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Photo Credit: Robert CaseyWeber State head coach Tim Crompton enters his sixth season this fall. The Wildcats have been one of the Big Sky Conference's most competitive teams since Crompton took charge. The team captured the Big Sky Conference regular season title in '08. He kindly took time to speak with Women's Soccer Weekly.
Q. Do you have a favorite game from the 2008 season?
A. On the road at Eastern Washington. It’s a tough place to play, always a difficult environment and obviously every conference road result you can get is very important. Hayley McCoy scores a goal just a couple minutes into the match to put us up 1-0 and maybe 10 minutes later gets in a collision and has to leave the game. She has this big gash on her head and they didn’t have any medical staff on site. Her parents are there – up from Richland, Wash. They have to take her to the hospital to get stitches. The game goes on, obviously, and Eastern ends up tying it up later in the first half.
The game goes into overtime and all of a sudden, Hayley’s standing next to me. She’s back, all stitched up, and I said "What are you doing?" She says, "The doctor says I can play as long as I can handle it." So I took a look at her head and decided to go ahead and put her in. We go the first overtime and nothing happens, so we go into the second overtime.
We end up getting a penalty kick with, I think no more than two minutes left that could win it. Never in my whole life in a game that I was coaching – or playing – were we awarded a penalty kick in a golden goal situation. Of course, Hayley steps up to take it. She doesn’t take it extremely well, but puts it on frame. The keeper makes a diving save, Hayley’s obviously mad, there’s a follow-up crash and a big melee happens in front of the net. They have to stop the game, cards are issued, it’s just crazy. So they get it all sorted out and start the game back up. So there’s less than 30 seconds left and Hayley gets the ball out around midfield. She basically dribbles through their midfield, beats a defender at the top of the box and scores a goal to win it with like 12 seconds left.
We had a very good season last year, you know, we won the conference and had a lot of great things happen, but that game really stands out for me.
Q. Are you satisfied with the work your team has put in this spring?
A. Certainly. This has been a very interesting spring for us. Obviously, we lost the spine of our team from last year. Our center back, holding midfielder, center midfielder, center forward, all gone. They all played full minutes, all 90 minute players. That’s a big blow to a mid-major school like ourselves. So, we come into the spring with some transfer players, who are talented, but new. And young.
To answer the question, I’m more than happy with the work the team put in, but we had a very rough start. We were a talented team, but we weren’t very good. By the end of the spring, we were a good team. And just chipping at the surface of how good we can be. So, it probably was one of the most rewarding spring seasons we’ve had since I’ve been here. From beginning to end, to see the progress and the work that they put in and to see how much better we were than when we started, was very satisfying.
Q. How will the team compensate for the loss of Hayley McCoy?
I’ve had two kids that I’ve coached here that have been All-American Scholar Athletes, Rochelle Hoover and Hayley McCoy. Compensate is I guess the key word in that question, because you can’t replace Hayley, just like we couldn’t replace Rochelle or like many other players that have come here, for sure. I think that was a concern at the beginning of the spring, but that’s just part of the game, part of our job in college athletics. We’ll just have to go about it differently.
We have players who are talented, and by committee, they have really stepped up this spring. Roxy Tebbs has played center mid and pretty much played every minute of every game in the spring and really came into her own as the spring went on. So I expect big things from her. And there’s a bunch of young players, Ari Wood, Jessie Baddley, Roxy, Alyssa Toomey. There’s just lots of talent there. We’ll compensate, we’ll just have to do it differently. Those players will have to bring their own talents, and really refine those talents. They’re not going to do it like Hayley did.
Q. Is there anyone from the recent recruiting class who has the ability to come in an make an instant impact?
A. That’s like an open-ended question, really. They really all have potential, but recruiting isn’t an exact science. Potentially, any one of them have the chance to make an impact. Instant impact is tough, though. I haven’t had too many freshmen make an instant impact. They are capable, but only time will truly answer that question.
Q. What do you look for in recruits?
A. Obviously, when you get a visual and get to see them, you’re looking to see if they have talent. That’s how you identify and then you work from there. The main thing after that, is if they have character. If they have character to go along with talent, then good things happen. Those are players that are going to work hard, be a good teammate, withstand adversity, etc.
