FLORENCE, S.C. – The Francis Marion University women’s soccer team, which plays at Winthrop University on Friday (Aug. 31) at 7 p.m., will enter its 2007 campaign with a deeper and more experienced team. The Patriots carry a six-match winning streak into the new season, believed to be the second-longest active winning streak in NCAA Division I behind the University of North Carolina’s 27-match string.

FMU will open its home slate on Sunday (Sept. 2) at 2 p.m. against Gardner-Webb University.

Fifth-year Patriot head coach Marty Beall welcomes back 12 of 16 letterwinners, including nine of 11 starters, from last year’s 11-5-3 mark. That group of Patriots were the fourth most improved team in NCAA Division I according to Somis Sports, after improving upon a 5-9-1 record in 2005.

“With so many returnees coming back, we are building off last season’s success,” Beall said. “Fans should also observe a more entertaining style of play this season.  Last year with a young squad and a thin roster, we concentrated on defense and ball possession. Now we have a more seasoned roster, a lot of quality depth, and greater team speed which should translate into a more attack-oriented style.

“We return nine starters, and there are as many as five freshmen who are contending for starting positions. Those facts make for very competitive practices. That hard work in turn sharpens the squad.”

Beall added, “Our 2007 schedule is much more difficult than last year. In order to become a top-level team, we must play that type of opponent. Then we must learn from those contests and improve our level of play. Our goal is to again reach double-figure wins. That is a challenging, but realistic goal.”

The 2007 schedule lists 18 matches, including six home matches. A tough road slate also includes matches at eighth-ranked Florida State and N.C. State, as well as a tournament at the College of Charleston.  In addition to FSU, four other FMU opponents are regionally ranked or receiving votes in the preseason Southeast Region poll. Entering its 13th season, the Patriot program owns an all-time mark of 149-60-9, including an all-time home record of 82-16-5.

Among the FMU returnees are senior goalkeeper Jacque Sutphin, who posted the 41st-best save percentage in Division I in 2006, and set a school-record for consecutive shutout minutes (484) midway through the year. She ended the year with 100 saves, a 0.98 GAA, and seven shutouts. Midfielder Kirby Stenard (14 goals, 4 assists) was among the Top 20 nationally in both points and goals per game as a freshman, while freshman Angela Salem ranked among the Top 5 in assists per game with a school-record tying 11 and senior Brandi Sutphin was among the Top 25 with nine assists.

Stenard’s four-goal performance against South Carolina State University on Oct. 13, was bettered only during the 2006 season by a five-goal outing by Texas Tech’s Chessa Purser.

“Having Jacque in goal is very comforting, a safety blanket,” Beall explained. “She has played well in the preseason and I look for big things from her this year. Kirby and Angela have picked up where they left off last year. They will play a major role in our offensive attack.” Brandi Sutphin just returned to the Patriot line-up after rehabilitating from a foot injury and missing most of the preseason. In all, FMU returns five of its top six scorers from a year ago.

“Along the backline, Brandi Bonifay, Jody Rhoderick, and Rachel Rubin all return, which gives us stability in the defensive end. Mix in freshmen Margaret Fanning (Bluffton, S.C.) and Rebecca Nelson (New Hyde Park, N.Y.), and we hope to reduce Sutphin’s save total by reducing the number of shots-on-goal by our opponents.”

Beall also pointed at first-year players M.A. Burrows (Columbia), Nina Connell (North Bay, Ontario, Canada), and Taylor Jenkins (Frederick, Md.) as other potential starters, while freshman forward Gabi Byrd (Irmo) adds speed to the Patriot line-up.

As a team, Francis Marion was among the Top 35 programs in both scoring offense and (goalkeeping) save percentage in 2006.

2007 Francis Marion University Women's Soccer Schedule