The Omnibus

Issue date: 8/31/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Amber Gwinn Head Soccer Coach Ben Wade has a pregame talk with Southwest Baptist's Lady Bearcats. The team will play the conference and home opener against Missouri Southern State University at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31.

After being in the top 20 in most improved women's soccer teams and narrowly missing the NCAA tournament, Head Soccer Coach Ben Wade is ready for the next step: the National Tournament.
"We are going to be in the National Tournament," said Wade in an interview in July.
There are plenty of reasons for optimism around the Lady Bearcats. The nations most successful goal keeper, senior A line Lopes, is one of the key elements returning for SBU. Also, the Bearcats bring back three additional seniors, wings Christina Swartz and Atefa Hevary and defender Darla Zarndt.
These girls, along with several other returners, are ready to prove they are worthy of a NCAA bid they were denied last season.
"After the selection show last year," said Wade, "I told them, 'We need to do everything in our power to not let this happen again. Remember this feeling.'"
The Lady Bearcats hope to take that feeling on to the pitch and overcome a tough MIAA schedule.
Power house Truman State, along with Central Missouri and Washburn will be serious competitors for the MIAA crown. Washburn is the defending champion, the first non-Truman champion in MIAA women's soccer history.
The Lady Bearcats are currently 1-1 on the season. Their first scheduled home match is Aug. 31 at 5 p.m. against No. 19 Missouri Southern State University pending field conditions.

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