The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Women's Soccer Season Preview: Forwards
8/16/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 16, 2010
This is the first segment of a three-part series previewing the 2010 UAB women's soccer team. Monday's segment features the forwards. Tuesday, UABsports.com will highlight the midfielders.
UAB returns six forwards from last season, including three of the top four scorers. Juniors Laura McCalla, Carolyn Polcari and Tiffini Turpin combined for 12 of the team's 23 goals in 2009, with Turpin's five tallies pacing the team. The trio brings a wealth of experience to the Blazer attack this year, as all three have played a significant amount of time since they were freshmen.
"Laura, Carolyn and Tiffini are going into their third season playing together," head coach Paul Harbin said. "They've gotten to know each other and understand what each other is doing on the field. I see all three of them being dangerous and difficult to stop because opponents can't just focus on one of them."
Turpin proved to be a clutch player last season, leading the team with four game-winning goals. In addition to leading the team in scoring, Turpin also earned All-Conference USA Second Team honors. It marked the second year in a row the Birmingham, Ala., native received all-league accolades, as she was the C-USA Co-Freshman of the Year and a first-team honoree in 2008.
McCalla is one of the most experienced players on the field this season, having started all but two matches during her two years in the Green and Gold. The Fayetteville, Ga., native tied Polcari for the team lead with four assists last year and also tallied four goals, which tied for second most on the team. Three of McCalla's four goals were game-winners.
Polcari was named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team in 2008 and continued to be one of the Blazers most potent offensive threats during her sophomore campaign. The Richardson, Texas, native scored three goals and registered four assists in 2009.
In addition to the core trio of McCalla, Polcari and Turpin, the Blazers will rely on the experience of senior Morgan Haney and junior Allison Young to come off the bench. Haney made nine starts last season and has played in 49 matches during her three-year career, while Young appeared in 18 matches last season and tallied her first career goal, the game-winner against Hawaii.
"We've got some experienced players and athleticism coming off the bench," Harbin said. "It gives us depth because we've got people that can come on and change our look, which will create problems for our opponents."
Redshirt freshman Stephanie Henderson also will see more playing time this year after appearing in just one match last year before redshirting the rest of the 2009 season.
"Henderson is an extremely dynamic player," Harbin said. "She can play in the midfield but also can end up being dangerous forward."
Aside from the veterans, several newcomers could see action up front for the Blazers this year. Cara Eby, Abby Hackett, Kirsten Ebert and Erin Pincombe.
"Cara is one of those players that as she gets used to the speed of play and consistency at this level, she can be very dangerous," Harbin said. "Although Abby is listed as an outside back, she has picked up the understanding of what to do up front. She is extremely fast, faster than we even realized. Kirsten and Erin also are solid players with a strong physical presence and can play forward at times or outside back."
