FROSTBURG, Md. - Losing five very productive senior starters doesn’t usually equate to a head coach banking on veteran leadership, but that appears to be a real strength for Brian Parker and his 2011 Frostburg State women’s soccer team.

That doesn’t mean the Bobcats won’t miss a beat, but the Capital Athletic Conference runners-up should certainly stay in rhythm in their second year as a member of the conference. Eight seniors on the roster, including many probable starters, are charged with the task of keeping the team on point.

“We’re going to definitely be different this year, and I think our seniors allow us to have that kind of flexibility that maybe other teams might not have,” Parker said. “The learning curve won’t be as steep here in the preseason. We know what we can do from last year in terms of our system of play.”

That system allowed the 2010 Bobcats to outscore opponents, 77-13, while outshooting them, 456-188.

“There’s no question that our MO is not going to be quite the same where we can just run-and-gun and compete with anybody,” the coach said. “We’re going to have to be much better organized and a lot smarter and nip some good teams in one-goal games.”

Imperative in winning those one-goal games is a solid goalkeeper, and the Bobcats are anchored by senior Michelle Buckmaster (St. Leonard, Md./Calvert). Sporting a school-record 0.44 career goals against average, Buckmaster has provided a certain sense of security in goal. With scoring perhaps at more of a premium for the Bobcats in 2011 than in recent years, her superb play should stand out in her final year with the club. As will her leadership skills.

“She’s a real verbal, extroverted sort of person. She’s a natural leader that players respect. She’s a voice.”

Fellow senior Kristin Prochniak (Westminster, Md./Winters Mill) provides a veteran back-up for Buckmaster, and should see some action this fall. With her own career goals against average sitting at 0.67, Prochniak certainly has proven the ability to play excellent goal when called upon.

Freshman Katie Smith (Reisterstown, Md./Maryvale Prep) will have to bide her time but has impressed in her first collegiate preseason. A super athlete, she joins Buckmaster as being among the fastest players on the club.

“She’ll have to pay her dues a bit and wait for her opportunity, but she has a great future in the program,” Parker said. “Her day will come.”

There are still plenty of scoring options at the Bobcats’ disposal despite losing nearly 70 percent of their scoring output from last season.

Senior Cassie Donahue (Cumberland, Md./Fort Hill) will be one of the team’s starting forwards, and Parker is very impressed by how far she’s come since her freshman year.

Senior forward Cassie Donahue

“Cassie’s the best example of a player in my 10 years here who has been noticeably better year after year after year. She’s a really skillful, exciting, speedy player that can change the game at any moment. There’s nothing she can’t do.”

She made 21 starts for the club last season, netting four goals and adding an assist. 

“She’s probably our best overall soccer player,” he said. “She’s going to have to show it, but I think she’s ready for that challenge to be regarded as a number one.”

Following closely behind that number one tag is sophomore Adria Graham (Grantsville, Md./Northern Garrett). Graham was third on the team in her freshman campaign with 10 goals. With the loss of the two scorers ahead of her, including 27-goal scorer Amanda Wharton, Graham should see even more opportunities in her second season.

Sophomore forward Adria Graham

Wharton became ill in the spring and had to leave campus to get treatments and was not able to return to school. While she may return to the program sometime in the future, “at this point we can’t expect that,” Parker said.

The opening created for Graham should allow her to expand on her fantastic athletic abilities and mature demeanor. Even with the abundance of scoring on the team last fall, she forced her way into the lineup and earned plenty of starts.

“There’s nothing else you could ask from her in terms of her intangibles,” Parker said. “For her to be plugged right in and be a go-to player, she’s prepared for that and very willing to accept that responsibility.”

Freshman Stephanie Fazenbaker (Frostburg, Md./Mountain Ridge) arrived late to the preseason after a stellar prep career at Frostburg's own Mountain Ridge High School where she scored 104 career goals, but she has already had a positive impact.

"She’s a terrific athlete and has a range of talents. I have a feeling she'll become an important player here this year and find a role in our lineup soon."

Freshman Sarah Allsop (Beltsville, Md./Laurel) brings athletic tools to the forward position and will undoubtedly be helped by her more experienced forward mates.

“We see a lot of potential in her,” Parker said.

The midfield positions have been hit hardest by graduation, but the Bobcats boast plenty of current seniors to fill those roles.

Senior Erin Ford (Waldorf, Md./Westlake) is experienced and is expected to play significant minutes at the center midfield position.

At the wide midfield or forward spots, senior Dorie Gedridge (Lusby, Md./Patuxent) returns after starting eight games in the second half of last season. In 18 total appearances, Gedridge tied for fifth on the team with four goals. Fellow seniors Jessica Kraemer (Baltimore, Md./Perry Hall) and Olivia Winant (Gaithersburg, Md./Gaithersburg) will also rotate through those positions and have looked great in the preseason.

Sophomore Chelsea Paskowski (Leesburg, Va./Heritage), who scored the game-winning goal in the Bobcats’ ECAC semifinal victory over Alvernia last November, will also play a big role as a central midfield player.

Freshmen Shannah Knight (Oldtown, Md./Fort Hill) and Kaitlin Evans (Waldorf, Md./Thomas Stone) will both compete for minutes in the midfield as they adjust to the college game.

A pair of experienced juniors will lead the defensive line for the Bobcats this season. Erin Proctor (Sterling, Va./Potomac Falls) and Liz Seligman (Rockville, Md./St. John's College) each started all 22 games in 2010 and were key reasons why the Bobcats allowed just a total of 13 goals in those matches.

“Their commitment to the game is unbelievable,” Parker said. “They’re always playing. They’re just great soccer players, and that passion and commitment is contagious.”

Seligman did lead the team with 13 assists last season, primarily as the team’s corner kick specialist. But their value comes in preventing chances for the opposition. The Bobcats’ defense allowed just 90 shots on goal all season, in contrast to the team generating 250 of its own. Having that skill and

Junior defender Liz Seligman

experience on defense can be underrated, but it’s not unappreciated. 

“They’re juniors with a big senior class, so obviously they’ll be big time leaders in our program when their time comes,” Parker said. “But they’re already very important to us in a lot of ways.”

Proctor was elected as a tri-captain along with seniors Buckmaster and Donahue.

Another senior, Nikki Rieland (Mt. Airy, Md./South Carroll), will join the backline. She made seven starts in 16 appearances last year. The fourth spot in the back is up for grabs, with freshman Quincy Hegeman (Frostburg, Md./Mountain Ridge) vying for a starting role as a center back. Sophomore Kyrsten Buck (Mt. Airy, Md./Linganore) and freshman Abby Aposporos (Gaithersburg, Md./Gaithersburg) will also be in the rotation. Aposporos has impressed in the preseason and will likely see playing time somewhere on the field, though at what position is still to be determined.

“She really flies around and plays with a lot of energy,” Parker said. “She’s earned her way into the lineup.”

Fellow freshmen Elise Duff (Gaithersburg, Md./Wooton) and Kelly Snyder (Gaithersburg, Md./Magruder) are also in the mix on defense.

After a highly successful debut in the CAC, the Bobcats are finding that it will be somewhat tougher to fly under the radar.

I think it’s interesting that we are the new team in the conference and had a very good start to our tenure last year, and a lot of CAC teams now consider us to be a big game,” Parker said. “And that’s great, we enjoy that kind of pressure.”

And while the possibility of wins by significant margins seems slimmer in 2011, Parker feels that the leaders on his team are prepared for some tighter contests.

“We’ll be exactly as good as our seniors want us to be and allow us to be,” he said. “I think they understand that responsibility, and I think they’re ready to go.”