Season Wrap-up for Women's Soccer

The 2011 season came to a disappointing end for the ladies last week. The Bulls entered the season with hopes of reaching the Big East tournament and continuing to the NCAA tournament. But a record of 6-8-4 (2-6-3) halted those plans for the team, a team led by a strong senior corps.

The Bulls had a frustrating season, playing in 7 straight over time games. They could not get the big goals they needed and fell so many times in close games.

All of the players contributed this season and are commended for their effort. But there are a few players that stand out to us and should be acknowledged for their big seasons.

MVP - Demi Stokes

Stokes was one of the most consistent players for the Bulls. Despite dealing with an ankle injury early, she led the team with 4 goals and 4 assists on the season. She took 56 shots as well, showing her aggressive style, firing away at the opponent. Whether she was setting up shots for teammates or taking them herself, Stokes was one of the best players on the field.

Best defensive player - Nicole McClure

While it's easy to hand the title over to the goalie because they get the stats, McClure earned it this season (defensive line with Stack and company did a great job as well). McClure allowed 19 goals all season, 1.22 goals per game. She also stopped 69 shots as well, showing her ability to lockdown the net when opponents were able to break through.

Most underrated player - Taylor Patterson

While most of the attention this season was on Chelsea Klotz and Demi Stokes, Patterson had a huge season for the Bulls. She had 3 goals and an assist on the season, helping the Bulls stay alive in the Big East conference. She is a very consistent player that will only get better next season.

Quick outlook on the 2012 season

The 2012 season is a year away, but looking ahead, it will be a transition year. While we hate to say that, the team will be losing key players from this year's team. Nicole McClure, Molly Stack, Chelsea Klotz, Gina Pacheco, and others will be hanging up either cleats for the last time. But USF will return a lot of key players as well. Taylor Patterson, Demi Stokes, and Kayla Bala (everyone's favorite) will be back. The Bulls will also add plenty of talent along the way to help usher in a new era of USF soccer. The foundation has been set by the senior class and with new talent coming in and the returning players, the Bulls will remain competitive in the Big East (or whatever conference they play in next season).