Despite turnover,

Montana soccer coach Neil Sedgwick’s off-season was filled with numbers.
Numbers like three, 10, and eight; the numbers of wins and goals, and the conference finish by Montana last year. 

Numbers like seven and four, as in the number of total players lost and the number of players who unexpectedly left the program following last season’s disappointing campaign.
But the only numbers that matter to Sedgwick as the 2008 season gets underway are 13 and one: the numbers of new players on this year’s roster and the spot in which he hopes Montana sits at the end of conference season.
“We have some good, young players among all our newcomers and some tremendous upperclassmen to provide leadership,” Sedgwick said. “No question, we are striving to be one of the top teams in the league.”
Despite losing just three players to graduation, Sedgwick faced the unenviable task of filling four additional roster spots after starters Malia Hendrix, Rachel Mayer and Kristyn Shapka, along with Britta Bourne, quit the team following last season’s 3-12-2 record.  Mayer and Bourne both earned honorable mention All-Big Sky honors last fall.
Sedgwick, in his fifth season at the helm for the Grizzlies, brought in 12 new freshmen and a junior college transfer to fill the void. He is optimistic that the rookies will step up.
“It’s always a tough, competitive league,” Sedgwick said.  “Even when we have had more mature, experienced teams there have been young teams full of energy——ike we are this season——that teams have problems with.
“A few of our young girls have already played some major minutes and have been forced to get up to speed,” Sedgwick said, after Montana dropped a pair of home decisions over the weekend to Washington State and Minnesota by scores of 1-0 and 2-1, respectively.
Even with a roster loaded with unfamiliar faces, Montana still returns eight starters, including a pair of All-Big Sky seniors. 
Senior forward Sara Campbell earned second team All-Big Sky last season after finishing second on the team with two goals for an offense that was outscored 26-10 last season. Joining Campbell up front is midfielder and forward Meghan Chambers, who led the team with 11 shots on goal last fall.
Campbell said last season’s offensive woes were simply a matter of a lack of execution.
“We just need to put the ball in the back of the net,” Campbell said.  “You can’t win if you don’t score, so we just need to create chances and capitalize on them.”
One player who had little trouble capitalizing last season was forward Kaitlyn Heinsohn. The swift sophomore was the Grizzlies’ leading scorer with three goals in 2007. Sedgwick said he also expected big contributions from true freshman Anna Pingree of Boise, Idaho. 
Last year’s campaign saw a strong defense, and this season should be no different. Montana returns defender Sara Aspinwall, a second team All-Big Sky performer last season along with junior Abby Grafft and Danielle McQuinn. Grafft was an honorable mention All-Big Sky honoree.
“Our backline is the strongest point on the team right now,” Campbell said. “We have complete confidence in our defense.”
Junior goalkeeper Grace Harris, 2006 Big Sky Newcomer of the Year, will again protect the net.  She started every game the past two seasons and was third in the Big Sky with 99 saves. 
The only non-freshman in Sedgwick’s recruiting class is junior goalkeeper Alex Fisher, a transfer from Santa Rosa (Calif.) Junior College. The 2006 Big 8 Conference Player of the Year will push Harris for playing time, Sedgwick said.
“There is always a competition, not just at goalkeeper but at all positions,” he said. “Grace needs to stay sharp and Alex has to continue to push her.”
Campbell and Aspinwall have more in common than just their first names, at least when it comes to expectations from Sedgwick.
“We expect (Campbell and Aspinwall) to set an example on the field and in training, to compete, and really to carry the team as leaders,” Sedgwick said.
With so many new faces, the Grizzlies were picked to finish seventh by Big Sky coaches, but Campbell is much more optimistic about her swan-song season.
“We have high expectations,” Campbell said. “I don’t doubt we will reach them. We want to reach and win the Big Sky Conference tournament.”
If this season will be all about the number one, Montana must first find continuity in the unluckiest of numbers: the 13 new names on the roster.
colter.nuanez@umontana.edu