AIKEN, S.C.--Expectations are high this season for the USC Aiken women’s soccer team. Head Coach Ike Ofoje will welcome back 15 letterwinners and 10 of 11 starters for the 2004 season. The Lady Pacers will use that blend of experience and talent in their quest for a winning season, which begins Saturday when USCA hosts North Georgia College & State University at 2:00 p.m., at “Pacer Pit” on the USC Aiken campus.

“ The fact this team has played together for two years, and so many players are coming back will help boost their team work,” said Ofoje, set to begin his eighth season as head coach of the women’s team. “They seem to understand each other now.”

Many of the juniors on this team helped lead USC Aiken to an 8-8-3 record as freshmen in 2002. Sophomore slumps set in last year as the squad dropped to 3-12-0 overall. The four freshmen on the 2004 team will add a spark that could propel the Lady Pacers up the Peach Belt Conference standings.

“The three new players and Jackie (Mascarin) will definitely give us some fire up front,” the coach said of his newcomers.

The new Lady Pacers that Ofoje expects to spark his team are forward Melanie Byars and midfielders Christine Blumberg and Nitza Maldonado, all of which are first year freshmen. Forward Jaclyn Mascarin is a second year freshman after missing last season due to an injury.

Juniors Jen Mascarin, Melissa Schnoering and Jodi Kulinitch, endured tough sophomore seasons but were instrumental in leading the Lady Pacers to a .500 mark as freshmen in 2002. Mascarin and Schnoering finished with five goals each last year, after scoring seven and nine goals respectively in 2002. Kulinitch’s production dropped off from nine goals in 2002 to two goals in 2003.

The following is a position-by-position look at the 2004 Lady Pacer soccer team.

GOALKEEPER
Senior Shannon Hobbs is the only goalkeeper listed on the 2004 roster, but she has some company from Byars. Ofoje hopes to be able to turn goaltending duties over to his senior keeper and take advantage of Byars’ talents in the field. In order for that to happen, Hobbs will have to return to 2002 form. The senior gave up an average of 3.91 goals last season after allowing just 1.67 goals per match two years ago.

DEFENDERS
Ofoje has plenty of experience returning on defense, the key will be the unit’s health. Starters Beth Johnston, Andrea Lloyd and Amy Myers return for their junior seasons, as does junior reserves Meg Newton, Brittney Pelt, and Tayo Amos, and senior Jenny Collier.

The bad news is Johnston, Pelt and Amos are nursing injuries. Their health will significantly factor into USCA’s success in 2004. With the injury situation, Schnoering will likely see a lot of time on defense, at least in the early part of the season.

FORWARDS
Another deep position for Ofoje. Starters Audie Beckman, Amanda Faulknham, both seniors, along with junior Kulinitch are all back in 2004. Byars and Jaclyn Mascarin add to an already strong group.

Kulinitch had the second most shot attempts on the team last season, 21, but only found the net on two occasions. Faulknham scored three times in 2003 and added two assists while Beckman had one goal and two assists as well.

MIDFIELDERS
Two of three starters return in Natasha DaCosta and Jen Mascarin. DaCosta made an immediate impact last season as a freshman, tying for the team lead with five goals and 12 points.

“Natasha is one of the toughest players we have, she’s tough, she’s perseverant, she’s everything you can imagine,” Ofoje said. “She came back in very good shape, the toughest thing will be keeping her within boundaries so she doesn’t lose her cool, I’m looking forward to seeing what she can do this year.”

Mascarin finished with five goals as well to go along with two assists for a total of 12 points. Maldonado, the only left-footed player on the team, and Blumberg will compete right away for playing time.

Ofoje sees North Florida and Francis Marion as the teams to beat in the Peach Belt Conference in 2004. The league loses defending conference and national champion Kennesaw State, which is making the jump to NCAA Division I this season, but with the addition of two teams, Columbus State and Georgia College & State University the PBC will remain one of the toughest conferences in Division II soccer.

“In the last two years the gap has closed tremendously on the women’s side in the Peach Belt,” said Ofoje. “Without Kennesaw State it’s going to be an open season.”

With a roster full of experience and talent, the Lady Pacers will play a key role in the PBC in 2004.

“Having all of our returnees coming back in good shape is a big plus, I can’t wait to see how well they will play this year,” Ofoje added. “The addition of the three new players will bring a different dynamic to the group. They’re playing well, they’re working real hard, I think it will be an exciting year.”

(PICTURED ABOVE: 2004 USC Aiken seniors, back row, left to right, Amanda Faulknham, Jenny Collier, Audie Beckman. Front row, Shannon Hobbs.)

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