Lake Forest College Sports Information
Contact: Mike Wajerski , SID

2003 Preview: Looking to Bounce Back Even Stronger
  

Stephanie Fink's leadership will help guide the Foresters as conference contenders once again.
LAKE FOREST, IL - With a 7-9-0 record, the 2002 season was less successful than what Lake Forest women's soccer fans had become accustomed to. However, the last time head coach T.R. Bell and the Foresters finished with a losing record (1999), they rebounded with a 24-7-2 mark and a Midwest Conference Championship in the next two years.

"We underwent a bit of a rebuilding process last season," explains Bell. "Those players returning this year have both the talent and now the experience to make us a much better team. With a few key newcomers, we'll be right there playing for another conference title very soon."

Highlighting the list of returners are forwards Melissa Stevenson and Tanya Lopez. In 2002, Stevenson became the fifth freshman in Coach Bell's six years to earn all-conference honors with her first team selection. Stevenson's nine goals and 21 points were actually second on the team to classmate Tanya Lopez, who had 13 scores and 27 points. Lopez burst on the scene early last season with seven goals in a two-game span.

In the midfield, Carinn Rasak led the 2002 squad with seven assists as a sophomore. Joining Rasak is Stephanie Fink, who has 46 points in 43 games during her three-year career.

One position Bell does need to address is goaltender, where Rachael LaFin provided the Foresters with their last line of defense for four years, setting several school records along the way. "Rachael made my job pretty easy," comments goalie coach Diane Kanney. "While I'm sad to see her go, I'm also looking forward to working with new goalies and getting them ready to play at the same level."

The level Lake Forest hopes to reach in the near future is the NCAA Tournament. "We have always been one of the top teams in the conference," touts Bell, who has never had a losing record in MWC play. "We were conference champs in 2001 but did not qualify for the NCAA Tourney. My goal is not just to win another league title, but also to take the team to the national tournament and see what happens from there."