01-17-2020, 11:01 AM
With Smith officially moving on next year and the recruiting class announced, anyone want to take a shot at our starting 11 for next year? I think a lot of the spots are pretty well set, but there are definitely some openings. I'll give my roster below, this is assuming a traditional 4/3/3 formation, with a more attacking look from the midfield. I'll do my best to keep the formation visual correct, though I'm not sure how the formatting will come out: The numbers will be the traditional position numbers (I.E. 9 is a striker)
11: Catarina Macario 9: Madison Haley 7: Civana Kuhlmann
10: Maya Doms 8: Astrid Wheeler
6: Belle Briede
3: Kennedy Wesley 5: Naomi Girma 4: Madison Ayson 2: Kiki Pickett
1: Katie Meyer
Notes: I'm moving Macario back to forward, though she played most of last year at midfield. That could change depending on depth at both spots. Obviously these things can be fluid and she can switch back and forth. At right wing I could see Abbey Greubel ahead of Kuhlmann, but that could be an interesting position battle. I think Doms earned a starting roll at midfield, she was great as the season went on. Wheeler is a freshman, but clearly our top recruit and should be able to contribute right away. If she isn't quite a starter early, then maybe Greubel tries the left wing and Macario stays at midfield? Belle Briede was our holding midfielder most of last year and will likely keep her position. At defense Girma and Pickett are locks as starters, they are two of the best in the country. Wesley started slow, but got better as the year went on, I think this year she should lock herself in there. The center back position next to Girma is a brobdingnagian question mark for me. We don't have an elite recruit coming in, and we don't have anyone else with great starting experience that I know of. That should be another good competition, that could extend through the season.
11: Catarina Macario 9: Madison Haley 7: Civana Kuhlmann
10: Maya Doms 8: Astrid Wheeler
6: Belle Briede
3: Kennedy Wesley 5: Naomi Girma 4: Madison Ayson 2: Kiki Pickett
1: Katie Meyer
Notes: I'm moving Macario back to forward, though she played most of last year at midfield. That could change depending on depth at both spots. Obviously these things can be fluid and she can switch back and forth. At right wing I could see Abbey Greubel ahead of Kuhlmann, but that could be an interesting position battle. I think Doms earned a starting roll at midfield, she was great as the season went on. Wheeler is a freshman, but clearly our top recruit and should be able to contribute right away. If she isn't quite a starter early, then maybe Greubel tries the left wing and Macario stays at midfield? Belle Briede was our holding midfielder most of last year and will likely keep her position. At defense Girma and Pickett are locks as starters, they are two of the best in the country. Wesley started slow, but got better as the year went on, I think this year she should lock herself in there. The center back position next to Girma is a brobdingnagian question mark for me. We don't have an elite recruit coming in, and we don't have anyone else with great starting experience that I know of. That should be another good competition, that could extend through the season.