As the 2011 campaign is now on the horizon, a repeat of the 2010 season for the Slippery Rock women's soccer team just might not be good enough to be labeled as improvement.
The Green and White ended last year with a trip to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference semifinals against West Chester University of Pennsylvania where it played to a 2-2 tie and fell in penalty kicks.
The Rock then was awarded its sixth NCAA tournament berth, where it advanced through the first round over West Viginia Wesleyan College and eventually lost to PSAC rival California University of Pennsylvania in penalty kicks.
SRU ended the season with a school record for consecutive games played without a regulation loss, at 15 with a 10-0-5 record.
The Rock finished last season with the fifth best goals per game average in the PSAC at 1.64 and allowed one goal per game.
Senior midfielder Alyssa Barrett said that with the time the team has spent together in the offseason, that it only helps to build on what its already accomplished.
"It's always good being together," Barrett said. "On the field we've bonded a lot. We've benefitted a lot from being around each other."
The Green and White enters the year as the 24th-ranked team in the Atlantic Region and is picked to finish third in the PSAC, behind West Chester and California, respectively.
Head coach Noreen Herlihy said that the ranking seemed fair.
"We welcome the pressure," Herlihy said. "We still have to remain optimistic because we have an extremely young group."
Of five players that were named to the All-PSAC team after last season, the Rock has lost forwards Allison Hindley and Danielle Turner, and defender Rachel Knapp.
Junior defender Emer Flatley returns to help bolster a defense that posted 11 shut outs last season and sophomore forward Kara Mullins looks to improve on her five-goal, two-assist year from 2010.
One thing the Green and White lacks on its roster is senior leadership, as its only two senior players are goalkeeper Lisa Rodgers, who transferred from the University of Dayton, and Barrett.
Herlihy said that replacing players is a yearly task.
"Every year you anticipate losing seniors," Herlihy said. "We now have a lot of younger players and it's their job to get into the fold as quickly as possible."
Barrett said that she is ready to be one of the main leaders on the team and that she has gained experience from last year's seniors.
"I learned a lot from them last year," Barrett said. "It's helpful, having seen them lead. I'm looking forward to doing it."
The Rock also returns its leading scorer from the previous year, junior forward Shelby Ward (10 goals, one assist).
The Green and White is coming off of its 15th winning season (14-3-5), in each of which Herlihy has led the team to at least 10 victories.
The Rock begins the new season tomorrow at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium against Seton Hill University at 1 p.m.
The team's first PSAC match is on Saturday, Sept. 10 against defending conference champion West Chester.
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