Something to prove

Steve Virgen

ANTEATER STADIUM -- After a season of injuries, subpar defense and

missed opportunities, UC Irvine women’s soccer coach Marine Cano

enters the 2002 season with skepticism.

He’s excited his Anteaters are healthy, because at this time last

year there were several injuries. Still, he believes UCI has to show

its mettle this season.

“I’m not putting any high hopes on anything,” said Cano, who

enters his ninth season and owns an 86-56-19 record at UCI. “They

still have to prove themselves what they’re made of. We had the

chance to win the Big West last year. The jury is still out on UCI on

whether we can play on that championship level.”

Last year, the Anteaters finished fifth in the Big West Conference

with a 7-9-1, 4-4-1 record. They lost four of their last five

conference games. Irvine’s losing finish could have been attributed

to its dealings with injuries in the preseason.

But, this year Melody Mangrello and Lachelle Manzano, who were

redshirted because of knee injuries, are back. Both players will be

key contributors this season, along with first-team All-Big West

returner Hayley McNallan, a junior forward who scored a team-high

nine goals.

“We’re way ahead of last year’s team,” Cano said of his squad’s

progress thus far. “They’re going to have to be healthy and

physically fit. The jury is out on how strong we are.”

McNallan is one of several players expected to, “step up,” this

season, Cano said. McNallan will be depended as a goal scorer.

“She needs to come up big,” Cano said. “Last year, she had the

chance to score 18. I’m looking for her to get about 15 this year. We need someone to step it up on the other forward spot. We have four

girls over there playing for it and no one has stepped up. But, our

goal is to get better every practice and every game and by the time

Big West (action) comes we want to knock some doors down. But we have

a lot of work ahead of us.”

Last year’s team MVP, Natalie Franklin, who graduated, was the

Anteaters’ playmaker, and now Cano expects Manzano to step into that

role. Irvine will also be without Janelle Doyle, who transferred to

Vanguard University. Junior midfielder Caroline Kabe, a starter in 16

of the 17 games, returns as one of the leaders on defense. Kabe

earned All-Big West second team honors last season as a sweeper.

Irvine’s defense will also be led by its goalies, senior Sarah

Swancutt and sophomore Chelsea McCarthy. Swancutt recorded 72 saves

and posted three shutouts last year. McCarthy collected 11 saves and

made two starts last season. The Anteaters’ goalies will have to

shoulder plenty of responsibility this season, Cano said.

“They came in exceptionally fit,” Cano said of Swancutt and

McCarthy. “They can be field players the way they train. We need them

to be healthy and strong. We need exceptional goalkeeping. We need

them to shine for us in order to have any chance of contention at the

Big West title.”

Cano said, Cal State Fullerton is the team to beat in the Big

West, and that every other team will by vying for second. However,

the talent in the Big West will be at an all-time high level this

season.

“This will be the best Big West season of all time,” Cano said.

“Every team will be very hard to beat, especially at their house.”

Irvine has a tough preconference schedule, with St. Mary’s,

Pepperdine and USC coming to Anteater Stadium. The Anteaters will

open their season Sunday at 1 p.m. with the Alumni Game, and will

then take on Eastern Washington, Aug. 31 at 5 p.m., at the Cal State

Fullerton Classic.