The UCSD women’s soccer team was clearly the team to beat in the 2004 season, with several strong offensive players and a seemingly impenetrable defense. As a result of the team’s remarkable all-around play, the California Collegiate Athletic Association awarded four Tritons First Team All-CCAA honors. Senior goalie Jamie Lautenschleger, junior defender Heather Szafraniec, sophomore midfielder Megan Dickey, and sophomore forward Kelly Cochran comprised the most First Team selections of any team in the conference. The four players helped UCSD finish atop the conference with a 14-3-1 record, and register its fifth-straight South Division title and fifth-consecutive appearance in the CCAA Championships, under head coach Brian McManus.
Team co-captain Szafraniec is the anchor of the Tritons’ defense, which was ranked among the top in goals allowed. She is a local product of Scripps Ranch High School, and her defensive skills earned her CCAA Freshman of the Year honors in 2002. A stay-at-home defender, she is rarely out of position and can quickly cut off an oncoming attacker’s shot angle. Her defensive prowess in the backfield allows her fellow defenders to push up and join the offensive attack. Although she injured her ankle during the season, she remained the defensive stalwart for UCSD, refusing to let the injury deter her.
“She came in and [has] been a starter since high school,” McManus said. “She’s the team captain and team leader. She’s done a tremendous job and put the program first. She’s played in games that no other [injured] player would have.”
Another local on the Tritons’ roster is Torrey Pines High School graduate Dickey, whose consistent playmaking and scoring skills gave her the first conference honor of her career.
“This year, she’d become just as strong as last year,” McManus said. “Especially coming off her third ACL injury, I didn’t think she’d be starting till later in the season. But she worked like heck in the summer, and she’s been phenomenal.”
As a midfielder, she has the ability to read plays well and has a keen sense of her teammates’ position on the field. Dickey can either take the ball to the net herself or feed a pass to set up scoring chances. She was second on the team in scoring, with 19 points, and tied Cochran for most goals, with eight, including three game-winning goals. Although she’s only a sophomore, Dickey has stepped up and taken an active role as the leader, serving as co-captain with Szafraniec.
Cochran was last year’s CCAA Freshman of the Year and All-CCAA First Team selection. She is one of the most feared snipers in the league because her speed and ability to turn on a dime make it difficult to knock her off the ball. Cochran is effective at taking tough shots and making passes in the box despite being double- or triple-teamed.
“She’s been hampered a bit with injuries this season, but she’s played well and been a leader,” McManus said.
Despite playing with some injuries, Cochran is a player that McManus has been able to rely on, especially at clutch times. Her 23 points this season led UCSD in scoring, with eight goals, seven assists and four game-winning goals. Cochran has also come through for UCSD in penalty kick situations, converting on all her attempts.
Lautenschleger patiently waited for her opportunity to attain the starting goalie position, and she turned it into a remarkable season. Her quickness and athleticism made it tricky for opposing players to get the ball past her. Lautenschleger plays much bigger than her 5’6” frame would suggest and is not afraid to step out and challenge oncoming attackers. She led all CCAA goalies with nine shutouts and a 0.66 goals-against average. The low goals-against average consistently ranked her in the top 10 among all NCAA Division II goalies throughout the 2004 season.
“She’s been very patient,” McManus said. “She came in with a young team and gave the team great confidence from the back.”
