The UW women’s soccer program is not wasting anytime to prepare for the upcoming fall season. Despite losing four starters, the Cowgirls are very optimistic about their chances next season and along with some promising recruits, the team will also be welcoming back seven returning players. 

The Cowgirls recently wrapped up their spring season with a 3-2-6 record.  Some of their spring opponents included Denver, Northern Colorado, Colorado School of Mines, Regis and the Air Force Academy. The team’s leading scorer during the spring campaign was freshman forward Ellen McCormick. 

McCormick managed to hammer in three of the team’s five total goals. On the other side of the ball, the Cowgirl defense allowed only five goals in 11 games. 

Next season, the Cowgirls will be welcoming six new recruits to the program to replace seniors Jules Candelaria, Kaite Amsberry, Bostyn Burger, Jerrica DiVincenzo and Chelsea Coddington. 

Among them is a transfer student from the University of Sydney, Loren Mahoney. Mahoney will be the second active Australian player on the team next to sophomore stand out Liz O’Rielly. 

Also joining the team is Kristin Howard of Richmond, Texas. She will be reuniting with her former high school teammate and current Cowgirl Sydney Jones. 

Wyoming natives Abbey Armijo and Sheree Small will be joining the team as well after closing out some very impressive high school careers. Small is a four-time Wyoming Club Soccer state champion from Gillette. Jackson’s Armijo led her high school team to a class 3A championship last year and was the leading scorer throughout the tournament. She will be playing forward and defense for the Cowgirls next season.

Closing out the 2011 recruiting class are Kasey Curtis and Hayley Charlton. Curtis will be suiting up as a striker next season. The 6’1” California native lettered all four years in high school and led her team to four consecutive championships. Hayley Charlton of Warrenville, Ill., will be playing outside back for UW next fall. Aside from leading her high school team to multiple regional championships as a captain, Charlton was also a member of the club team Chicago Fire Juniors, which is currently ranked No. 4 in Illinois.

With all this incoming talent, it’s no surprise that the team is feeling good about their chances next season. 

“I am really excited for our upcoming season,” senior captain Allison Masumiya explained. “Our team chemistry has grown throughout last spring and we will have great momentum moving towards the fall. We have been working hard both individually and as a team. We are all determined to have a very successful year.” 

The new additions to the squad aren’t the only reasons for excitement around the UW soccer community. The return of Nicole Rice will be a substantial aid to the Cowgirl’s scoring attack. 

In 2009, Rice made her presence known by recording three goals in 13 starts, including a game winner in overtime against conference rival TCU. Rice also had the highest shots on goal percentage on the team with 59 percent. The senior from Jackson missed all of last season due to a knee injury. 

Senior Kayla Davis considers Rice to be their secret scoring weapon for next season. “I’m really looking forward to next season,” Davis said. “We had some good results during spring season and now everyone is working hard to prepare for preseason. We are getting some great recruits and also Nicole will be back. If we keep working hard, we should be successful.”

Although the Cowgirls will be parting ways with six talented seniors, the future is looking bright for the program. The combination of championship caliber recruits and the return of a fallen star to an already hungry roster seem to be the recipe for a successful season. 

Under head coach Danny Sanchez, the Cowgirls hope to follow up their spring success with an impressive fall performance.  

Email: Phil Smith