Just read a return email from Gesser regarding this issue as it pertains to the ladies' soccer team. The salient points of his email follow.
I had read only four graduating seniors but he mentions eight graduations. Early graduations or just a failure on my part? Don't know. Another player has left the team and this would be normal attrition from my view. Transfer, grades or just no longer playing the sport? Don't know.
Jason attributes the turnover- which he regards as elevated but not abnormal- to the changing of the guard in the HC position. Four different HCs in five years. He further mentions that Shulenberger's family is happy in Pullman and that they are in the process of building a house. Thus, he has hopes, as we all do, that the musical chairs situation in the HC spot has ended for the near future. The million dollar upgrade in the soccer facilities should also help stabilize the coaching turnover problem.
Another thing that I noticed is that one of the incoming players is Gabriela Crenshaw, Kelsee Crenshaw's sister. The obvious conclusion to me is that Kelsee and presumably others are pleased with the current coaching staff as well as other team aspects. A hopeful sign.
The incoming class has an impressive collection of resumes. Gesser mentioned that the staff emphasized the need for more speed and believes that they have addressed that issue. That is a problem that I had observed while watching last year's performance.
Another problem that I saw was the lack of height offensively in the box. Thus, no great number of headers on goal. Especially a concerning deficit during corner kicks. The school's bios do not give heights so I am unaware of whether this was addressed. It is also possible that, once again, I do not know what I am talking about. (We need more speed and height? I sound like another individual we are aware of.)
For the edification of others on the soggy side of the state, the first game of the season is against Crossfire FC and is being played in Seattle on March 4th, a Saturday. Where in Seattle is not indicated. I suspect that perhaps the facility in Tukwila is the venue. O.K., it's strictly not Seattle but close enough for government work. Don't see any time listed either but since it is a Saturday then I would expect an afternoon game. So Saturday afternoon is a reasonable expectation and thus no excuse for a failure to attend by those interested in WSU and soccer. Since it would be the first game of the season one cannot expect a polished showing by our ladies but should give us a good viewing of the talent on the team. I attended last year's (I think that it was last year.) game with Seattle U. Cougs were well represented and I would expect that this will be the case against Crossfire. Also a couple of games in Bellingham and Langley, B.C. are scheduled in the first half of March.
Go Cougs.
