During the first few years of his six-year tenure as head soccer coach at Allen County Community College, Doug Desmarteau was combing the student bodyfor members for the women’s soccer team.
Not any more.
Although the numbers are where he wants them for the 2010 Red Devil women’s team, all players are “soccer players.” The Red Devils have 15 on the squad for the upcoming season.
“Yes, those first years we were begging girls to come out so we’d have a team to field. The ACCC women’s program was so down when I got here, but we’re slowly building the program,” Desmarteau said.
Allen County opens the 2010 season Sunday. The Red Devils have three straight home games.
Ranger Community College of Texas is here Sunday. Next Thursday, Northeastern Oklahoma of Miami, Okla., comes to Iola then next Friday, Forest Park of St. Louis, Mo., is here.
The Red Devils have six returning sophomores including top goalkeeper Chelsea Reynolds.
Team captains are sophomore center back Ashley Wolf and sophomore outside midfielder Jen Carlson. Also returning are Janelle Gonzalez, Erika Williams and Whitney Coblentz.
“Ashley played center back last year and is a strong leader for this team. Jen really has come back with a desire to get to the ball and put pressure on defenses up front,” Desmarteau said.
“Chelsea was our main goalkeeper last year and is back doing a good job.”
Gonzalez gives Allen County a consistent force defensively. Williams, who missed quite a bit of last season because of a knee injury, returns healed and will play in the midfield for the Red Devils.
Mo Shaffer and Crystal Jerome are freshmen for the soccer team but were ACCC students a year ago.
“Mo had a soccer scholarship for a four-year college when she learned of the basketball opportunity here at Allen last year. She missed soccer and came out for our team this season,” Desmarteau said.
“Crystal came for track but I don’t think she ran last year. Both have good speed and give us help up top.”
Desmarteau said Kayla Besmer, a freshman forward from Leavenworth, and Caroline Demague, a freshman midfielder from Junction City, lead a quality group of newcomers.
Jenna Wells, who played at Mill Valley High School, is a strong defender.
Other freshmen on the team are Allie Garza of Dallas, Texas, Sarah Seymour, of Ottawa, Katie King of Kansas City, Mo., and Aria Huguenin of Pittsburg.
“We have a solid group of 15 players this season. We’re closing the gap in the Jayhawk Conference,” Desmarteau said.
“We finished ninth in the conference and just missed out on the playoffs last year. In past years, Johnson County, which took second in the nation last year, would beat us bad and we only lost 3-0 to them.”
Allen County went 4-7 in Jayhawk Conference play. The Red Devils finished 4-13 overall.
Jordan Knowles returns as assistant coach for the Red Devils.
Chas Frisco, a long-time coaching friend to Desmarteau, comes aboard as another assistant coach. Former ACCC assistant Jeremy McGinnis left to be assistant coach at Ottawa University.
“Chas brings some new ideas and a different perspective to our programs,” Desmarteau said. “He has coached in a different region of the country.”
Allen County Community College
2010 Women’s Soccer Schedule
Aug. 29 — Ranger, noon
Sept. 2 — NEO, 2 p.m.
Sept. 3 — Forest Park, 2 p.m.
Sept. 7 — Pratt, 2 p.m.
Sept. 10 — Butler, 4 p.m.
Sept. 13 — Hutchinson, 3 p.m.
Sept. 17 — Dodge City, 2 p.m.
Sept. 20 — Coffeyville, 5 p.m.
Sept. 22 — Neosho County, 2 p.m.
Sept. 25 — Garden City, 2 p.m.
Sept. 28 — Cowley County, 2 p.m.
Oct. 1 — Cloud County, 2 p.m.
Oct. 5 — Independence, 2 p.m.
Oct. 7 — Richland, Dallas, Texas
Oct. 8 — Western Texas, Dallas
Oct. 14 — Barton County, 2 p.m.
Oct. 17 — Northern Oklahoma, 2 p.m.
Oct. 19 — Johnson County, 2 p.m.
Oct. 21 — Hesston, 5 p.m.
Home games in bold.
