WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- A strong senior class hopes to finish its Whitman College soccer career with a flourish this fall as the Missionary women's squad plays its 12th season under head coach Scott Shields.
Led by eight seniors, Whitman heads north this weekend to open its 2005 campaign as one of four participants in the Whitworth Invitational in Spokane, Wash. The Missionaries battle Chapman University at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Sunday's game against California State-East Bay starts at 11 a.m.
Most of Whitman's senior leadership plays at the forward and midfield spots. Mckenzie Hoffman, a fixture at forward, starts her senior season with 18 goals and 10 assists to her credit. Hoffman accounted for 16 of her goals in her first two seasons, earning all-conference honors both years.
Lauren DeYoung and Emily Marshall, a pair of seniors midfielders, have been regular contributors to the offense. DeYoung has collected 11 goals and five assists in three seasons, while Emily Marshall has four goals and 11 assists over the same span.
Seniors Jennifer Telfer, Kara Mackenzie and Hillary Chisholm add more size and strength to the Missionary midfield. Telfer mustered the most scoring punch a year ago, booting five goals and three assists.
Rounding out the senior class are goalkeepers Anne Owen, a team captain, and Danielle Phillips-Dorset. As the starting keeper a year ago, Owen collected five shutouts while averaging 4.10 saves per game, the fifth-best mark in the conference.
Midfielder-forward Sammie Arthur, who has 17 goals and five assists in her first two seasons, tops the junior class. Arthur, also a team captain this fall, made the All-NWC First Team in her rookie year when she led Whitman in scoring with 11 goals and three assists.
Others in the junior class are defenders Erin Frame, Lindsay Wymer and Vanessa Warner, and midfielders Betsy Neel, Megan McConville and Sahalie Hashim. Frame, who has five assists over the past two years, is Whitman's third captain this season.
The lone sophomore on the roster is a good one. Kristen Berndt led Whitman in scoring last fall with 10 goals and two assists.
The roster includes a handful of first-year players, led by Jennifer Doane (Renton, Wash.), a skilled forward; Erica Goad (Golden, Colo.), an accomplished goalkeeper; and Sarah Nostdal (Walla Walla, Wash.), a strong and athletic defender.
After starting its season on the road this weekend, Whitman plays its home opener on Thursday, Sept. 8, against Northwest Nazarene. That game starts at 7 p.m.
The Missionaries open Northwest Conference play with a pair of road games Sept. 17-18. Whitman's first NWC home games are Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 24-25, against Linfield and Pacific.
The Whitman women posted an 11-8-1 record last fall, which included a mark of 8-7-1 in the NWC, good enough for fifth place. A preseason coaches poll this fall picks the Missionaries to place fourth.