By Justin Sobol '07

Justin Sobol: Going back to last year, what do you think was the most important piece in winning the UAA Championship?

Terry Gurnett: I felt very much our strongest attribute last year was our team dynamic. We had great chemistry. I felt that was our number one thing. The women had a great sense of purpose. The next part was that it really extended to the women playing hard and defending well. The first one really led to the second one.

JS: And the team defense, your team only allowed four goals in the regular season. Do you attribute that to the chemistry and commitment?

TG: Absolutely. If you have the effort, you play tough and you defend every single ball, you're going to be in every single game. When we really realized that we started going 'Hey we can do this.'

JS: Do you think you guys can repeat that defensive prowess this year?

TG: Well, we're certainly going to try. The first thing we're going to do from day one is make sure we become a team again and we're going to be an excellent defensive team. The great thing about defending is it comes from the heart. Whenever we need to step in, we get in there. To answer your question, we hope we'll be able to do that again this year.

JS: How crucial is it to have that defensive line back again this year?

TG: It's terrific. It's a great thing, but I'll tell you nobody's allowed to sit back and be happy because there are a lot of people who really want to play this year, who really worked hard and are capable of stepping in so hopefully that will be enough to spur us on to become better.

JS: Now in the midfield, how hard is it going to be to replace Kristin Leskow?

TG: Yeah Leskow, you know, she was a special player. She had moxie. She just really knew how to play the game. So you can't replace that kind of experience, but there were ladies who played behind her last year and had an opportunity to see what she meant to us. It will be a little bit different just because we don't have that, but we'll try to be different and better too.

JS: Any ideas who those players are that might step into that role?

TG: I couldn't even begin to tell you. For me to speculate, it really is wide open. I say this which will probably spur a great debate amongst the players themselves. But that's our great strength with the quality of players on this team. And, like I say we have some people coming in who are going to vie for some time too. If I were to guess I'd say some players with experience will be out there at least initially. But I don't speculate.

JS: Offensively, do you think you'll have Mary Walsh carrying the load again this year or do you think you'll have other people stepping up to help?

<>< b=""> Well it would be really nice, obviously to see other people step up. Emily Urbanczyk is ready to have a great senior year. Some other players like Anne McMahon, Darby Grant, Laura Bojko and Maureen Dudiak. Those guys would really like to be productive. We worked hard in spring trying to score more goals from the run of play. So we hope to score more goals off of that. And if Mary wants to have another breakout year again then I'm all for it. <>

JS: We're getting close to preseason now, so what's one tactical area you'll try to focus on in training?

TG: Number is one defending. We will defend every ball all over the field. We will full court press everybody all of the time. We're going to play high pressure. We just feel that we're better with that style of play.

JS: So in terms of long-term goals: do you expect to win the UAA again?

TG: Well it would be insane to expect it. But listen, it's very simple. Our goal every year is to win the UAA Championship, get to the NCAA Tournament, and win the NCAA Tournament. Aim high. That's what we try to do.

JS: And the National Championship is within reach?

TG:You know what? It is not outside the realm of possibility. I think we've got a terrific core group of players that force our team to really push each other to do the very best we can. So I would say if the stars align it's not outside the realm of possibility. But everybody has to do things right and they have to stay healthy and we'll have a shot.

Note: The women's soccer team opens the 2006 season at the Roanoke (VA) tournament on September 2-3. Rochester's home opener is scheduled for Thursday, September 7, against William Smith College at 4 pm in Fauver Stadium. The Yellowjackets split a pair of 1-0 decisions with the Herons last year. WSC won the regular season game. Rochester won in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.