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Outlook 2002"This will be a year that we will be looking to come off of the transition of me becoming the new head coach last season," said Head Coach Todd Bramble. "In my first year it was a struggle at times because of the philosophies I was instituting. It created a steep learning curve for the players and I feel this caused us to be inconsistent at times.
"Having said that, I think it is an overall testament to the quality of our program that we feel like we did not play up to our potential yet still had a great year by all accounts. We had a season that was disappointing at times, but we still made it to the NCAA Final 16 and finished ranked 11th in the country.
"Coming off a season in which we think we could have done better, and having an excellent recruiting class coming to campus, we are very optimistic this preseason."
The Lady Tigers are coming off a 15-5-1 season overall, and a 4-3 mark in the ACC. The Lady Tigers were ranked 11th in the NSCAA and 15th in the final Soccer America poll.
Clemson has its top four scorers returning from a year ago with Lindsay Browne, Deliah Arrington, Paige Ledford and Heather Beem comprising Clemson's potent attack.
"The returning field players alone should make for a great team. Add to that a talented and deep recruiting class will make for a solid group." Clemson had the 10th best recruiting class in the nation according to Soccer America.
"We had two freshmen in the back that started last year. We made tremendous strides this past spring organizationally in the back and I expect that to carry over into this fall. The team we will put on the field will be very good and deep. The question mark will be the goalkeeping position with the loss of All-American Katie Carson. We are looking for one of three players to step in and rise to the occasion this fall.
"I love the attitude our team has adopted since last season ended in the NCAA round of 16. The players are hungry and focused. We made great strides this spring in further establishing and developing leadership within the team. Our goals will remain unchanged. We want to win the ACC Championship and be in Austin, Texas to compete for a national championship."
GOALKEEPER
Clemson lost All-American Katie Carson due to graduation. She set the Clemson career records for best GAA and saves. She also was a four-year starter. However, the Lady Tigers have one player returning in Leigh Ann Harrison (Junior). Harrison played in three matches last season and did not allow any goals. Lauren Heos (Freshman) is also a red shirt player that is returning. Sarah McClurg is the freshman signee.
"We have three players vying for the goalkeeper position. Right now it is wide open and up for grabs. Whoever comes out of preseason in the best form and instills confidence in the coaching staff and other players will be in goal for us next fall. This situation in many ways is exciting. It is a tremendous motivational factor for these goalkeepers. In the last three or four years, it was pretty much known who the starter would be. This year, everyone has a chance to be the starter. It will be interesting to watch it unfold as each keeper has different strengths. Heos made a lot of progress this past spring and is running neck and neck with Leigh Anne Harrison. Sarah McClurg a freshman from Ohio has tremendous size and athleticism. She is coming into preseason to compete for the starting role as well."
BACK
Clemson has three starters returning in the back with the return of Jenny Anderson (Sophomore), Sarah Turner (Sophomore) and Tanya Peterson (Junior). Anderson started 18 matches, while Turner started 19 matches as freshmen. Tanya Peterson started 13 contests.
"I am real excited about our defenders. Anderson and Turner won the starting roles last year as freshmen. On the right side Tanya Peterson will be competing for the starting role. Kristen Allen, a sophomore transfer from the University of Georgia, could figure into the mix right away and the versatility of Paige Ledford may mean she will see some time in the back as well.
On the left side, Kate Clifton will compete for the job along with freshman Lindsey Wegrzyn. Turner and Anderson exceeded our expectations last year. They proved they could play in the ACC as freshmen and they showed improvement in the spring and further developed their leadership abilities. We may play three or four in the back and we have six or seven players competing for the starting roles This competition will be healthy and inspire everyone to improve."
MIDFIELD
The personnel and shape of our midfield will be determined in the preseason. Clemson has four players returning who saw playing time last season in Allison Mitchell (Junior), Paige Ledford (Sophomore), Rachel Gallegos (Senior) and Jami Walker (Junior). Mitchell had one goal and three assists last season while starting every game. Gallegos saw action in 14 games last season, while Walker played in 19 contests.
"We will have a lot of options and different combinations that could emerge in the midfield. This year the people that will play in the midfield will depend on how we want to play or setup in the midfield.
"The most consistent and dependable midfielder returning is Allison Mitchell. She is the unsung hero. She is always in the right spot at the right time and is very athletic. Allison is very aggressive and she does so much that does not appear on the box score like making great tackles, winning loose balls and linking our defense to our offense in possession. When you take her out of the line up, we are a different team and are forced to play a different system. Allison is definitely an anchor for us in the midfield."
Allison Graham is the freshman who is expected to make the biggest impact this fall. "She comes to us rated as one of the top recruits in the nation and certainly is the most gifted playmaker of her peer group." Lydia Vanderbergh is a dynamic left-footed attacking player who should also see action during her freshman campaign.
"We have six players competing for three or four spots in the midfield. This is another example of healthy competition within our team serving as constant motivation to improve."
FORWARDS
Heather Beem (Senior), Deliah Arrington (Senior), and Lindsay Browne (Junior) comprise one of the top forward combinations in the nation. What's more impressive is that Paige Ledford also sees time as a forward as well. "As good as I feel about our team in the back and the midfield, the forward position is where we are most dangerous."
Browne was Clemson's leading scorer with nine goals and eight assists for 26 points in 2001. Arrington scored 11 goals and had three assists for 25 points. Ledford finished the season with 10 goals and five assists for 25 points, while Beem had four goals and seven assists for 15 points.
"I will put our forwards up against any group of forwards in the country. They have so much speed and quickness to go with their lethal finishing mentality. Even more exciting is that if one of our three starters gets tired, we will be able to choose from two or three more players off the bench with very little drop-off in skill or athleticism."
"Anna Beth Fuller a sophomore transfer from the University of Georgia will be a tremendous addition to this group as well. The focus of our opponent's preparation will have to be how to contain these players. Freshman Lydia Vanderbergh may also see time at forward as well. I feel as though we should put up great numbers this year offensively."
