2017 Ragin' Cajun Women's Soccer Position Preview Part 2: Defenders

With the 2017 season upcoming Ragincajuns.com will be doing a positional preview both this and next week. For this week, the goalkeepers and defenders will be spotlighted.

LAFAYETTE—Defense wins championships. For Louisiana's women's soccer team its more than just being strong in the back, the defending third is where everything in 2017 will start and the women patrolling that section of the field look ready to take on the challenge of beginning the push for victories.

This summer the Ragin' Cajuns have created an emphasis on aggressive play going forward from their defenders. The expectations are for the fullbacks to be an option for not only the goalkeeper to distribute the ball, but on creating space in the final third.

And the center backs will be asked to not only be looking to receive the ball from the goal, but to be ready to send it into the midfield for the offense to really flow towards goal.

"A lot of our system is based on building out of the back," said Louisiana head coach Scot Wieland. "Which means our women need to stay composed while keeping possession."

Coach Wieland has given this task to at least five women, along with the center midfielder being added to the mix at times on the field.

But they won't be alone out on the pitch as it will be necessary for the entire team to be ready to step up and defend at a top level.

"Everything we do has to be proactive and not reactive," said Wieland. "And we must work as one unit, not just one player. You can't work as one defender it's a defense, and without good communication you're in trouble as a defense."

Returning starters to the back line from last season are sophomores Celine Rumpf and Erika Sierra. But they aren't alone with having experience for coach Wieland in playing the position with senior Rebecca Foley and sophomore Kaylie Powell having been slotted into the position in the past.

Helping facilitate the defending third and acting as the anchor in the middle will be senior Whitney Taggart, while listed as a midfielder, her position on the field makes her invaluable to the entire scheme of things as she'll be the connect in the middle for the keeper to play the ball into the midfield.

Last season Rumpf started in 15 matches and logged 1,118 minutes of action, while Sierra saw a little bit more action starting in 18 matches tailing 1,528 minutes of play and she even netted the game-winning goal against Troy.

"Because we weren't very confident in the style that we played last season, we didn't do as well as we had hoped," said Rumpf. "So now with that experience we gained last season and in the spring, we're definitely a lot more confident and better at playing what we have now."

"I think we have a lot more trust in this system since we've tried it out for about a year now," said Sierra.

"We feel confident about who we have back there and how strong they are. At least in the sense of that if they can't stop the ball from going through at least they'll slow it down so that we have enough time for everyone to get back."

The two experienced women will look to lead their fellow Cajun defenders Powell, who logged 629 minutes last season with five starts, Foley, who herself started five matches as well while recording 377 minutes of action, and newcomer freshman Molly Davis, Davis being no stranger to pressure having played on an undefeated team in high school, through what will be a difficult task for the Cajun defense but one that they're up for.

Connecting the entire defense in the middle is the defensive midfielder, a position tasked to Taggart.

"Our holding defensive midfielder is the anchor," said Wieland. "And other then our center backs she is our other option up the middle for the goalkeeper."

"I think it's a good thing that we're looking to play the way we are," said Taggart. It's going to help us keep possession for sure, since you see a lot of teams on the goal kick just send the ball downfield and it becomes a 50-50 ball.

"Our system, the way that it's set up, it guarantees us possession to start and from there we can start building."

Her role will be one of key decision making being there not only for the keeper to play to but also to drop back and cover her teammates as they fall back from the inevitable forward position they'll be asked to run into.

Taggart is no stranger to stepping up where needed, recording three game-winning goals last season while only starting seven matches. Her three years of experience playing in the Sun Belt Conference should allow her to have an idea of what type of attack the Cajuns will be facing each weekend, and in turn she should be a solid force in the midfield position.

The entire system should be a joy to watch and be a part of, especially for the full backs attacking forward.

"I love getting forward as an outside back and getting into the attack," said Sierra. "You feel more involved and you feel that you're helping the team a little bit more."

While defense is the key to winning championships, for the Cajuns it's not going to just be about keeping teams from getting clean shots in the 2017 season, but also at the same time they'll be asked to provide scoring opportunities for their forward teammates whenever they can. A task this group of defenders seems more than ready to tackle.

2017 Ragin' Cajun Women's Soccer Position Preview Part 2: Defenders

Players Mentioned

Molly Davis

Rebecca Foley

Kaylie Powell

Celine Rumpf

Erika Sierra

Whitney Taggart

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