During last year's regular season, the Pennsylvania College of Technology women's soccer team breezed past Luzerne County Community College twice, scoring shutouts each time. So, when it met Luzerne in the Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference playoff semifinals one would have expected the same result. But the tables were turned, and Penn College went out of the playoffs, a 2-0 loser.
"We looked past that game, which is pretty easy to do when you beat up on them. We were looking past them to Saturday and playing in the championship and that's a fatal mistake. You learn from it and it won't happen again," said Dan Hibbs, who is entering his fourth season as coach. "If we go into the playoffs, we're not looking past anybody. I learned from it and I'm sure the girls did."
With six returning starters from last year's squad that went 7-6 overall and was 7-1 during the EPCC regular season, Hibbs is optimistic going into his team's Sept. 10 opener at College Misercordia.
"I have girls that are experienced. Before, I was using some players that had never played, whereas every girl I have now has played. "They may not be as aggressive as some of the players I've had, but they can all play. I'd like our team speed to be a little better, but we can make adjustments for that," Hibbs said.
Returning are sophomores Sara Tietbohl (midfielder/West York), Erin Shannon (defense/Oley Valley), Sarah Shaffer (midfielder-forward/West Perry), Nicole Crouse (forward-midfielder/York), Rebecca Breary (midfielder/Horsham) and Jen Friese (midfielder-forward/Chambersburg). Tietbohl earned all-EPCC honors a year ago. Among the freshmen is a player who should be a real asset for the team goalie Kim Carbaugh of Jonestown.
"She's the real deal. She just knows where to be. I don't have to coach her. She knows what to do. She's definitely an asset for us. When you get in a tight game, you can't let up a soft goal, which we used to do. When you've got an experienced goalie that will all go away," Hibbs said of Carbaugh.
Other freshmen who may start are Marilyn Caldwell (midfielder-forward/Winston-Salem, N.C.), Cristin Werkheiser (defender/Sayre), Stephanie Forsythe (defender/Harleysville) and Danielle Hoffman (defender/State College). Also on the roster are Lacy Wurster (Jersey Shore), Sarah Ryder (Bloomsburg), Stephanie Ulmer (Hatfield), Lauren Covatta (Douglasville) and Jenny Mull(Huntingdon). Mull and Friese also are running on the college's women's cross country team.
"We looked past that game, which is pretty easy to do when you beat up on them. We were looking past them to Saturday and playing in the championship and that's a fatal mistake. You learn from it and it won't happen again," said Dan Hibbs, who is entering his fourth season as coach. "If we go into the playoffs, we're not looking past anybody. I learned from it and I'm sure the girls did."
With six returning starters from last year's squad that went 7-6 overall and was 7-1 during the EPCC regular season, Hibbs is optimistic going into his team's Sept. 10 opener at College Misercordia.
"I have girls that are experienced. Before, I was using some players that had never played, whereas every girl I have now has played. "They may not be as aggressive as some of the players I've had, but they can all play. I'd like our team speed to be a little better, but we can make adjustments for that," Hibbs said.
Returning are sophomores Sara Tietbohl (midfielder/West York), Erin Shannon (defense/Oley Valley), Sarah Shaffer (midfielder-forward/West Perry), Nicole Crouse (forward-midfielder/York), Rebecca Breary (midfielder/Horsham) and Jen Friese (midfielder-forward/Chambersburg). Tietbohl earned all-EPCC honors a year ago. Among the freshmen is a player who should be a real asset for the team goalie Kim Carbaugh of Jonestown.
"She's the real deal. She just knows where to be. I don't have to coach her. She knows what to do. She's definitely an asset for us. When you get in a tight game, you can't let up a soft goal, which we used to do. When you've got an experienced goalie that will all go away," Hibbs said of Carbaugh.
Other freshmen who may start are Marilyn Caldwell (midfielder-forward/Winston-Salem, N.C.), Cristin Werkheiser (defender/Sayre), Stephanie Forsythe (defender/Harleysville) and Danielle Hoffman (defender/State College). Also on the roster are Lacy Wurster (Jersey Shore), Sarah Ryder (Bloomsburg), Stephanie Ulmer (Hatfield), Lauren Covatta (Douglasville) and Jenny Mull(Huntingdon). Mull and Friese also are running on the college's women's cross country team.