Posted August 19, 2009
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| Acting Head Coach Allison Sanyi addresses the team |
By Paul Erickson, Sports Information Director
After a difficult August in which Head Coach Enzo Fuschino suffered a heart attack, the UW-Platteville women's soccer team honored him the best way they could be getting back on the field and playing hard.
The Pioneers, under Acting Head Coach Allison Sanyi, had their first practice Wednesday morning, with an intense scrimmaging that lasted almost 90 minutes.
"I'm not saying it's not hard knowing the condition he is in, but we have a whole season ahead of us," senior Kim Schneckloth said. "We have Allison as the head coach now and we know how she is and how she coaches. She'll do a great job ... Enzo is definitely in our thoughts and prayers, but we have to go out and play our hardest."
Fuschino remains hospitalized at Mercy Medical Center-Dubuque after his Aug. 1 attack. He led the Pioneers to a six-game improvement from his first year to his second. The Pioneers were 9-9-2 in 2008. Sanyi joined the staff last year as an assistant.
"It feels to get out here and be with the girls we'll be with all season," Schneckloth said. "We have a lot of promising freshmen who fill the spots we need and a good goalie who transferred in (Kaityln Wiedeman from Oakton Community College). I think we're looking pretty good this year."
Schneckloth and Allie Metcalfe earned all-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors last year, and both said they are anxious for the Pioneers to try and move up the WIAC ladder.
"There's a lot of good girls, and I think we'll be very good this year," Metcalfe said.. "Hopefully we can move up in conference and will challenge those teams this year."
Sarah Gengler was an all-WIAC selection in 2007, giving the Pioneers three of the seven returning all-conference players in the nine-team league.
"With three of us back who are all-conference and having so many promising freshmen coming in who did great in their high school leagues, we have talent, and the way we play, our styles will work out pretty well together," Schneckloth said.
The Pioneers begin their season at Marian (Wis.) Sept. 1, and although Fuschino will not accompany the team, he will be thought of during that game and each one this season.
"It is hard, but we're going to get red bands on our socks that say Enzo on them," Metcalfe said. "We're wearing them every game for him."
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