Women's Soccer 8/26/2014 3:31:00 PM

Stars look to return to form

OCU aims for fifth trip to NAIA Championships in six years

Ashley Bechtold has reeled in 102 saves and two all-conference honors at OCU.

Oklahoma City University will be hungry to get back to the NAIA Championships in the 2014 season.
Oklahoma City will look to return to the NAIA Championships. OCU missed the national tournament after a streak of four years of winning in the NAIA Championship Opening Round and making the NAIA Championships.
Oklahoma City University enters the 2014 women's soccer season picked to finish second in the Sooner Athletic Conference by one point in the coaches poll. In 2013, the Stars completed a 15-4-1 season and captured their fourth consecutive SAC women's soccer regular-season title, but fell just short of the SAC tournament championship.
The new season kicks off against Houston-Victoria at 1 p.m. Aug. 29 in San Antonio.
"This year I think we have enough experience and enough young players coming in," OCU coach Brian Harvey said. "I expect some good things from us again this year."
Harvey earned his 325th career women's college soccer coaching victory and pushed his combined college coaching record over the 700-win plateau during the 2013 season. Harvey notched win No. 325 in the Stars' 4-0 SAC Tournament quarterfinal win over Mid-America Christian on Nov. 9 at Stars Field. Harvey ended the season with a 326-87-21 ledger in his 19 years coaching women. Harvey has the most wins of any current NAIA women's soccer coach.
The Stars are returning first-team all-conference defender Allie Glazner and second-team all-conference striker Allison Worsham.
Glazner, a three-year starter entering her senior year, has started all but one game in her career. Glazner, from Edmond, Okla., scored three goals and dished out eight assists as a junior. She has 13 goals, three game winners, and 20 assists playing for the Stars.
"I believe Glazner is one of the better players in the SAC," Harvey said. "I feel she will have another good year."
Worsham, a two-year starter entering her junior year, has started every game in her career. Worsham, also from Edmond, netted 14 goals and five assists last season. She has 32 goals, six game winners and 11 assists in two years for the Stars. Worsham was second in goal scoring in the 2012 season, only behind teammate Meghan McMahon, and fifth in the 2013 season.
"I believe Worsham has the potential to be a leading goal scorer," Harvey said. "She is in tremendous form and has been playing all summer. I expect her to lead the line."
A position-by-postion look for OCU:

Goalkeeper

Ashley Bechtold, a senior from Oklahoma City, has spent three years sharing time in goal for the Stars. Bechtold has had important moments as OCU's goalkeeper, earning two all-conference nods in her career. She played in 15 games, earned a 4-0-1 record and had 25 saves last year.
"Bechtold is very experienced and was all-SAC last year," Harvey said.

Defense

Joining Glazner is a seasoned defensive backfield. In the back are senior Ashleigh Story and sophomores Kailea Atkins and Syrina Lopez. Atkins, Story and Lopez started all 20 games for the Stars in 2013. Atkins tallied three assists, while Story handed out one assist last season.
"Our defense is pretty experienced," Harvey said.
Joining the defenders will be Kayla McKenna, a freshman from Las Vegas.

Midfield

Vanessa Mendoza, a sophomore from Garland, Texas, highlights the returners in the Stars midfield. Mendoza drew the starting assignment all 20 matches and scored four goals last season.
Keren Sharabi returns for her senior season and looks to take a leadership role. Sharabi, of Petach-Tikva, Israel, was only able to start two games, played in 15 and found the back of the net one time. Another returner is Victoria Little, a sophomore from Lawton, Okla.
"Sharabi was troubled with injuries last year," Harvey said. "I expect some leadership roll from her this year."
Christy Tran, a transfer from Johnson County (Kan.), looks to jump in right away and contribute to the team as a junior. Other newcomers expected to pitch in this season are Britani Soesbee, a junior from Edmond, Okla., who joins OCU from USAO; and Carissa Turang, a senior transfer from Cal State-Fullerton.

Forward

Joining Worsham for the attack will be transfer Keeley Brewer and freshman Felica Ellison, who are both expected to contribute.

The Stars are returning four seniors, one junior and have six newcomers this year.
"It's always something of the unknown," Harvey said about the players meshing together. "It will take a little bit for the new players to get used to the speed of the game. Things are a little faster at the college level. Once the girls get used to the pace, they will do just fine."

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Players Mentioned

#22 Meghan McMahon: F; 5' 8"; Senior

#8 Kailea Atkins: D; 5' 2"; Sophomore

#1 Ashley Bechtold: GK; 5' 8"; Senior

#12 Victoria Little: MF; 5' 6"; Sophomore

#4 Syrina Lopez: D; 5' 4"; Sophomore

#5 Vanessa Mendoza: F; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#7 Keren Sharabi: MF; 5' 7"; Senior

#14 Ashleigh Story: D; 5' 4"; Senior

#2 Allison Worsham: F; 5' 6"; Junior

#6 Felica Ellison: F; 6' 0"; Freshman

#10 Christy Tran: MF; 5' 2"; Junior

#11 Keeley Brewer: MF; 5' 7"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#22 Meghan McMahon
: 5' 8"; Senior
: F

#8 Kailea Atkins
: 5' 2"; Sophomore
: D

#1 Ashley Bechtold
: 5' 8"; Senior
: GK

#12 Victoria Little
: 5' 6"; Sophomore
: MF

#4 Syrina Lopez
: 5' 4"; Sophomore
: D

#5 Vanessa Mendoza
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: F

#7 Keren Sharabi
: 5' 7"; Senior
: MF

#14 Ashleigh Story
: 5' 4"; Senior
: D

#2 Allison Worsham
: 5' 6"; Junior
: F

#6 Felica Ellison
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: F

#10 Christy Tran
: 5' 2"; Junior
: MF

#11 Keeley Brewer
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: MF