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Georgia State University
Season Preview
only senior Kay Harbrueger. After starting 18 of 20 games last
season, Goodwin will be expected to lead the Panther offense for
the majority of the season.
Junior Stephanie Cuccia and sophomore Emily Dover will also
be counted on at forward in 2009. Cuccia and Dover played in 34
games combined during the 2008 campaign, but Cuccia registered
the only start between the two. In 16 of 20 games, Cuccia notched
three goals and one assist. Dover deposited two goals during her
fi rst season to lead a talented freshman class.
Newcomers at forward include Sarah Dashiell, a junior transfer
from Young Harris, and freshman Haley Holderfi eld. Dashiell is
coming off of an NJCAA All-American season in 2008 and backto-back
NJCAA All-Region mentions.
MIDFIELDERS
A host of versatile midfi elders populate the roster for the Panthers
in 2009, many of which will be asked to take on different roles
during the season.
Senior Caitlin Smith will look for an expanded role after playing
in 15 of 20 games in 2008. Smith found her playing time in a
crowded midfi eld, dominated by senior talent, last season.
Also returning to the midfi eld are junior Jessica Black, and
sophomores Sarah Lucisano, Lindsay Mortellaro, and
Erinique Owens. Owens and Mortellaro each scored one goal
and registered one assist last season. Black earned playing time
in 14 of 20 matches last season.
Owens played in all 20 games last season, earning two starts, after
opening the season with her fi rst career goal against Tennessee
Tech. Mortellaro, who also plays the forward position, managed
one start during her freshman year, and scored her fi rst career
goal in an important win over conference rival William & Mary.
Newcomers to the midfi eld include Sarah Bennett, Carly
Lafferty, Alabama-transfer Taylor Parks, and junior Kaila
Muecke, returning to the Panthers after taking a break from
soccer in 2008.
Muecke played in 15 games, starting four, during the 2007 season.
Parks transfers to Georgia State as a sophomore who earned
4
playing time in the highly competitive Southeastern conference
a year ago.
Freshmen Carly Lafferty and Sarah Bennett come from a pair of
prestigious high school programs and hope to earn their way onto
the pitch in 2009. Lafferty comes from St. Pius X, the NSCAA’s
nationally top-ranked program from 2008. Bennett played her
high school soccer at Cherry Creek in Colorado, state runners-up
in 2007 and state semi-fi nalists in 2008.
DEFENDERS
Seniors Kari Quinn and Virginia Wood will be expected to lead
the Georgia State defense, which features a number of talented
youngsters. Wood started in all 20 matches in 2008, while Quinn
started 18 of 19.
Joining the seniors on the back line will, most likely, be
sophomores Lani Huntley and Bri Cagle. Huntley comes off of
a monster freshman season which saw her start all 20 matches.
Huntley also scored the game-winning goal in a pivotal lateseason
contest with Delaware. Cagle started in 11 of 17 matches
registering three shots during the season.
Vying for playing time at defender will be senior transfer
Marshett Clarke, who joins the Panthers from Michigan State,
as well as freshmen Megan Geiger, Bridget Gilmore, and
Erin Hill. Geiger, Gilmore, and Hill are a trio of Georgia high
school products, coming from Parkview, Etowah, and St. Pius X,
respectively.
GOALKEEPERS
Junior Heidi Blankenship will be back in goal for the Panthers
in 2009 after a rock-solid 2008 campaign. Entering the season,
Blankenship is fi fth all-time in goals against average in school
history. Blankenship’s 77 saves ranked her fi fth in the CAA.
Kellianne Collins will also look for time in goal for Georgia
State after seeing action in nine games for the Panthers in 2008.
Collins proved to be an asset when she took over starting duties
for two games during a Blankenship injury, shutting out Georgia
Southern for 99 minutes in a Panther 1-0 overtime victory.