The SRJC women’s soccer team was runner-up in the State Finals last season and had an excellent season, dominating the Big 8 conference. The Lady Bear Cubs closed out last season with an overall record of 17-3-2 with a conference record of 6-1-1.
The 2010 season also saw the departure of head coach and SRJC alumni Emiria Salzmann, who took the SSU women’s head coaching position.
For the 2011 season the Lady Bear Cubs are led by last season’s SSU head coach Luke Oberkirch, who has an outstanding resume that includes leading the Seawolves to two NCAA Final Four trips and an overall record of 189-97-33. Coach Oberkirch is another product of SRJC, graduating with an associate degree in 1983, and was a member of the men’s soccer team.
The Lady Bear Cubs have several standout players and great homegrown talent. Based on the preseason performance against Napa, the team should score goals in a hurry. The combination of the Curtin twins, Lauren and Cara, proved quite effective as Lauren scored three goals and Cara scored two.
Also in action was Lauren Romano scoring a goal and proving she is back at full strength after suffering a leg fracture. Some other notable returning players include Lisa Shaw and possibly a mid-season return of defender Laura Fenton, who is currently recovering from a broken fibula suffered in July.
“My earliest return is possibly four weeks from now,” Fenton said. “I’m thinking of probably doing a red shirt this year because I might not be able to get back into game fitness. The team is looking good though.”
The squad’s next home game is at 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 16 against Solano Community College.