."
    Sophomore Alena Sidwell (Aurora, IL) enjoyed a great spring for the Rockets and has capped the off-season with an even better summer.
    Sidwell started two of 18 matches last season, and the coaching staff is expecting big things from her in 2016.
    Sophomore Natalie Knauf (DeWitt, MI) is another young midfielder that produced an excellent off-season. She is competing for very meaningful minutes in this season's rotation. Coach Buchholz likens her playing style to that of a basketball team's point guard.
    "Natalie's probably our best long-range finisher and she's not afraid to hit it," Buchholz said. "She is crafty on the ball, especially in keeping possession."
    Redshirt freshman Shelby Gillespie (Lebanon, OH) has good upside passing in the final third of the field, as well. She possesses a flip throw that Buchholz calls 'very dangerous and a weapon offensively.' The Rockets will look for Gillespie to compete for playing time this fall.
DEFENSE
    Toledo has much of its defensive personnel back from a season ago, but following some key injuries the coaching staff may have to mix and match players to find a stout defensive group in 2016.
    Anchoring UT's back line will be junior Chiara Paradiso (Columbus, OH). The third-year Rocket was one of three players to start every match last fall. She led the team in minutes played (1,894) and contributed an assist to the offensive attack.
    "I think we'll be young in the back, and we'll have to grow up really fast," Buchholz said. "The positive is we have Chiara back there. She's a true leader and an exceptional player."
    Juniors Alexis Burdick (Cincinnati, OH) and Gabby Epelman (Canton, MI) also return for their third season with the program.
    Burdick started four of six matches in 2015, while Epelman appeared in the 'Starting 11' in 15 of 17 contests. Both players are centerbacks by trait but could see time at any defensive position.
    "Alexis is a very composed and strong 1-vs.-1 defender," Buchholz said. "We have a lot of faith and trust in her."
    "Gabby is a very determined, strong and cerebral player," Buchholz said. "She's very safe but there's nothing wrong with being safe."
    A trio of newcomers will also look to break into the starting lineup as well. Sheridan Bufe (Lake Forest, IL), Abby Demboski (Columbus, OH) and Alex Troy (Waterford Township, MI) are all in the mix to see playing time on the back line.
    "We expect it to be a battle between these three to see who fills that spot," Buchholz continued.
    "Sheridan has really played well this preseason," Buchholz said. "She's very good in the air and good with the ball at her feet.
    "Abby has shown us some great potential, and I think we will see some positive things from her freshman campaign. Alex has great fight in her and a relentlessness. She's very capable of having the ball at her feet."
GOALKEEPERS
    Buchholz and his staff has yet to name a starting goalkeeper for the season opener, but noted that there are three solid netminders in contention for the starting spot.
    Sophomore Katie Wilson (Frankfort, IL) started eight of nine matches last season and posted a 5-3-0 record with 15 saves and a 1.05 goals-against average in 769:28 minutes of action. Wilson finished sixth in the MAC in GAA and tied for sixth in blankings.
    "I would say Katie is in the driver's seat to start the season opener," said Buchholz. "She's really dedicated to turning her weaknesses into strengths. I know her team has extreme confidence in her ability to make great saves."
    Senior Nicole Jablonski (White Lake, MI)  appeared in four matches last fall and made a pair of starts between the posts.
    "We're happy with Nicole's improvement," Buchholz said. "She has some things to continue to improve on, but she fights to get better every day."
    Freshman Madison Perrin (Pleasant Lake, MI) will also look to push Wilson and Jablonski for playing time this fall.
    "Madison has unbelievable athleticism," Buchholz said. "We have seen significant improvement daily. She's very coachable."
    "These three goalies are a talented group. They are all special goalkeepers. Clearly, we have a tough decision to make."
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SCHEDULE
    The Rockets' 2016 non-conference schedule will test the Midnight Blue & Gold and prepare them for good Mid-American Conference competition.
    UT will start the year with a pair of road matches at Quinnipiac (Aug. 19) and Wagner (Aug. 21), respectively. The Rockets play their third straight road match against ACC power Louisville (Aug. 28).
    Six of the next seven matches will take place at the friendly confines of Scott Park. The home opener is against Northern Kentucky (Sept. 2), with a match-up versus Detroit (Sept. 4) two days later.
    A home contest with Cleveland State (Sept. 9), a trip to Oakland (Sept. 11) and a home match vs. Indiana State (Sept. 18) will cap off the Rockets' non-conference slate.
    In league play, Toledo will host Kent State (Sept. 23), Ohio (Sept. 25), Central Michigan (Oct. 6), Northern Illinois (Oct. 20) and Western Michigan (Oct. 23).
    The Rockets will also travel to conference foes Akron (Sept. 30), Buffalo (Oct. 2), Eastern Michigan (Oct. 9), Miami (Oct. 14), Ball State (Oct. 16) and arch-rival Bowling Green (Oct. 27) as part of their 11-match schedule.
    "Our non-conference schedule will allow us to get prepared for the MAC and that's crucial," said Buchholz. "I think it is a very balanced schedule, and I think our team is motivated and ready."
