Around Campus

Texas Soccer: Looking for a Three-Peat

The Texas Soccer program posted another banner season in 2007, claiming its second straight Big 12 Postseason crown and advancing to the third round of the NCAA Championship. UT made its seventh straight NCAA tourney appearance and advanced to the Round of 16 for the third time in the last four seasons. Head Coach Chris Petrucelli will look to continue UT’s postseason success in 2008 as Texas returns four of its top five scorers on offense, the entire backline and starting goalkeeper Petrucelli has guided the Horns to 11 or more wins in each of the last eight seasons. Last year’s 16-4-5 record marked the second-most wins in his nine-year tenure. Petrucelli’s returning cast will be highlighted by Kasey Moore, a two-time All-American and 2007 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. The 2005 Big 12 Rookie of the Year has grown into one of the Horns’ biggest all-around threats as she finished the ’07 campaign with a team-leading five game-winning goals.

Also returning for the Longhorns are seniors Diana Pfenninger and Stephanie Logterman. Pfenninger, a four-year starter in the net, earned Offensive MVP honors at the 2007 Big 12 Championship. She became the first goalkeeper in league history to garner the offensive award. Logterman, a two-time All-Big 12 First Team selection and U.S. National Team participant will anchor a backline that has helped post a school-record 10 shutouts in back-to-back seasons (’06 and ’07).

Eight newcomers will join the Longhorns this fall, five reigning from the Golden State of California and three from Texas. A trio from the California-based 2007 U.S. Youth Soccer Champion Eagles team will join the roster in Courtney Goodson, Shaine Millheiser and Amanda Lisberger. U.S. National Team participant Kylie Doniak and U.S. Under-16 National Team pool member Leah Payne will join in-state standouts Kendell Frizzell, Lucy Keith and Samantha Toner on the pitch this season.

In addition to the talented incoming group, five other starters will see action again this fall, including seniors Jill Gilbeau and Courtney Gaines, junior Emily Anderson and sophomores Niki Arlitt, Alisha Ortiz and Erica Campanelli. A total of 18 letterwinners will return for the ’08 campaign which includes 11 home matches, four of which are against 2007 NCAA Tournament Participants (California, Oklahoma State, Samford and Texas A&M).

Get your tickets now for another action-packed season of Texas Soccer. Tickets can be purchased by phone at 512-471-3333 or 800-982-BEVO or online at www.TexasBoxOffice.com. Individual match tickets are available for $7 for adult general admission, $4 for senior citizens and youth general admission tickets and $2 for groups of 10 or more. Group tickets must be purchased in advance by calling 512-232-3865 or e-mailing grouptickets@athletics.utexas.edu.

2008 TEXAS SOCCER SCHEDULE