On August 2, 1999, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America announced its preseason rankings for the 1999-2000 season. Dartmouth's women's soccer team was ranked ninth in Division I, with 121 points. Soccer coaches from around the country voted on the rankings. North Carolina claimed first place with 199 points. Dartmouth is the only Ivy League school in the top ten.
Last year's incredible performance has led to high hopes for this year's team. The women's soccer team posted amazing results last season, culminating in a 16-2-2 record and a trip to the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament, where they lost to North Carolina. Dartmouth was also the Ivy League Champion.
While All-American Suzanne Eastman '99 was lost to graduation, most core members remain, including goaltender Kristen Luckenbill '01 and tri-captains Abby Gillard '01, Chrissy Castro '00, and Katie Gayman '01. The six sophomores that are here this summer are training together and getting ready for a promising season.
The ranking was an incredible surprise for the team, in spite of last year's success. At the beginning of last season, no one expected them to reach such heights as the NCAA tournament.
"I feel like it's amazing that we're ranked so high, but at the same time it puts a lot of pressure on us. Last season we had no pressure and no expectations. This year we come out focused, and defend our position right from the first game," commented Brianne Johnsen '01.
"This is the first year we've been in the top ten I know there are a lot of people that kind of doubt how good we might be. One of our biggest things will be to prove that we deserve [the ranking]," Jen Murray '01 said.
Gillard said she thought the ranking was "amazing. I think it's great. I think a lot of people were surprised to see us finish so well. I know one of my goals is to leave this season at a the same level we finished last year and that [last year's results] weren't just a fluke."
Playing as the underdog brought a "nothing to lose" mentality to last year's team, but the high ranking changes Dartmouth's role to one of a defender rather than a team with everything to prove.
"I feel like it's amazing that we're ranked so high, but at the same time it puts a lot of pressure on us. Last season we had no pressure and no expectations. This year we have to come out focused, and defend our position right from the first game. We need to come out ready to play and defend our ranking and prove that we're meant to be there," Johnsen said.
"It's a lot to live up to. Hopefully we'll be able to prove the ranking wrong and move up even higher," added Gretchen Bell '01.
"We always like to see ourselves as the ones facing the challenge. We like to see ourselves as needing to prove ourselves, but now it's the opposite. This year other teams will be looking at us as the team to beat," Murray said.
In terms of this year's future for the women's soccer team at Dartmouth, the future looks bright. Even more important than the ranking is that the team is dedicated to its success and that they love working together.
"I think that there's no question that we're going into the season tremendously confident. We're going to do our best not to worry about the ranking and just play good soccer. [The ranking} is a good confidence booster for uswe're just going to go out there and do what we've always done," Gillard said.
"I'm really excited for the season," Bell said. "I have complete and total faith in everyone we have returning. I think having tasted the success that we had last year is incredible for the season to come. Playing up to potential is the most we can ask of ourselves. It's just a great feeling being part of a team that cares this much about each other."
With such sentiments as these, it is not hard to see that women's soccer at Dartmouth is sure to be exciting this fall. The ninth place ranking places much responsibility upon the shoulders of the women, but they are ready for this new challenge. The NCAA tournament has proven to be a realistic goal, and this year perhaps even the championship game will be within reach.
