Western Oregon Journal

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The Western soccer team was young last year with just one senior.

This year, the Wolves didn't get much older, with only two seniors on this year's version of the squad: goalkeeper Amanda Nelson and forward/midfielder Megan Moore. The team features nine freshmen and six sophomores (one of whom is redshirting) to go along with four juniors. Sophomore defender Erica Hibbard leads the Wolves after receiving Second-Team All-GNAC honors a year ago.

The squad's relative inexperience has led to a lack of goals thus far this season. The Wolves have scored just seven goals in nine games.

What the Wolves lack in experience, they make up for in talent. Freshman forward Aly Reamer was a Third-Team all-stater at Franklin High School in Portland, while Katie Branam and Chelsi King graduated from perennial powerhouse programs at Lakeridge and St. Mary's Academy high schools, respectively.

In their most recent matches, the Wolves lost 6-0 to No. 2 nationally ranked Seattle Pacific and 1-0 to Western Washington, both on the road, but beat Southern Oregon 4-2 Sept. 27. The defeats brought the Wolves record to 3-6 overall and 0-2 in the GNAC.

Western lost 7-0 and 5-0 blowouts on the road to UC San Diego and Cal State Dominguez Hills on Sept. 1 and 3, but the rest of the Wolves' matches have been competitive. Western opened the season on Aug. 25 with a 1-0 victory over Cal State Monterrey Bay. The lone goal came courtesy of freshman defender Kristen Werhane, who scored from nearly midfield in the 54th minute. Werhane is a Second Team all-league selection out of Southridge High School in Beaverton and the tough Metro League.

Western beat Linfield by a 2-1 margin on Sept. 9 on goals from Erica Hibbard and Becky Myrold. The Wolves also lost a close 1-0 decision to NCAA Division I foe Portland State on Sept. 13, with the goal coming on a penalty kick.

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