Q. Several senior defenders finished up their collegiate careers in '08. Will the back line need time to adjust?
A. I think we used the spring for that. We returned two outside backs, both good players who played full minutes. One of them (Lindsay Ellis) was a First Team All-Conference player. There’s always an adjustment period, but that’s what the spring’s for.
There’s some young players who are entering their second year in the program who played there in the spring and really stepped it up, so I think that the seniors coming back will really be pressed for spots come the fall. There’s some talent there and they’ve worked hard to make the adjustments that they have needed. I really expect that we will have a very solid back line.
Q. What can we expect from the team in 2009?
A. Our expectation is that we want to put ourselves in a position to compete for a national championship. That’s always our expectation. To do that, we’ve got to win our conference. Anything less than that is a disappointment. Now, that doesn’t mean that when those years come, it’s not successful. I expect our team to compete for a conference championship every year. And they are capable of it, for sure. There’s just a shift in our talent this year.
I would say that we are deeper, at forward, than we’ve ever been. We’ve got some very talented players up front and, as far as numbers are concerned, we’ve never had that here before across the line. So, the ability to finish and score goals will be there.
I guess the fairest way to put it for the players, what I expect from them, is to have a chance to get a result from every game that we play. And if that’s happening, then we’ve got a good chance of achieving our goals.
Last season, midfielder Frankie Ross, paced the Viking squad throughout Big Sky Conference play. Her eight points in conference games guaranteed her a share of the Golden Boot Award. With two years left at Portland State, Ross has the ability to finish as one of the conference's all-time play makers. The 2008 Big Sky All-Conference First Team member recently spoke with Women's Soccer Weekly.
Photo Credit: Scott LarsonQ. What have you been working on this spring?
A. This spring we have been working on team defending, our speed of play, and just plain playing better. We are playing to win. We are not complacent with ties. Specifically, I have been working on my first touch, speed of play, and going at people on the field. Improving in these areas will allow me to be a threat anywhere I play on the field.
Q. What is one thing that you want to improve on as you head into the fall schedule?
A. Heading into the Fall, I want to improve on my 1 vs 1 attacking. I really need to go at defenders more. I often make runs on the side, as I'm an outside midfielder, and get the ball with only one defender to beat to get to goal. This summer I will be working on isolating the defender and beating them quickly, so I can go to goal as fast as possible. Repetition will cause me to be more confident in this aspect than I am now. Also, I really need to hit the weight room so that I can have a more physical presence on the field.
Q. Where is the toughest away venue to compete at in the conference?
A. The toughest away venue to compete at is definitely in Flagstaff at Northern Arizona. They are great team and any game with them is always competitive, however traveling to NAU makes it that much harder. First just getting there is an ordeal in itself. There's the plane ride, and then after that you get to look forward to about a 90 minute car ride, weaving through canyons. Then the field itself is pretty big, which normally wouldn't be too big of a deal, but combined with the altitude you really begin to feel the toll of each run that you make up and down the field. My freshman year, I remember feeling like I was trying to run through water, I was so slow, I just couldn't move. Put simply, I truly hate going to Flagstaff.
Q. What was your favorite moment from the past season?
A. My favorite moment from this past season was when we played USC. It was probably the biggest weekend that Portland State soccer has ever had: USC and UCLA in one weekend, two teams that had been in the final four the year before, and one of them being the champion. Although we did end up losing the game 2-0 we played with them for all 90 minutes, and even had them on their heels for a good portion of it. I think this was my favorite moment because this game our team matched the caliber of play of a national championship team. We showed people not only who we were, but also that we came to play.
Q. Will you be playing at all this summer?
A. Last summer I went home and played for a women's semi-pro team in the Women's Premiere Soccer League in the Bay Area. This summer I will be staying in Portland so I'm currently looking for a team to join. However, a bunch of girls on the Portland State team will be staying here this summer so we will all be working out together and playing together as well.
