As the 2010 women’s soccer season approaches, so do the lofty expectations after a stellar 2009 campaign. Last season’s team went an astounding 15-1 in conference and was the first group to reach the final four under Head Coach Todd Curran’s tenure. What can’t be over-looked in the success of last season’s squad are the 22 sophomores that have since graduated.

This type of continuity just isn’t typically seen in junior college athletics but most definitely played a huge role in the success of the team. Experience and chemistry are a couple qualities they embodied as a team, according to Coach Curran.

After graduating 22 sophomores, this season’s team is comprised of 22 young and relatively inexperienced freshmen with only one returning sophomore, Amandine Bahro.

“They have to grow up real quick,” explained Coach Curran. Conditioning and learning to play together are also some areas Coach Curran is looking forward to see the team improve on.

Key players like forward Allyson Sherwood, previously of Clairemont High School, and Camile Alvarado of Mater Dei Catholic, should help to make this transition more seamlessly. They are being looked at as new talented players that can help to bolster a young squad and emerge as playmakers.

It’s a long season and many times, younger teams play with more energy and passion because complaisance hasn’t had a chance to set in. One thing can be certain for student-athletes affiliated with Coach Curran’s soccer program and that’s graduating and moving on to the next level, both athletically and academically.