From as close to home as St. Benedict and St. Agnes high schools in Memphis to as far away as Denmark, Sweden, Canada and England, head women’s soccer coach Brooks Monoghan has recruited several new talents to strengthen his soccer squad.
Monoghan has added 10 new players to his 23-player roster and said he feels the group has the potential to improve upon last year’s record of 9-11.
Of Monoghan’s 10 freshmen, six are from outside the United States.
“This was my first recruiting class and we went on out and found some players to fit the mold,” Monoghan said.
What type of mold? A defensive one, according to Monoghan.
“We look much stronger on paper,” Monoghan said. “We’re stronger defensively. We have a lot of depth, which we lacked in the past and we’ve got some young girls that I hope can step in and start.”
Former Swedish Premier League player, 20-year-old Annika Moller from Sweden, said the team is keeping its goals simple. Moller is stepping into a starting role on defense.
“This year we plan on at least being better than last year,” said Moller, the team’s tallest player at 5-9 and possibly its most athletic.
Freshman Angela Willoughby from England is another international player who Monoghan expects to make waves. Willoughby played for both the English National Youth and full teams before her arrival in the States.
Willoughby, a defender as well, said she plans to use her international skills to make the Lady Tigers a grittier team on the defesive side of the field.
Willoughby said the American game is more finesse-oriented. She said the international game is tougher and the international players will bring that toughness to the team.
Monoghan’s top returners, sophomore goal keeper Katarina “Cat” Wicksel from Sweden and Ali Baker, are the players Monoghan said he will turn to for experience for what he anticipates to be a tough upcoming season.
The Lady Tigers will face the likes of Ole Miss and C-USA’s Marquette, which was ranked as high as No. 12 in the nation last season.
The Lady Tigers’ first action will be Friday at the University of Missouri in Columbia. The first home game will be Sept. 2 at 2 p.m. at Echles field against Southwest Missouri State.