The familiar combination of battle-tested veterans and promising newcomers will take the pitch for the Wilmington College women’s soccer team in the fall of 2011. “We have a very good returning group and we have a quality group of freshmen coming in that I think will be able to contribute right away,” said Wilmington head coach Steve Spirk, who heads into his 20th season on the WC sideline. “We know what it takes to be competitive in the OAC, and we know that you have to be ready to play every time you take the field in our conference.” Wilmington posted a 7-8-5 record in 2010 and advanced to the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals. The Quakers have captured three conference tournament titles and two regular-season crowns since joining the OAC in 2000. This season — as is the case every season — the expectations are very high in Quakerland. GOALKEEPER Junior goalkeeper Maria Larson played virtually every second in goal last season and recorded 74 saves, five shutouts and a 1.41 goals-against average. “Maria has shown a lot of leadership,” Spirk said. “She is a talented leader of what I think will be a deep group of goalkeepers. It’s going to be competitive, which is only going to make us better.” DEFENSE All-OAC performers Amy Johnson and Rachel Gutowski (shown below left) will be key components in the defensive third. Johnson has started 38 consecutive games while Gutowski led the team with four assists last season. “We’ve got pretty much everybody back for our defense. Amy will be the anchor, and Erin Moore and Ashley Garcia should give us big years. Rachel had a great freshman year, so we should be solid in the defense, and that’s a good way to begin,” Spirk said. MIDFIELD The graduation of four-time All-OAC performer Katie Skaleski provides a void in Wilmington’s midfield, but the Quakers are anything but short-handed in the center of the pitch. “It’s going to be tough replacing Katie, but it will be an opportunity for other players to step up and show what they can do,” Spirk said. “Holly Campbell, Lauren Mumaw, Sammy Koerner and Sammi Miller can all come in and play. Midfield could be one of our deepest spots.” FORWARD Senior Britney Beck can play either in the midfield or on the front line, as evidenced by the four goals she scored en route to earning All-OAC honors in 2010. Also back is junior Sarah Watters, who could be in line for a breakout season. “After a couple of years getting her feet wet, I think Sarah is going to figure it all out and be more consistent,” Spirk said. “I think Jennifer Packer could also bust loose and be a main scorer. Britney is probably our best attacker when we play her up there. I think she will put it all together for us this year.” SCHEDULE Another continued tradition will be the Quakers’ schedule — a slate as tough as any team’s in the nation. With North Coast Athletic Conference powers Ohio Wesleyan, Wittenberg, Wooster and Kenyon, and an early-season trip to Memphis, Tenn., to play in the Rhodes Classic, Wilmington will have been in the mixer before starting OAC play when Mount Union visits Charlie Gilhart Field on Sept. 24. “Going to Memphis and seeing competition in that part of the country will be a good way to start the season. After that, we will play some of the top teams in the Great Lakes Region — all with the focus on preparing ourselves for the OAC,” Spirk said. Spirk has led Wilmington to 10 OAC Tournament appearances in the last 11 years. The road to the tourney, he said, is a dangerous nine-game journey. “The OAC is a talented conference and a tough conference. We have learned that any team can beat any other team, period,” Spirk said.