Cowgirl Soccer 2016: Breakdown By Position

August 15, 2016 | Cowgirl Soccer

A position-by-position look at the 2016 Oklahoma State Cowgirls.

FORWARDS
Courtney Dike, Sr.
Holly Brehmer, Jr.
Niki McKnight, Jr.
Allie Rivers, So.
Haley Woodard, So.
Marlo Zoller, So.
Amy Nguyen, Fr.
Bri Woodall, Fr.

OSU will look to improve upon its scoring output of a year ago when the Cowgirls scored 36 goals in 20 games.

Leading the attack is All-Big 12 performer Courtney Dike, who enters her senior season 10^th on OSU's all-time list with 21 career goals and is coming off a season in which she recorded five goals and seven assists.

The junior class includes Holly Brehmer, who netted three goals in 15 games a year ago, while the Cowgirls are looking to use versatile Niki McKnight up front this season. Despite battling injury much of last season and being limited to seven games, McKnight was OSU's second-leading scorer in Big 12 Conference play.

Marlo Zoller and Haley Woodard showed flashes of their scoring ability as freshmen in 2015 before excelling during the spring season, and the duo returns hoping to add to the seven goals they combined for last season. Zoller tied for third on the team with four goals in her first collegiate season, also adding a pair of assists, while Woodard found the back of the net three times and also had an assist. Another sophomore, Allie Rivers, redshirted last season after starting eight games in 2014.

A pair of freshmen —Amy Nguyen and Bri Woodall — could also factor into the mix up front. Woodall played for Mexico's U-17 National Team and scored over 30 goals as a prep senior.

MIDFIELDERS
Anna Beffer, Jr.
Tori Ruszkowski, Jr.
Coumba Sow, Jr.
Lana Duke, So.
Morgan McDougal, So.
Rachel VanFossen, So.
Jaci Jones, Fr.
Julia Lenhardt, Fr.

Anna Beffer is the veteran in the midfield for the Cowgirls, and the attacking junior tallied five goals and four assists in 35 games – 31 starts – in her first two seasons. Other returning juniors including Tori Ruszkowski and Lana Duke, who each spent time in the starting lineup last season.

Joining the mix at midfield this season is two-time JUCO All-American Coumba Sow. The 6-foot Swiss standout comes to Stillwater after two seasons at Monroe Community College, where she recorded 28 goals and 30 assists in 34 games.

The sophomore class includes Morgan McDougal, who saw action in 13 games last season, and Rachel VanFossen, a transfer from Arkansas where she played in 14 games with five starts as a freshman.

A trio of talented freshmen will push for playing time in the midfield. Julia Lenhardt spent time with the U.S. Under-19 National Team in 2015, while Jaci Jones was one of the top high school players in Oklahoma and scored 21 goals as a senior.

DEFENDERS
Natalie Calhoun, Sr.
Christina Jean-Charles, Sr.
Abbey Bright, Jr.
Katie Howard, Jr.
Laurene Tresfield, Jr.
Claire Gantzer, Fr.
Elise Hawn, Fr.
Adalaide Kline, Fr.
Charmé Morgan, Fr.
Kirsten Siragusa, Fr.

In All-Big 12 center back Natalie Calhoun, OSU has a stabilizing force on its back line. The Texas native has started 62 games in her first three collegiate seasons and helped anchor a unit that has recorded 19 shutouts during that stretch.

In her first season in Stillwater, JUCO transfer Christina Jean-Charles started all 20 games and led all Cowgirl field players with nearly 1,800 minutes played. Along with a goal and four assists, she took 51 of OSU's corner kicks a year ago.

Among the class of junior defenders for the Cowgirls, Laurene Tresfield returns for her third season with 37 career games and 23 starts on her resume, while Abbey Bright and Katie Howard add depth.

A strong group of freshmen defenders should help strengthen the Cowgirls' back line.

Elise Hawn and Kirsten Siragusa, a member of the U.S. U-18 National Team in 2014 and 2015, are among those battling for minutes at center back, while Charmé Morgan and Gantzer bring a physical presence to the defense. Fellow frosh Adalaide Kline also adds to the depth.

GOALKEEPERS
Ashton Hierholzer, Jr.
Michela Ongaro, Jr.
Megan Royall, RS Fr.
Dani Greenlee, Fr.

Michela Ongaro returns to mind the net for the Cowgirls in 2016, and the junior has 34 career starts and nine shutouts on her collegiate resumé.

Behind Ongaro is a group of inexperienced but talented keepers. Ashton Hierholzer played in three games last season and helped the Cowgirls secure shutouts in each, while Megan Royall redshirted. Also joining the mix this season is freshman Dani Greenlee, a former U.S. U-14 and U-15 National Team participant.