Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University women’s soccer completed its recent pre-season training with 29 student-athletes on the team roster. Wingate head coach Gary Curneen believes the numbers have helped his Bulldogs prepare for the 2010 season.

“We have had an enjoyable pre-season,” Curneen says. “The players returned to camp in great shape…it was obvious they worked hard this summer. Our numbers provided more competition…we had a spark to our practice sessions. Our depth has lifted the quality of our play.”

The Bulldogs went 11-4-3 in 2009, finishing 4-3-1 in the South Atlantic Conference. The league’s coaches picked Wingate to finish third in the 2010 SAC regular season race. The Bulldogs welcome back seven starters and 16 letter winners from the 2009 team. In addition, Wingate returns its top six scorers from 2009.

Wingate junior forward Kelly Adams (Matthews, N.C.) and senior forward Kerstin Williams (Summerville, S.C.) earned pre-season All-SAC honors. Adams led the Bulldogs with nine goals, nine assists and 27 points on the year. She led the SAC with 0.53 assists per game, while ranking fourth in the league in points and seventh in goals. Williams tied for the team lead with nine goals, good for seventh in the conference.

Junior forward Liz Kinney (Moore, S.C.) had eight goals in 2009. Kinney joins with Adams and Kerstin Williams to give Wingate a veteran presence up front. Senior forward Jenni Barbett (Severn, Md.) had three goals during her junior campaign. She will see much time in Wingate’s schemes, while freshmen Brandi Baldwin (Stallings, N.C.), Meaghan Barry (Naples, Fla.) and Chandler Murphy (Pawleys Island, S.C.) will make contributions immediately. Junior forward Hannah Holsclaw (Matthews, N.C.) started six matches in 2009.

“Our offensive style won’t change,” Curneen says. “We are going to play a physical game…pressing the ball with a high work rate. We can run players (in and out of the game) and the quality of play doesn’t suffer. We want to keep the tempo as high as possible.”

In the midfield, senior Julie Zielinski (Erie, Pa.) tallied three goals and three assists in 2009. She will give the Bulldogs much leadership in the midfield. Sophomore transfer Izabella Miranda (Plymouth, Mass.) is a big part of Wingate’s midfield plans. “Izabella played very well in the pre-season,” Curneen says. “She is one to watch…we have high hopes for her (this season).”

Bulldog junior midfielder Casey King (Danvers, Mass.) had a great pre-season, Curneen notes. She will be a stabilizing force for the Wingate midfield efforts. Curneen believes freshman Taryn Grivois (Murrieta, Calif.) is ready to make a difference as well. Junior midfielder Kelsey McCormick (Hockessin, Del.) started 12 matches in 2009.

In the defensive backfield, junior defender Megan Mastalerz (Elkridge, Md.) was named to the pre-season All-SAC first team. In 2009, Mastalerz helped anchor a Wingate defense that finished second in the league, allowing only 0.70 goals per game. The Bulldogs were third in the conference with nine shutouts on the year. Mastalerz notched a goal and an assist in the 2009 season.

Mastalerz is one of the top defenders in the region. On the outside back, she will be joined by seniors Samantha Baldwin (Stallings, N.C.) and Terry Chandler (Charleston, S.C.) and freshman Chelsey Horan (Waxhaw, N.C.). Baldwin and Zielinski were named to the ESPN Academic All-District III women’s soccer team last year, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

The Bulldogs will move Kelly Moldenhauer (Charlotte, N.C.) to center back, where she will be joined by freshmen Carson Williams (Kernersville, N.C.) and Holly Holsclaw (Matthews, N.C.). Junior defender Tori Waldron (Elkridge, Md.) will provide veteran leadership in the defensive third.

Wingate freshman goalkeeper Carly Rives (Matthews, N.C.) is pushing for a starting position, Curneen acknowledges. Rives is one of three David W. Butler High School graduates on the Bulldog roster (the others are Hannah and Holly Holsclaw). Sophomore net minder Miriam Boucher (Calgary, Alberta) started nine matches as a true freshman, posting a stingy 0.85 goals against average (GAA) in her 13 total appearances. Rives and Boucher make Wingate’s last line of defense strong. “I am very happy with our keepers,” Curneen says.

Wingate’s pre-season SAC ranking matches the highest listing in the team’s history. Curneen knows teams will be gunning for the Bulldogs. “There are no easy matches (on our schedule),” Curneen says. “The South Atlantic Conference is always tough. We need to take care of our business at home…and steal a few matches on the road.”

The Bulldogs open the 2010 campaign with back-to-back home matches. Wingate hosts Lander University Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. Queens University of Charlotte visits for a 4 p.m. contest Wednesday, Sept. 8. Both Lander and Queens look to contend for a spot in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional play-offs. The Bulldogs will play their first SAC match on the road, visiting Mars Hill College on Sept. 18 (4 p.m.).

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a private four-year co-educational institution of 2,373 students offering active learning opportunities through personalized instruction, world travel, career discovery and community service.

Wingate offers 32 undergraduate majors in arts and sciences, business, communication, education, fine arts, music and sport sciences. It also offers graduate degrees in business, education, physician assistant studies and sport administration. In addition, the school awards the doctor of pharmacy and the doctor of education degrees.

Bulldog student-athletes compete in 19 NCAA Division II sports. Wingate University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past four years.

Wingate University is ranked number three among NCAA Division II Academic All-America® producing schools in the 2000’s with 36 honorees during this millennium. Only Pittsburg State (Kan.) University and Truman State (Mo.) University have produced more Academic All-America® honorees during this time period. Wingate’s 45 Academic All-America® honorees (lifetime) is tops among all SAC schools.