PLATTSBURGH — This isn’t the first time coach Donna Dixon has had to overcome a lack of depth on her Clinton Community College women’s soccer team.
The 14-player Clinton squad opens its season with a 4 p.m. game today at Onondaga C.C.
“It’s been the same in other years, and it gets frustrating,” Dixon said. “Hopefully, we will be adding a couple more players.
“Do I wish we had more depth? Absolutely. But it is what it is, and we have the make the most of it. Everyone is working hard, and we have great kids who get along well with one another. You can’t predict staying healthy, however.”
The Cougars, coming off a 9-7-1 season a year ago, will need to control the pace of the game and take advantage of their chances.
“We will need to play a possession-type game,” Dixon said. “We will have to control the tempo and score off that. We want to make teams chase us and not just kick the ball down the field and run after it.
“We have the speed to play a fast-paced game but would tire out because we don’t have a lot of depth. It’s going to be more of a deliberate game for us.”
Even though numbers could be an issue, Dixon likes the talent on the team.
“We have four players returning and some good talent coming in,” she said. “I’m very pleased with the talent. We have team speed, and I think we’re going to be strong defensively. We need to take advantage of our scoring opportunities.”
It starts out in net with second-year keeper Emily Schultz.
“We feel she’s one of the best in the region,” Dixon said. “Emily’s sound technically and is aggressive. She is a key for us.”
Katrina Garrand will be counted on at center midfield.
“She sees the field better than anyone we have,” said Dixon. “Ashley Davidson will bring speed up front for us and great experience, along with Dakota Flynn.”
Those four players will be joined by some talented newcomers to the program.
“Charisse Abellard is a transfer from Plattsburgh State, and she will be our sweeper and control a lot of the back,” Dixon said. “Kiley Wilkins will be at stopper, and she has lot of skill and knows the game. She will start our attack.
“Raquel Fowler is another transfer from Plattsburgh State, who will set things up and score some goals for us. We are very talented in the middle and have some good speed on the outside.”
Kaila McGowan and Kenna Agoney will provide some of that speed as outside midfielders. Tiarra Spencer will bring a lot of speed and a good left foot up front. Lyndale Nephew and Emily Cutting will help out defensively, while Brianna Mashtare has already shown a lot of improvement.
The Cougars, like the Clinton men’s team, will play six games at Plattsburgh State and all others on the road.
“It’s going to be a challenge on the road, but we have to find a way to win those games,” Dixon said. “We need to adjust being on the road, get used to it and get into a rhythm. It’s a mindset.
“And we have to take care of our home field.”
ROSTER
Clinton C.C. women's soccer roster: 2- Kenna Agoney, freshman midfielder, Peru 3- Ashley Davidson, sophomore midfielder/forward, Edwards-Knox 4- Kaila McGowan, freshman midfielder, Pine Bush 5- Katrina Garrand, sophomore midfielder, Champlain 6- Dakota Flynn, sophomore forward, Lake Placid 7- Raquel Fowler, sophomore forward, Chateaugay 9- Kiley Wilkins, freshman defender, Plattsburgh 10- Tiarra Spencer, sophomore forward, Tupper Lake 11- Emily Cutting, freshman forward, Moriah 13- Charisse Abellard, sophomore defender, Plattsburgh 16- Olivia Seymour, freshman defender, Chazy 17- Emily Schultz, freshman keeper, Plattsburgh 19- Brianna Mashtare, freshman forward, Champlain 26- Lyndale Nephew, freshman forward, Plattsburgh -- 2012 schedule Aug. 26- at Onondaga C.C., 4 p.m. Sept. 1- at Cayuga C.C., 2 p.m. Sept. 2- at Herkimer C.C., 1 p.m. Sept. 4- at Hudson Valley C.C., 4 p.m. Sept. 8- Jamestown C.C., at Herkimer C.C., 4 p.m. Sept. 13- FULTON-MONTGOMERY C.C., Plattsburgh State, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 15- at Jamestown C.C., 2 p.m. Sept. 16- at Corning C.C., 11 a.m. Sept. 20- NORTH COUNTRY C.C., at Plattsburgh State, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 22- at Finger Lakes C.C., 2 p.m. Sept. 23- at SUNY Delhi, 1 p.m. Sept. 27- PAUL SMITH'S COLLEGE, at Plattsburgh State, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 29- MOHAWK VALLEY C.C., at Plattsburgh State, 4:30 p.m. Oct. 4- HUDSON VALLEY C.C., at Plattsburgh State, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 11- at Fulton-Montgomery C.C., 4 p.m. Oct. 13- JEFFERSON C.C., at Plattsburgh State, 4:30 p.m. Oct. 17- at North Country C.C., 4 p.m.
