2006 Marietta College women's soccer preview

Aug. 21, 2006
MARIETTA, Ohio – Marietta is expected to return 14 lettermen and six starters from its record-setting 2005 season, but will be forced to fill some important holes left by graduation and injury. The Pioneers finished 14-3-2 a year ago and tied for fourth with John Carroll in the OAC standings. Marietta, however, lost its tournament seat in a tiebreaker.

Pioneer seniors—Dana Donchess (midfielder), Chelsey Moore (defender) and Jill Sorboro (midfielder)—will need to take over the program’s leadership in 2006.

Sorboro, a second team All-OAC honoree in 2005, finished last fall with a team-best seven assists, which ranked second in the Conference. She enters her senior season in fourth place on Marietta’s all-time assists list with 11. Sorboro also added three goals for a total of 13 points in 2005, which tied for second-highest on the team.

Sophomore Jessica Martinez will look to build upon a solid freshman campaign. Martinez, who earned honorable mention All-OAC a year ago, stepped into the lineup in her first season and provided an immediate spark on offense, finishing with six goals—three game-winning goals—and one assist to tie for second on the team with 13 points.

Junior Vanessa Nicholls (six goals and two assists) and sophomore Allie Williams (four goals and two assists) also return after posting double-digit point totals in 2005.

"This will be an interesting season," admitted Head Coach Pat Holguin. "For the first time in four years, the leadership changes hands. I have no doubt that it will be a smooth transition and that we have the ability to have a successful year."

A combination of veterans and some talented underclassmen is expected to gel during the preseason, allowing the program to continue its course toward capturing an OAC title.

The Pioneers open the season at home with the MC Classic on September 2-3. Marietta’s matches are predetermined this year; it kicks off the tournament on Saturday at 9 a.m. against Juniata (Pa.) and then takes on SUNY-Brockport Sunday at 9 a.m.