College of Idaho and Avila will play each other at Dumke Field on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
Griffin Notebook
The Griffins begin the year with a No. 22 ranking in the Preseason NAIA Coaches' Top 25. This is the first time in school history that the team has been ranked in the preseason poll. Westminster went 12-7-2 last season and claimed s hare of the Frontier Conference regular season title before advancing to the NAIA National Championships for the first time in school history.
Among the 18 returnees from that 2011 squad, the team brings back six starters. That group includes 2011 leading scorer
Margo Hickman. Hickman tallied 11 goals and five assists last year to lead the team in both categories. She as a first team all-conference performer and was fourth in the league with those 11 goals.
Justine Jones is also back after a four goal and four assists season last year.
The midfield is led by senior
Jaime Nelson. She started all 20 games last season and posted two assists while taking 26 shots.
Carissa Cooper and
Lorin Wathen could also start in the midfield this season. Cooper scored three goals as a freshman and Wathen posted one assist last year.
The back line will be anchored this season by juniors
Jessica Harris,
Sadie Young and sophomore Miranda Miner. All three were starters throughout most of last season and helped the team allow just one goal per game. Sophomore
Caitlyn Jasumback along with Freshmen
Amanda Peppers,
Megan Molumby and
Madeline Orr will also compete for playing time on the Griffins defense.
For the first time in program history Westminster has depth at the goalie position. Senior
Dayna Winter-Nolte returns after posting a 0.98 GAA last season while posting eight shutouts. Winter-Nolte holds the school career record for saves, wins, shutouts and starts by a goalie. University of Arizona transfer
Jamie Wilkinson should also see some time in goal this season. Also look for freshman
Abi Yanke to compete for playing time.
Scouting Avila
After finishing the 2011 season with an impressive 12-3-5 record, the Eagles are returning their core group of players and are hoping to make a run deep into the postseason this fall. The Eagles are led up top by senior forward Alyssa D'Egidio, who transferred to Avila last fall. D'Egidio was named NAIA Offensive Player of the Week last fall and was in the top five nationally in goals scored for several weeks before suffering a season-ending injury in the Eagles home contest against Benedictine College. She finished the 2011 season with 15 goals in 13 contests.
Scouting College of Idaho
The Lady Yotes will put a six-year postseason streak on the line in 2012 with a new coach, and a mix of veteran and rookie players. If the squad is able to adjust to a new philosophy and new system, the deep squad will not only be in the mix for a Cascade Conference postseason berth, but in position to contend for the league title. For the Lady Yotes to be successful, they will need to improve on the 1.6 goals per game average from 2011. Two of the top fourt goal scorers return in sophomore Alex Suggs and senior Brittney Lacey, as Lacey earned honorable mention All-CCC honors after scoring five goals in league play, while Suggs tallied four goals and two assists.
Against the Opposition
Friday's game will be the first meeting between Avila and Westminster all-time.
The Griffins have played College of Idaho on four occasions with each team winning twice. Westminster has won the last two meetings, including a 4-1 win last season on Dumke Field.
