Truman Soccer Hungry for More Championships

By David Boyce

Truman senior forward Jessica Wiegert voiced the only logical answer when asked which title she would prefer to win: the MIAA women's soccer championship or the South Central Region championship.

"If I did have a choice I would pick both," she said.

The Bulldogs begin this season with every right to establish lofty goals. They return seven starters off a team that finished 17-4-2, second in the MIAA, and won the regional championship.

Central Missouri won the conference title, but Truman was the last team playing in the MIAA in 2008. The Bulldogs beat Texas A&M-Commerce 2-1 in the regional championship game and advanced to the quarterfinals.

The season ended for Truman with a 1-0 loss in the quarterfinals to Seattle Pacific, the eventual NCAA Division II national champion.

"Winning the regional title was exciting, and playing the eventual national champions proved we can compete on a national level," Wiegert said.

The Bulldogs are loaded with offensive firepower that gives them a legitimate chance to win the conference title, regional title and make a run at a national title.

Wiegert was tied for the team-high in points with 23. She scored 10 goals and added three assists. Mirroring those numbers was senior Riley Mahn, who also had 10 goals and three assists last season.

"We have our three leading scorers back," Truman coach Mike Cannon said. "A veteran attack is a luxury. We can score some goals and take the pressure off our defense."

Cannon called his senior class hard working but not the most vocal group.

"It will be nice to see them get more vocal," he said.

Cannon is counting on the senior class to be strong leaders because of the number of freshmen on this year's squad. Cannon signed 12 freshmen.

It's up to the seniors to instill Truman soccer pride into the new group and let them know they are playing for a tradition-rich program. The Bulldogs have won eight of the last 10 MIAA titles.

"We have a large freshman and senior class," Wiegert said. "The seniors have to be role models. Our expectations are to keep the Truman tradition going."

Despite the large number of players returning for Truman and Central Missouri, Cannon doesn't think it will be a two-team race. He definitely wants his players to understand there are a number of teams capable of winning the conference.

"We've pounded that into them early on," Cannon said.

Wiegart said the Bulldogs have the needed attributes to win. They showed it last season.

"I think last year we stuck with it," she said. "We kept winning at the end of the season. We showed heart at the end and that got us pretty far."

Offensive player to watch: Senior Riley Mahn started 13 of the team's 23 games and still finished tied for the team-high in points. She was voted the team's most improved player.

Defensive player to watch: Senior defender Kelsey Richters started 22 games and anchored a defense that allowed only 92 shots on goal for the entire season. In the last two seasons she has started 45 of 46 games for the Bulldogs.

Key game: On Sept. 12 Truman plays at Nebraska-Omaha, which is picked to finish third in the MIAA. If the Bulldogs can win this tough, early-season conference road game they might go through the MIAA with only one or two losses.

On Thursday: Truman football preview.