Sports

Seesaw ride continues for Clanswomen

By “Monster Mash” Lee, Associate Staff Contributor

Up and down go the SFU women’s team. After starting their 2008 campaign with six straight wins, the Clan proceeded to drop their next two games. Then, they won a pair before losing another two games.

The women have scratched and clawed their way to a 9-4 record after winning 2-0 over College of Idaho, who had their nine game win streak snapped in the process.

And with two games remaining in their regular season schedule, coach Shelley Howieson is hoping her team is heading in the right direction going into San Antonio, where they’ll compete with four other schools for a berth in the national championships.

“We’ve responded well to the challenges that have been put towards the team,” said coach Shelley Howieson. “We’ve done some things well this season to re-establish ourselves in the Pacific Northwest and in our new conference.”

Carrying the team offense to their 9-4 record has been college transfer Sarah Boulton, who, heading into their game against Western Washington, was leading her squad in scoring with eight markers. Defender Ari Adams has a goal and six assists to her name, while 1st-year defender Chanelle Bradshaw has three goals of her own.

“We’re in playoff mode now and we need to ramp it up,” acknowledged Howieson, whose team is in the middle of a three game series in a span of less than a week. “The people who are injured are now on the field, but some of them are not performing to what their ability level is due to their lingering injuries.”

Fourth-year players Marissa Antoniazzi and Jacqueline Gant are both playing in their final seasons for the Clan and it’s clear they would love nothing more than to head back to the national championships.

“I feel both of them have emotionally been pretty good at keeping a steady head,” answered Howieson. “I’m relying on them at this point to be two leaders . . . and I think those two are up to the task.”

Ultimately, it will be a tough task for Howieson and her ladies to gain a berth in the annual nationwide tournament — but it’s a challenge the team’s ready for.