WOMEN'S SOCCER: Gibson Sees Versatile, Speedy Group Of Bulldogs

BIG RAPIDS - Ferris State University soccer coach Neathan Gibson likes a lot of what he has seen during the early days of preseason practice.

Time will tell where destiny will lead his squad, but he continues to add the building blocks he believes are essential to strengthening his program for years to come. It's a process, but with each recruiting class Gibson is confident the program is moving closer to strengthening its position as one of the top teams in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

"I think we have a good group of ladies this year and I think we have a group that is going to continue to get better and better as the season moves along," he said. "The core group has a lot of potential and what we've been doing during our preseason training is working hard to help them be able to reach that potential."

The stability on the program will rest on the shoulders of the juniors and seniors in the program. The juniors are: defender/midfielder Kristen March, midfielder Megan Stec, midfielder Christy Palmer, forward Carlee Boyle and midfielder Kara Lovelace. The senior class consists of goalkeeper Kari Alsager, defender Stevie Salow, midfielder Katie Sterling, forward Megan McCabe and defender Ashley Erickson.

In 2008, the Bulldogs finished 9-9-1 overall and 7-6-1 in the GLIAC.

This group needs to be ready because it will be tested early and often with strong regional and national competition - inside and outside of GLIAC play.

Ferris opens its season Aug. 28 in Mankato, Minn. against Minnesota State-Mankato. Two days later, Aug.30, the Bulldogs are at Winona State.