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New Season, New Start for American Women's Soccer
Brady Has 10 Newcomers Join Nine Returnees

August 15, 2001

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Under the tutelage of second-year head coach Michael Brady, American University’s women’s soccer program has its eyes on the future as it continues to build toward its goal of becoming a serious player in the Patriot League and on the regional landscape.

The future is coming quickly, as Brady and his staff have brought in 10 newcomers, including two transfers, to join nine letterwinners back from last season’s squad. It is a class that Brady expects to make an immediate impact on the program, and help continue the upward movement of a program that won just two matches, and tied two more, a year ago.

“We have a good group of seniors returning that will help mold our newcomers and show them the way a bit,” said Brady. “I also expect our freshmen to come in and have a impact on the season pretty quickly. It will be an interesting mix of experience and youth.”

Headlining the returnees are seniors Amanda Detterline, Ashley Flanigan, Ashley Gormley, Katie Moore, Jackie Sierodzinski, Sadie Simpson and Diane Wootton.

Detterline played and started 15 matches last season, recording one assist. Flanigan and Wootton play at the top of the offensive attack as forwards. Flanigan tallied five points on two goals and an assist last season. Wootton returns as American’s leading scorer from a season ago, producing 15 points on six goals and three assists, after switching to a forward slot from the midfield. She had two two-goal matches and one game-winning goal to her credit last season.

Moore, a midfielder, netted two goals and added an assist for five points. Gormley started all 17 matches as a defender and Simpson saw action in seven matches.
Sierodzinski returns to mind the Eagles’ goal after logging every minute of every match last season. She produced a solid 2.16 goals against average and a .756 saves percentage in 1,669 minutes of action.

Also back are juniors Megan Monteith and Jennifer Sengelaub, and sophomore Anabel Jiminez. Monteith saw action in all 17 matches last year, earning 12 starts in the midfield. Sengelaub, a defender, also started 12 matches, while seeing action in all 17 last year. Jiminez added some scoring punch, tallying a goal and two assists for four points from her midfield position.

Two of the nine newcomers have previous collegiate experience, as Sara Jagare, a junior, and Susan Coelius-Keplinger, a sophomore, are transferring from William Carey College and Navy, respectively. Jagare will slide into a midfield role, and Coelius-Keplinger will be in the backfield.

“Both of these players will see time for us this season,” Brady commented. “Sara understands the game very well, and will fit into our midfield nicely. Susan is an agressive defender with a lot of speed.”

Eight freshmen comprise the remainder of the newcomers. The group includes Lauren Allen, Sarah Boltz, Jessica Bonnell, Maha Elnabawi, Katie Kelly, Fedjah Laraque, Jen Liese and Amy Muller.

“We are very excited about the group of athletes we have coming in this season,” Brady said. “We have identified some needs and all of these players are very skilled. They are going to make an immediate impact on the program.”

American’s schedule in 2001 is aggressive in its design, and Brady feels it should duly prepare the Eagles for the rigors of Patriot League play.

“We have challenged ourselves again this season with a tough schedule,” he commented. “I feel it is important to play difficult non-league opponents, because it prepares you better for the grind of league matches.”

The Eagles open the campaign with a match at former Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) rival James Madison on Friday, August 31. The non-league portion of the slate also includes the Stony Brook Tournament, where American will face Fairfield and the host Seawolves, and stand-alone matches against Binghamton, Charleston, Mount St. Mary’s, Old Dominion, Princeton, Towson, UMBC and VCU.

American’s inaugural Patriot League match will take place on Wednesday, September 19, when the Eagles travel to nearby rival Navy for a 7:00 p.m. match against the Midshipmen. AU will host its first league match on the following Saturday, September 22, when Bucknell invades Reeves Field for a 2:00 p.m. contest.