The University of Tampa carries high hopes for the 2009 season despite the fact that the Spartans will rely heavily on a group of young players who are primarily freshman and sophomores. With just two seniors on the squad, head coach Gerry Lucey returns five starters to go with 14 newcomers on its roster.

“We are very happy with our team and the learning curve they have shown so far,” says Lucey. “We are very young and lacking experience in most areas of the field. If we can stay injury free, we will press hard for another conference championship and NCAA appearance.”

A trio of sophomores who were impact players as freshmen in 2008 will lead UT’s offensive attack as Brittan Spence, Samantha Kay and Jazmin Perry will be expected to pick up the scoring void left by the losses of all-time leading goal scorer Shelby Kuni and Courtney Evans, who was second on Tampa’s all-time chart in career assists. Spence tallied six goals and seven assists in 2008 while Kay matched her with six goals to go with two assists. Perry added five goals and four assists.

“Our inexperience will be our biggest obstacle plus ability to put teams away after controlling possession,” says Lucey. “If these young players can grasp the need to play with urgency, then I think we can keep advancing.”

Spence looks to team with Sam Houston State University transfer Luana Miessa at the forward position. The duo expects to form a potent goal scoring machine as sophomore Caroline Spencer and freshmen Sara Kneeland and Molly Gottlieb also expect to see playing time up top.

Kay and fellow captain Megan Tobin will lead a group of young midfielders that will also include Perry. Tobin, a junior, is a technically sound player who recorded two goals and seven assists while starting nine games in 2008. Senior Renata Figueira will also be added to the mix as the transfer from Murray State University will play her final collegiate season as a Spartan. Freshmen Dana Palmiotto and Katie LaPorta also expect to make an impact in the midfield. Fellow freshmen Callan Hoerdemann and Nicolet Rommel figure into the mix as Hoerdemann could also play as a defender. Lyndsay Murray, who received a medical redshirt as a freshman last year, will redshirt again in 2009 and return to the pitch next season.

Tampa will look to offset the loss of All-American defender Maria Mohammed with a pair of transfers and sophomore Charlotte White, who started all 22 games as a true freshman in 2008. Devin Anuzis (Marist College) and Pasquale Anderson (University of South Florida) are both Division I transfers who are expected to make an impact right away at UT. Freshman Courtney Peffley also brings strong credentials while classmates Kate Evans and Maddie Dugan will vie for playing time. Sophomore Lindsay O’Bryan also returns after sitting out last season due to an injury. Tammy Lemieux, a transfer from St. Petersburg College, will also contend for a spot in the lineup.

Senior Saige Steinmetz could see time in goal after being a defender in 2008. Steinmetz has significant goalkeeping experience at the club level. Sophomore Kendall Bourdon will challenge for the starting spot after getting the nod in all 22 games as a freshman last season. She recorded four shutouts while posting a 1.07 GAA. Steinmetz can also play as a defender, where she expects to start if not at goalkeeper. Caitlin Fox, another sophomore, played in six games as a freshman and is another quality goalkeeper with the ability to push for playing time.

Though the team is inexperienced, the young group of players look to bring an exciting style of play that should lead to a successful 2009 season. A talented group of returnees will mix with a heralded list of transfers that include four from the Division I level. Despite the challenges of playing in one of the toughest conferences in the nation (Sunshine State) and several nationally ranked non-conference opponents, Lucey’s squad carries the talent to make another strong run in 2009.

“As usual, we set ourselves a difficult schedule,” says Lucey. “We want to challenge ourselves to compete again on a national level and we need to push the players to see where we stand. We firmly believe that the team will be back in the Final Four within the next couple of years.”