Q. What is the outlook for the team this fall?
A. I'm really excited about our team's outlook for this fall. Although we lost some great seniors, we still retained a lot of talent. Also, the development the team has made this winter and spring is phenomenal. We are making second man runs off the ball that we didn't even see in the fall, we are defending much better as a team, our speed of play has increased, and our communication has grown as well. Individually, each player's technique has improved a lot over the winter in regards to first touch, settling the ball, and being able to play quickly. Also, many players are beginning to step up and take on roles that they didn't necessarily have in the fall. Finally, I'm most looking forward to the incoming freshmen that will be joining us next fall. Laura [Schott - Women's Head Coach] talks very highly of them, and I'm excited to see how they will add to our team's talent, and most of all the added competition for playing time, as competition will only make us better.
Defender Chelsey Hannesson, one of Eastern Washington's leaders, starred in the Eagles backline throughout the 2008 campaign. At the end of the year, the junior free-kick specialist was named to the Big Sky All-Conference Second Team. Hannesson, who hails from Langley, British Columbia, took time out of her spring schedule to speak with Women's Soccer Weekly.
Photo Credit: goeags.com
Q. Langley native Tessa Locke joins the squad this fall. Did you ever compete with or against her growing up in Langley?
A. I have never had the opportunity to compete against Tessa Locke, but because of my own curiosity I did talk to mutual players the two of us have played with or against in the Langley soccer community and have heard great things about her. I am very eager to spend my last season here as an Eagle as her teammate. Knowing how competitive Langley Soccer, as well as British Columbia Soccer, is as a whole, she will fit in quite well with the aggressiveness and athleticism they are known for.
Q. What have you been working on this spring?
A. This spring I am focusing on two specific things, the first being fitness. It's a bit easier to be a fit player who is not technically efficient in soccer, but to be a technically efficient player who is unfit in soccer is merely impossible. And it's the one thing I can always find room for improvement. As an athlete and with the high expectations from my coach, it's hard to avoid the importance of fitness when, on a week-to-week basis, we are pushed to the limit and only the players who pass the fitness tests are looked at as contenders for a spot in the starting 11 or in the 18 players in the travelling squad. The second thing I have been focusing on is my main role on the team. I am a defender, so improving my knowledge in my position is what I strive to do every time I step onto the field. Working hard and listening to the information my coaches give me are a few things I take advantage of to further my soccer knowledge.
Q. Will you be playing this summer at all?
A. For the past two years, I have committed myself to spending my summers training in Cheney, Wash., home of Eastern Washington University, and this third year will be no different. I have learned that the time and effort I have put in before preseason has given me a good head start going into our first game. Even though it is hard to give up the time to go back to Langley, B.C., to see my family, my sisters especially, I know that I am only benefiting myself and hopefully inspiring my teammates to do just the same.
Q. What is the outlook for the EWU backline in '09?
A. The defensive line on the Eastern Washington soccer team is what I work hard on perfecting every single day. The girls that play with me as defenders are not only my close friends, but amazing athletes as well. Last year was our first season spent as a back line together; it included Hannah Kreminski, Lyndsey Martin, myself and Sara Byrne. Going from being the youngest on the defense my sophomore year to being a team captain and the oldest on the line the following season has given me a load of responsibility and higher expectations for myself. However, the talent and commitment that I and the rest of the defensive line have put forth gives me great comfort and confidence going into the 2009 season, no question about it.
Q. How did you react to earning a spot on the Big Sky Second-Team All-Conference?
A. Making second team All-Big Sky Conference was something I was very proud of. It felt amazing to be recognized for the hard work I put into every practice and game, and to do it in the same year I became team captain made me feel like I was benefiting the team in the role I was given. I also felt even more confident when I found out that my other 2009 teammates, Brittany Sparks, Lyndsey Martin and Sara Byrne had also made either All-Big Sky second team or honorable mention. It immediately gave me the drive to compete even harder and see what the team can achieve this upcoming season.
