Spring in the step

Portland State, the Big Sky Conference’s reigning regular season soccer champion, began offseason scrimmages with a match against Concordia on April 3 at the Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation in Beaverton.

The Viks followed it up with a hard-fought 3–0 loss to fourth-ranked Portland on Wednesday, and a solitary-goal defeat to Seattle on Saturday.

The Vikings come off of a memorable 2009 season that saw them earn the regular season crown and hosting rights for the playoffs. PSU lost in the semifinals to playoff nemesis Northern Arizona in a penalty kick shootout (4–3) after a double-overtime draw ended 1–1.

Big Sky Coach of the Year Laura Schott plans on utilizing the spring season as a way to train and prepare her players for the regular season.

“Our goal in the offseason is to keep getting better and keep working towards our tournament in fall,” Schott said.

In Wednesday’s match against Portland at the Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation, the Vikings were missing the services of returning defenders junior Toni Carnovale and senior Emily Rohde. Midfielders Michelle Hlasnik and Esty Geiger filled in at the wide back positions.

“We were playing without our lower back today,” Schott said.

The Pilots exploited the chink in the Vikings’ armor and scored all three of their goals after crossing the ball from the flanks.

“Defending crosses is a bit of a concern, but that’s what Portland does very well,” Schott said. “They always make it to the NCAA quarterfinals if not the final four. They are going to get some good opportunities and it’s our job to deny them when we can.”

Portland State’s 2010 campaign will feature an adjusted lineup after the loss of last year’s senior class. With the absence of the Big Sky’s Golden Boot winner and Offensive MVP Dolly Enneking, goalkeeper and Defensive MVP Cris Lewis and CoSIDA Academic All-District VIII first team selection Nathalie Wollmann, the Vikings face serious adjustments.

Enneking alone scored a record twelve goals in 2009, almost half of the team’s 25 total goals.

“We have been talking about who is going to step up and be the goal scorer for us this season,” team captain Rachel Jarvis said. “Hopefully, we will figure it out in the next spring games and the summer. We have some really good forwards on the team.”

Schott remains confident in her team.

“I think we created a few very good chances, but we need to start finishing what we create. It will come,” she said.

Up next for the Vikings is a scrimmage with Seattle Pacific at Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation in Beaverton on April 17.