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Experience key for Lady Broncbuster soccer
Published 8/26/2008 in Sports : GCCC
By MIKE KESSINGERmkessinger@gctelegram.com
Jeff Huffman could see something in his Garden City Community College women’s soccer team when the season ended last year.
It was good. Something he knew the Lady Broncbusters could bring into the 2008 season as a positive. Simply put into perspective, Huffman, now entering his fourth year as the head coach, has eight players returning. It is the most in his tenure at GCCC. Add eight newcomers, and Huffman feels he might now have the type of consistency he’s been looking for. It was something he could forsee when Jayhawk Conference power Butler slipped by the Busters 2-0 in the first round of Region VI tournament ending last season.
“At that point in time I really thought we’re on to something here,” Huffman said. “I thought we were really close to getting over the top.”
In a program that has yet to win more than four games in a season, it might seem to be lofty expectations, but not to Huffman, and not to his players. During the spring 2008 semester, the team had a chance to bond.
“I think the sophomores are a little bit more hard working because we realize that we can be benched,” Brooke Lindhold said. “There’s more people and the freshmen see the level they have to play, so in return they have to step it up.”
Lindholm, the Busters only returner to earn Region VI mention last season (second team), will be one of players counted on for leadership from her position as a back.
“It’s big to have her back, it’s not just Brooke, but all the sophomores,” Huffman said. “One player can’t do it by themselves, and she plays a position where she’s more on the outside, and in soccer you obviously want the spine (forwards) to be extremely solid. But honestly, when you have an all-region player return that’s always a good thing.”
The spine Huffman pointed to will have plenty of competition and experience. Forward Mary Jones led Garden City in both goals (nine) and total points (19). Melvi Ojeda, who battled injuries with a hip flexor last season, will give Jones help in the middle, and she’s a player Huffman hopes can have a standout season. One reason in particular was Ojeda’s play in the spring. At the Region VI Spring Scramble at Butler, Ojeda was the lone Buster named to the six player all-tournament team.
“Melvi is someone who has the the ability to have a breakout year,” Huffman said.
Along with the experience returning, Garden City will rely on the freshmen. One spot that will be occupied by a freshman is goalkeeper, where Carrie Hart, who joined the team in the spring, will occupy the spot.
“I don’t know if the level of play is that much different, it’s just that coming in for preseason the expectations are a little bit more that you’re expected to do more on your own,” Hart said comparing the high school level to college. “In high school they don’t tell you to train on your own, but here we have a strict plan to follow and there’s more expectations. You’re expected to come here on a certain level.”
Whether the team can mix and match it all together for a 15 game regular season, Huffman will see for the first time Wednesday when the Busters play their opening game, a road trip to Hesston. The game starts at 6 p.m.
“I think there’s more confidence when we’re going into a game,” Lindholm said.
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