2009 Season Preview
In just his first year at the helm of the Lady Trojans soccer program Scott Stan improved on the 2007 season by eight wins and led the team to its first winning season since 2004. Not content with the early success, Stan scoured the nation to add ten new players from seven different states and revamped the nonconference schedule.
Returning for her senior season, captain Shawna Lane is coming off an all-conference junior season at goalkeeper where she posted nine shutouts. Her defensive line is mostly intact returning senior Becca Miller, juniors Jordyn Kight and Karen Cleary and sophomore Jesse Smith. Incoming freshman Kim Cleary will join her sister on the back line and become the fourth Cleary sister to play soccer at Taylor. Jenna Fahlen was a first team all-state selection in Michigan and an unexpected late addition to the defensive front.
The Trojans also return the bulk of their offensive firepower in scoring leaders Allison Guion (Sr.) and Marissa Ku (So.), who each scored 12 goals on the season, as well as sophomore Taylor Hale who added a pair of goals and an assist. Joining the frontliners is Boone Grove High School standout Cara Andjelich who tallied over 90 goals and 30 assists in her career.
Sophomore Kelsey Lauffer will grace the midfield again after leading the team in assists during her freshman campaign. Freshman Emily Von Raesfeld will accompany Lauffer at midfield. The San Jose, Calif. native led one of the most competitive leagues in the state of California in assists. Hailing from Chaska, Minn., Natalie Wisely recorded 16 goals and eight assists in her final season of high school soccer and will also appear as a midfielder and forward in her inaugural season with Taylor.
The newcomers will add depth and versatility to the roster with nine freshmen and a sophomore transfer in Natalie Cullen. The southpaw from Point Loma Nazarene University should prove to be effective as an outside midfielder.
The Lady Trojans waste no time early in the season preparing for the toughest competition. Opening the year at the Cedarville University tournament, Taylor will face perennial power Houghton College (N.Y.). The Trojans will open at home on September 11 when they co-host a tournament with Indiana Wesleyan featuring Asbury and Hannibal LaGrange.