A welcome change
Roster additions contribute to winning streak
By Adam Williams
Skiff Staff

Last year, the TCU women’s soccer team finished its 2002 Conference USA campaign with only one win, landing the Frogs in 13th place out of 14 teams.

This year, with a roster containing 13 new faces, nine returnees and a full-time coaching staff, the soccer team enters this weekend’s play having already notched four C-USA victories in five games.

Senior defender Rebecca Repasky said much of the team’s success is due to the new core of players on this year’s club.

“Last year’s team was already jaded by the previous losing seasons,” Repasky said. “With all the new players on the team, there is a positive attitude within our group, one that we have never really had in year’s past.”

This year marks the first season the TCU staff has been able to focus on one team. Varsity men’s soccer was downgraded to club status last season.

Head coach David Rubinson, who had been coaching both the women and men’s teams, said being able to pay more attention to one team has been another reason for the team’s turn-around year.

“We (the staff) have much more time to work and improve only one team as where last year we had two teams to work with,” Rubinson said.

Rubinson said the two-team system often left coaches stretched for time, and they were often unavailable to attend trips and games for both squads.

“The focus on only the women’s side has allowed us ample time to review team video, upcoming opponents and future recruits,” Rubinson said.

The Frogs have home conference games this weekend against Southern Miss and Tulane. Two more wins this weekend could put the TCU women in an unfamiliar position: first in C-USA.

Not only would the Frogs be in first place in the conference, but they would also be almost guaranteed a spot in the C-USA Championship tournament Nov. 6 to 8.

“No team has ever been denied a tournament spot with six conference wins,” assistant head coach Blake Amos said.

First up for the Horned Frogs are the Golden Eagles of Southern Miss, who will come to town Friday. The Frogs are 2-0 in conference play and 3-1-1 overall this season. The Golden Eagles have a 1-4-1 conference record and a 8-4-2 overall record.

Although Southern Miss is near the bottom of the conference, Amos said the team should not be underestimated.

“They are coming off a big win at South Florida and could be right back in the hunt with a win here,” Amos said. “They are a streaky team, and we need to come to play Friday.”