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The Charlotte 49ers women's soccer team is once again expected to be one of the best in the Carolinas.
The pattern of success might be familiar – how the 49ers achieve that success this season may appear a little different and a little out-of-character for coach Jon Lipsitz.
In Lipsitz's previous three seasons, Charlotte has gone 40-19-3, won two Atlantic 10 regular season titles and one conference tournament title and made one trip to the NCAA tournament, which for the 49ers ended last season with a 4-2 loss to Clemson.
A constant throughout Lipsitz's tenure as been a solid defense.
This season, one where Charlotte is again favored to win the A-10, the 49ers might rely more on their offense.
“We're a little bit behind defensively than what we've been in the past. Certainly my concern is will we defend well enough? It's very different than the teams I've had here in the past,” Lipsitz said.
“I've had teams that weren't skilled enough but we won by out-fighting everybody. Now, I've got this team of very skilled, special soccer players who are a little soft. What we need to do is teach them we need to win the battle for the ball before we get to have fun with it.”
Charlotte, 16-5-1 last season, returns four players who have each scored six or more goals in a season.
Two are seniors – forwards Nikki Czaplicki and Nikki Dumencich – and two are sophomores, preseason A-10 pick Sam Huecker and forward Whitney Weinraub.
The four will mix with another strong freshman class that also appears heavy on scoring.
That doesn't mean the 49ers' defense will suffer, however.
“All the freshmen coming in, they are very offensively-minded. Based on the technical and tactical ability we have this season, we're definitely more offensive-minded,” said Huecker, who had six goals last season.
“Definitely, our defense is still going strong, though. We've got the same starting back (line) with one year under their belt. A lot of good things are going to come from that, too.”
Dumencich and Czaplicki are two of three seniors on the 49ers' roster this season, making this year's team the youngest in Lipzitz's tenure.
It might be Lipsitz's most talented team, but Charlotte will be without Lindsey Ozimek, easily the most decorated player in school history.
“On paper it looks like a huge hole, but I don't feel that way at all,” Lipsitz said. “Sam Huecker spent the entire spring in the midfield. She even watched video of Lindsey's best games. She is taking to heart that she needs to be the one to set the rhythm of our team.”
Charlotte will waste no time testing its new-found firepower as the 49ers open their season Friday at perennial power North Carolina, which is ranked No. 1 in at least one national poll.
“I've always wanted to play North Carolina, and I didn't know if I was going to get the chance,” said Czaplicki, who played only four games last season before an injury sidelined her the rest of the year.
“I think it's a challenge for us as individual soccer players and us collectively.
“We keep saying to each other, ‘We can play with anyone in the country' and here's our chance to play with the best in the country and show everyone in collegiate sports where we're at.”
