2013 Penn State Altoona Women's Soccer Season Preview

In the midst of a rebuilding year, last season's Penn State Altoona women's soccer team encountered plenty of adversity. The Lady Lions managed just three wins with a roster consisting mostly of first-year players after the squad had appeared in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Championship Game in 2011.

But as they head into the 2013 season, the team has reason for optimism. The Lady Lions' roster will include 12 returners, many of whom received significant playing time as freshmen last year. While head coach Pam Snyder Etters knows her roster is still relatively young, she is excited to see her team take a big step in the right direction this year by using the experience they gained last season.

"While the team definitely experienced some growing pains last year, the lessons they learned were valuable and taken to heart," said Snyder Etters, who enters her fourth year as the Lady Lions' head coach. "The good news is that this year's sophomores are really more like true upperclassmen after playing virtually every minute last season. I expect them to come out hungry and determined to showcase their talents knowing they have depth to back them up."

Penn State Altoona lost its first nine games in a row last season, scoring only three goals in that span. But as the newcomers began to learn from their mistakes and the team started to gel, the Lady Lions became more competitive. In their final nine games, they scored 13 goals and picked up a trio of AMCC wins. The squad had seemingly turned a corner, and Snyder Etters hopes that the positive momentum will carry into this season.

"It can take a great deal of time to get acquainted with teammates on the field, and with an almost entirely new crop of players, the learning curve was a bit steeper," she explained. "This happens every year on every team, but having only four returners last season made the task that much more difficult. This year, our freshman class will have an opportunity to play with experienced players from the start, so that learning curve will be drastically reduced."

Snyder Etters says that three upperclassmen will be counted on as team leaders: senior defender Jessie Kulp (Palmyra, PA/Palmyra), junior midfielder Katy Hartigan (Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby), and junior defender Nicole Zambelli (Kings Park, NY/Kings Park).

"They are some of the hardest workers on the squad, and they carry different strengths," Snyder Etters said. "Jessie is a great vocal leader who will act as a direct extension of the coaching staff on the field. Katy is also vocal in focusing on keeping team morale high and positive. Nicole is more of a quiet leader, leading through example and disciplined play."

Among the team's returning sophomores is forward Theresa Deppenschmidt (New Hope, PA/New Hope-Solebury), who earned Third Team All-AMCC honors at the conclusion of her freshman campaign. She tied for the team lead with four goals and added two assists. She also led the Lady Lions in shots on goal with 17.

"Theresa will benefit from the influx of this year's freshman talent," said Snyder Etters. "She has an absolute rocket foot, which makes her shot very difficult to save. She will probably find her time mixed between playing outside mid and forward this season, and shuffling her around the field will keep her dangerous at all times."

Penn State Altoona will also benefit from the return of senior forward Allysia Ketchem (Lewisburg, PA/Lewisburg), who missed all of last season. Ketchem was a First Team All-Conference pick in 2011, when she tied for second in the AMCC with 31 points. Her 12 goals and seven assists that year were both team-highs.

Another important returner will be sophomore goalkeeper Mackenzie Strubhar (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin), who joined Deppenschmidt as a Third Team All-AMCC selection last year. Strubhar was first in the conference in saves, averaging 7.2 saves per game for a total of 108.

"Mackenzie is one of the most competitive players I have ever coached. She was a major reason we hung on in some of the close games, and despite some of the score lines, she stayed positive for her team," Snyder Etters said. "I feel that she is a top class keeper, and I was thrilled to see her talent rewarded last season with an All-Conference nod despite the team's struggles."

Strubhar will be challenged for playing time by fellow sophomore keeper Katy Cook (Hollsopple, PA/Bishop McCort), who appeared in eight games last year and made four starts. Cook was hampered by an injury early in the year, but Snyder Etters is excited to have her healthy this time around.

"This is a unique goalkeeping duo because they bring very different strengths to the table for us, which means we have a real fit for most any opponent," she explained. "With a stronger and more cohesive back line in front of the goal, it will be much harder to find the net against us this season."

In the crop of newcomers, Snyder Etters sees plenty of talent that she hopes will complement the performance of the returners. She points to freshmen forwards Casey Gavin (Benton, PA/Benton), Courtney Krempasky (Pittsburgh, PA/Seton-La Salle), and Libby Strayer (McConnellsburg, PA/McConnellsburg) as being players who can have an immediate impact on the team's offensive success, as the trio combined for over 220 goals in their high school careers. Snyder Etters also sees freshman defender/midfielder Megan Soo (Loganton, PA/Central Mountain) as a player who can be an important, versatile part of their team because of her powerful leg and field vision.

"This year's freshman class is, across the board, one of the most talented classes I have seen in my years of coaching here at Penn State Altoona, and I know that they are capable of great things," Snyder Etters said. "I really can't wait to see them together on one field."

Snyder Etters believes that the many obstacles her team faced last season will pay dividends this year. After her team missed the postseason for the first time since 2006, Penn State Altoona is poised to make its return to the AMCC Tournament in 2013.

"The strides we made last season were tremendous, and I fully expect to make major leaps and bounds forward this season, as well," said Snyder Etters. "I am truly hoping to be back in the playoffs and making a serious run at the AMCC crown."

Penn State Altoona women's soccer opens its 2013 schedule on Friday, August 30 at 4:00 PM at Saint Vincent College. The Lady Lions' first home game is on Sunday, September 1 at 1:00 PM against Southern Vermont College.