University of Georgia Athletics
Looking For Goals, Scorers
August 04, 2017 | Soccer, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
UGAAA Staff Writer
The Georgia women's soccer team began preseason practice this week with eight seniors, a combined nine sophomores and juniors and 11 freshmen on the roster. It's a talented group, third-year coach Billy Lesesne said after Thursday's practice, the second of the preseason, but that's a lot of young players, many of whom could play big roles this season.
Those that could have the biggest impact early are the scoring threats. The Bulldogs, who went 6-11-1 last season, had nine players combine for 26 goals in 18 games. That averaged out to a 1.44 goals-per-game average that ranked 11th in the SEC. Eight of those goals came from then-senior Marion Crowder, who attracted a lot of attention from defenses, especially after Sydney Shultis missed the final 11 games with an injury.
Senior forward Kelsey Killean is the Dogs' top returning scorer with five goals last season, followed by senior midfielder Mariel Gutierrez's four. The only only player on the roster that scored last season is sophomore forward Katie MacGinnitie, who had two goals as a freshman.
"I think we've all kind of adopted the attitude that it doesn't matter who scores — a goal's a goal," Killean said. "If it's pretty, if it's ugly, a win's a win and a goal's a goal."
Of Georgia's 11 freshmen, nine are listed as either forwards or midfielders. Among the newcomers that could come in and help the attack right away is forward Reagan Glisson, one of three freshman that enrolled early and participated in spring practice. Glisson scored 134 goals in her high school career at Calvary Day School in Savannah.
"We've got a lot more forwards than we had last year, so it's going to be somewhat by committee. Reagan was here in the spring and figured some things out and scored some goals for us in the spring," Lesesne said. "And Syd, if we can get her healthy, she's got the ability to score goals. There's some young ones in those positions but a lot of talented ones, too."
When you begin preseason practice with 11 freshmen out of 28 players, you have to slow things down a little at the outset. You expect the same level of effort and attention as you would any other group, but there's the understanding that a lot of your team is going through things for the first time.
"I think they're all putting in a bunch of effort and everyone looks awesome, I think," Killean said. "The freshmen came in ready and willing to do the work in the summer and it shows.
As a group, Lesesne said, the freshmen are already very tight, and they're mixing in with their teammates well, also.
"They all come from pretty successful club teams and most of them have been here living together and they've almost had an identity as a class," he said. "They committed two years ago, so they've had this group chat and they have this really close bond that has extended to everybody on the team."
And the addition of some new scoring threats may open up new opportunities. Lesesne said he and his staff are "tinkering" with some different formation options to take advantage of the squad's personnel.
"We're working on two primary formations right now and we've just got to make sure we stabilize thing in the back, as well," he said.
Lesesne's Bulldogs will get their first test of their progress on Aug. 10, when Georgia hosts an exhibition against Auburn. The Dogs open their season at home on Aug. 18, against Wake Forest.
John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
UGAAA Staff Writer
The Georgia women's soccer team began preseason practice this week with eight seniors, a combined nine sophomores and juniors and 11 freshmen on the roster. It's a talented group, third-year coach Billy Lesesne said after Thursday's practice, the second of the preseason, but that's a lot of young players, many of whom could play big roles this season.
Those that could have the biggest impact early are the scoring threats. The Bulldogs, who went 6-11-1 last season, had nine players combine for 26 goals in 18 games. That averaged out to a 1.44 goals-per-game average that ranked 11th in the SEC. Eight of those goals came from then-senior Marion Crowder, who attracted a lot of attention from defenses, especially after Sydney Shultis missed the final 11 games with an injury.
Senior forward Kelsey Killean is the Dogs' top returning scorer with five goals last season, followed by senior midfielder Mariel Gutierrez's four. The only only player on the roster that scored last season is sophomore forward Katie MacGinnitie, who had two goals as a freshman.
"I think we've all kind of adopted the attitude that it doesn't matter who scores — a goal's a goal," Killean said. "If it's pretty, if it's ugly, a win's a win and a goal's a goal."
Of Georgia's 11 freshmen, nine are listed as either forwards or midfielders. Among the newcomers that could come in and help the attack right away is forward Reagan Glisson, one of three freshman that enrolled early and participated in spring practice. Glisson scored 134 goals in her high school career at Calvary Day School in Savannah.
"We've got a lot more forwards than we had last year, so it's going to be somewhat by committee. Reagan was here in the spring and figured some things out and scored some goals for us in the spring," Lesesne said. "And Syd, if we can get her healthy, she's got the ability to score goals. There's some young ones in those positions but a lot of talented ones, too."
When you begin preseason practice with 11 freshmen out of 28 players, you have to slow things down a little at the outset. You expect the same level of effort and attention as you would any other group, but there's the understanding that a lot of your team is going through things for the first time.
"I think they're all putting in a bunch of effort and everyone looks awesome, I think," Killean said. "The freshmen came in ready and willing to do the work in the summer and it shows.
As a group, Lesesne said, the freshmen are already very tight, and they're mixing in with their teammates well, also.
"They all come from pretty successful club teams and most of them have been here living together and they've almost had an identity as a class," he said. "They committed two years ago, so they've had this group chat and they have this really close bond that has extended to everybody on the team."
And the addition of some new scoring threats may open up new opportunities. Lesesne said he and his staff are "tinkering" with some different formation options to take advantage of the squad's personnel.
"We're working on two primary formations right now and we've just got to make sure we stabilize thing in the back, as well," he said.
Lesesne's Bulldogs will get their first test of their progress on Aug. 10, when Georgia hosts an exhibition against Auburn. The Dogs open their season at home on Aug. 18, against Wake Forest.
John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
Players Mentioned
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Defender
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Forward
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Forward
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Midfielder
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