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 Senior Arlan Whittle and the rest of the Catamount soccer team open play today at ECU. |
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Aug. 22, 2008
PRESEASON CATAMOUNT TRACKS PODCAST INTERVIEW WITH HEAD COACH TAMMY DECESARE
Cullowhee, NC- Western Carolina women's soccer, who was recently picked sixth in the Southern Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, will open the 2008 campaign with a pair of road matches to kick-off the season. The Catamounts travel to East Carolina Friday for a 5 p.m. contest and then to North Carolina State Sunday for a 1 p.m. match with the Wolfpack.
The Catamounts are led by fourth year Head Coach Tammy DeCesare who owns a 37-22-6 (16-11-5 SoCon) career record at WCU. After a hard fought loss in their opening exhibition match 1-0 against Cincinnati, DeCesare admitted she was pleased to see the performance of her freshman players during the exhibition match.
"That caused the upperclassmen to get a little more competitive and concerned about playing time which is great for the team," Decesare said.
The Catamounts have focused on unity and team chemistry building around their two senior leaders, forward Buki Baruwa and defender Arlan Whittle. The Catamounts will look to use their team chemistry this weekend in their first two matches on the road against non-conference opponents. Last season Western Carolina was 3-4 in non-conference road matches.
This will also be the final match between the in-state rivals East Carolina and the Catamounts where the Pirates currently hold a 4-1 all-time record.
"Both clubs are very similar," Decesare said. "We are both very physical teams and very competitive."
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The only other meeting between the Catamounts and N.C. State was back on August 25, 2006 during Head Coach Tammy DeCesare second season when the Catamounts lost 2-0.
"We fell short cause of experience, but now we start 8-9 upperclassmen hoping that tides will turn," Deceseare said. "I think they are up to the challenge and ready for this weekend."
The women's soccer team will also rely on their 13 freshman who seem coming right into the program and contributing very nicely with team chemistry.
"The new freshman got integrated quickly with the team with bonding events like camping and a hike as a team" Decesare said. "Hopefully it will all come together for the squad starting this weekend against ECU and N.C. State."
