The Daily Collegian

Issue date: 9/2/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Brian Tedder/Collegian With the absence of Sydney Stoll, coach Jim Rudy and the Minutewomen will have a huge hole to fill at forward.

On paper, Massachusetts women's soccer coach, Jim Rudy, has few reasons to look forward to the 2008 season.

Junior Sydney Stoll, the returning offensive threat for the Minutewomen is out for the season after she suffered a knee injury during a spring game. Stoll recorded six goals and three assists during last year's campaign.

The Minutewomen also lost junior Megan Gould, with just a slim possibility that she might return at some point this season. Gould was supposed to be a valuable contributor to the midfield with her experience, but she is out with a concussion that she's had since October in addition to a previous ankle surgery.

The graduation of last season's leader, Britt Canfield, is another gap that the Minutewomen must fill.

The team features seven freshmen - making this the youngest team Rudy has ever coached at UMass. One of the freshmen expected to contribute right away is midfielder Meghan Collins.

Rudy believes she is one of the more versatile players on the team. She was given a lot of time at the center position in the midfield already, but she could play anywhere on defense or the midfield.

Midway through last season, it looked like the Minutewomen could lock up a spot in the Atlantic 10 tournament for the first time since 1997. UMass rolled through its non-conference schedule, finishing 5-0-1 prior to A-10 play.

Once the conference schedule started, injuries began to hurt the Minutewomen, limiting them to two substitutions per game. The injuries caused UMass to suffer tough, hard-fought losses, and the team hobbled its way to a 4-6-1 record, which ranked ninth in the conference.

In the A-10's pre-season poll UMass was picked to finish in the same slot, and while most of the conference has gotten stronger, the Minutewomen seemingly haven't.

The Minutewomen still would like to make the A-10 tournament, but they know this season will not be easy.

"The question is: who will score the goals?" Rudy said. "I think we're going to have to rely on a bunch of defense and hope that we can pinch a few goals in."

That will likely make the defense responsible for helping the team win games.

As much as Rudy wants to win, he knows that in soccer, winning isn't everything.

"Tie games are sort of a foreign experience for American athletes," Rudy said. "To me, the measurement of success is getting into the A-10 tournament. You don't play for a tie but if that tie will get you through then we have got to get through it."

Even if the UMass defense performs this season, it cannot bring the team to the A-10 tournament by itself.

"I'm not sure how many more 1-0 close games I can handle in my career," Rudy said.

The Maroon and White will finish the season at home, only to play two of the most competitive teams in the A-10, Saint Louis and Charlotte.

The Minutewomen have their first home game against New Hampshire on Thursday.

Adam Miller can be reached at ajmil0@student.umass.edu.

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