Q. Thus far, what has been your favorite moment from your soccer career at EWU?
A. Since I began playing with the EWU soccer team, I have had many memorable and favorite moments. The one that sticks out in my mind a little more than the rest is our game against Long Beach State University, who were a top-25 team. I was a freshman and was just beginning my experience as a Division I athlete. I played at center midfield that year along with previous players Abby Jensen and Cat Baller. The entire game was split evenly, possession wise, shots for and against and even the aggressiveness during the game was equal. The difference was how bad our team wanted to win. I remember being a young freshman standing in the middle of the group listening to the seniors pump the rest of the girls up, intensity and passion just pouring into our ears right before kick off. I had, at that point, never felt more energized and confident to start a game with this team. We won the game with a one-goal difference, 2-1, but right from the first whistle I knew we had it in the bag.
Q. Do you have any personal goals for the fall?
A. For the upcoming 2009 season I have so many goals I want to reach, team goals as well as personal goals. The personal goal I am most focused on working toward is my leadership role on the team. Whether I am center back or outside back, I want to be able to go into every game confident and able to communicate with my teammates as accurately as possible. I want my knowledge of the game to continue to grow and not only benefit my game, but my teammates’ as well.
Q. What are your thoughts on the new Women's Professional Soccer league?
A. When I heard about the new Women's Professional Soccer league, I was immediately excited. Opportunities for women soccer players, especially in Division I, are going to increase tremendously. I definitely want to further my career beyond collegiate soccer, and I can only assume other women will jump at this opportunity when their college careers are over, as well. With this new league, it gives me a lot more options on what I want to do with my soccer career, and it gives me that competitive drive to keep improving once my last year here at Eastern Washington University is over.
Photo Credit: goeags.com
Photo Credit: Idaho State Photographic Services/Julie Hillebrant
Defender Karissa Henage lead Idaho State's backline throughout the 2008 campaign. At the end of the season, the sophomore defender was named to the 2008 Big Sky All-Conference First Team. This spring, along with her teammates, she has been preparing for the Benagals' fall schedule. The junior-to-be kindly spoke with Women's Soccer Weekly earlier this week.
Q. Last season, how did you and the rest of the backline cope with the constant change at keeper?
A. Our role as a defense is obviously to stop the other team’s offense. Of course there are times when things break down and therefore the role of the keeper becomes critical. There needs to be trust built up between the back line (and the whole team for that matter) and the keeper. Trust often comes with time and performance. It is hard to maintain trust and the overall flow and rhythm of the game when faced with changes. However, when we focused on our job as the defense, it made it easier to accept whoever was behind us. The constant change of keepers is definitely bearing on the moral of the defense, but we always gave it our best and that is all we could do.
Q. As the team looks to the fall schedule, were you satisfied with the results this spring?
A. Our main focus this spring was to rebuild a foundation. This was critical as well as difficult coming from the many disappointments of last fall. Spring is a time to regroup and make goals for the fall. Of course we could have had better spring game results, but I think the results we see in practice are more important than games results for spring. We are defining who we are in practice through our mentality and work ethic, and I think fall brings much opportunity to show our hard work. And I’m excited to show who we really are as a team!
Q. How competitive is the Big Sky Conference?
A. Any Division I soccer conference is going to be competitive. Obviously we aren’t in a conference that is as highly recognized as some others, but it is still the game of soccer at a Division I level. As soccer is becoming more popular as a women’s sport and as the education of college level coaches and players is increasing, the competitiveness of the game has also advanced. I believe that the Big Sky Conference is much more competitive than it was when Idaho State started their soccer program about 10 years ago. And I think it will be more competitive next season than it was last season.
Q. What was the toughest team to defend against?
A. I personally thought BYU was hard to defend. There was definitely an intimidation factor, and knowing a lot of the girls on the team contributed to that. They are skilled at moving the ball, and they have big, physical, and fast forwards. We had to go into that game physically and mentally tough in order to give our defensive best.
Q. How did you react when you learned that your were named to the First-Team All-Conference?
A. I was surprised because I’m only a sophomore! It made me very excited, and it gave me even more determination to work harder and do my best so that I could continue to make a difference on my team.
Q. What are your team and personal goals for the fall?
Our team goal for the fall is to build the program from the good foundation we set up in the spring. We want to show up and do well in conference games. We want to be Big Sky Conference champions! The year right before I came in ISU was the Big Sky champions, and I want to be a part of that as well. I will continue to work hard so that I can come back in the fall very physically, mentally, and tactically fit so that I can help my team reach those goals.
