Fast start vital for Wolverines

Reading Time: < 1 minute Like the sprinter quick out of the blocks, or the swimmer first into the water, a good start can make the difference between gold and silver. A sputtering Yugo finds itself too far behind to make up ground when drag racing a Ferrari. So, Utah Valley University’s women’s soccer team has pounced out of the gate early in the 2008 season.

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Like the sprinter quick out of the blocks, or the swimmer first into the water, a good start can make the difference between gold and silver. A sputtering Yugo finds itself too far behind to make up ground when drag racing a Ferrari. So, Utah Valley University’s women’s soccer team has pounced out of the gate early in the 2008 season.

After falling short in an exhibition contest against Weber State, 3-2 in overtime, the Wolverines have solidified two convincing wins, an exhibition over Dixie State, 2-0; and a 5-0 rout of North Dakota to start the regular season. An early, small feat will teach the lady Wolverines how to win in close games later in the season.

A year ago, UVU started the season with a measly 1-5-1 record, and didn’t record their first win until late September. This season however, things appear much brighter for the women.

From top to bottom, the Wolverines have experience at every position. And a schedule with numerous home matches should pad the win column. But — as the New York Giants found out in the NFL playoffs — it’s still more important to win at the end of the season.

So, will it be a benchmark campaign for the Wolverines in ’08? Two tough road trips and the conference tournament in Farmville, Virginia will decide whether this is a good season or a great one. The pieces are in place for a run of excellence, and the team will rely heavily on its senior leadership to be taken to a second consecutive United Soccer Conference tournament championship.