Oklahoma State University Athletics
Q&A with Coach Hancock
July 22, 2003 | Cowgirl Soccer
Cowboy MVP: With only three seniors graduating from last year's 13-7 team, what are your expectations for the upcoming season?
Karen Hancock: It's always difficult to speculate how a team will do before you start playing the games because there are so many variables that factor into your team's performance. Injuries are probably being the biggest concern and unknown in trying to predict how a team will fare. However, I feel that if we stay healthy and don't have injuries in some key positions then we should do well. Our players and coaching staff are looking to improve on that 13-7 mark even though we know that it will be a challenge.
Cowboy MVP: One of the highlights of last year's season was the come-from-behind win over Oklahoma to make the Big 12 Tournament for the first time. How will a win like that carry over into this year?
Karen Hancock: I think that the win over OU last year showed just how much heart and character our OSU players have. It can do nothing but help us when we are in tight situations again and close games. I would hope and think that it gave our players the confidence needed to keep playing hard no matter what the situation - because anything can happen in soccer as we proved that night.
Cowboy MVP: With only two seniors on the 2003 roster, who will you look for to take a leadership role on the team this season?
Karen Hancock: I think that leadership responsibility falls on many players with this team. Specifically, I expect Kim Graves and Carla Dolomont to help in that area. Kim is a senior and Carla is a junior and both were team captains last year. I also expect fourth year junior Jeni Jackson to share some of the leadership duties and Joanne Edwards, our only senior other than Kim Graves, to step up and help as well.
Cowboy MVP: Kat Doud, OSU's veteran goalkeeper, graduated last year. Who will take over the goalkeeping duties for this year?
Karen Hancock: The goalkeeping position is up for grabs. We have Kendra Rainbolt and Erin Corbin returning in that position and they will battle for it. We also have signed a transfer student-athlete from Switzerland who will have the opportunity to earn the nod for that spot too.
Cowboy MVP: Are there any players in particular that we should be watching for this year?
Karen Hancock: Certainly Jolene Schweitzer, Jere Boykin, Kim Graves and Joanne Edwards are a few of our more dynamic players to watch because of their goal scoring capabilities. And Nikki Wojtowicz continues to set records in the assist department. But I think that our entire team is fun to watch and there are players at every position that stand out.
Cowboy MVP: The Cowgirl Soccer program has come a long way in only its seventh season, posting a program-high 13 wins last season. Where do you see the Cowgirl program in the future?
Karen Hancock: Our main objective is to continue to improve in the Big 12 Conference, which is no small task. Once that happens then the increased national attention is automatic. That is how tough the Big 12 is. Ideally, we look to be the first Division I women's soccer program in the state of Oklahoma to get into the NCAA tournament and feel that if we are healthy this year then we should have a chance at that goal.
Cowboy MVP: Last year's team started the season with a 10-0 record. Do you expect a repeat of last year's performance from this year's team?
Karen Hancock: To be able to start out 10-0 would be great and of course we will attempt to duplicate that record. However, it is very tough to do. We were only the second program in the history of the Big 12 to accomplish that feat. Keeping in mind that it doesn't happen easily we will still do the best we can to match that mark.
