LMU SOCCER NEWS

 

LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY

OFFICE OF SPORTS INFORMATION

Sports Release                                                                                                                            August 13, 2007

Lady Railsplitters Out For Respect In 2007


The team stretches before their first practice of the 2007 season.

HARROGATE, TN – Monday morning officially marked the beginning of the 2007 soccer season for the Lincoln Memorial University Lady Railsplitters.  The LMU women began the year with stretching and a light workout at the Harrogate City Park adjacent to the University’s campus.

Although the Lady Railsplitters lost several players following last season due to graduation, the Lady Railsplitters also return a number of key players including Preseason First Team All-South Atlantic Conference forward Heloisa de Oliveira (Campinas, Brazil) who was the second leading scorer on the team in 2006 with 12 goals and 13 assists.

Another of the key returnees will be Preseason All-SAC First Team selection Camilla Verissimo (Brasilia, Brazil) on defense.  Verissimo, a third-year starter for the Lady Railsplitters scored three goals and contributed four assists last season from her defensive position, while helping the Lady Railsplitters achieve a 9-6-1 season record.

Earning All-South Atlantic Conference Second Team honors was LMU senior Juliana Povoa (Brasilia, Brazil).  Povoa, a midfielder, ranked third on the squad a year ago with eight goals and five assists.

While scoring may seem to be veteran oriented, defensively is where the Lady Railsplitters will have to prove themselves.  No longer does LMU have the services of three-year starter Stephanie Kwoka in the net.  Kwoka graduated last May leaving LMU Head Coach Helio D’Anna the take of replacing an all-conference and all-region goalkeeper.  Others lost from last year’s line of defense were two-year starting defender Lindsay Parda and part time starters, Missy McFadden, Stefani Taylor and Damaris Young.

According to D’Anna, a strong recruiting class will combine with a solid foundation of veteran players and the mixture should make for a very successful season.  Talent wise, this year’s newcomers could be the best overall class D’Anna has compiled since taking over the program four years ago.  Only time will tell if the Lady Railsplitters can make a third trip in the past four years to the NCAA Regional Tournament.  LMU opens the season at home August 25 against Pfeiffer College.  

-LMU-  

For additional comments please contact,
Head Coach:  Helio D'Anna
Phone:  (423) 869-6245