After completing his first season at the helm of the women's soccer program at Wittenberg, Head Coach Fran Kulas is ecstatic about the future of the program. The 2000 season promises a fresh start for the Tigers, who return six players and welcome 17 freshmen into the emerging program. In 1999 the Tigers recorded a 7-11-1 record and a sixth-place finish in the North Coast Athletic Conference.

"The NCAC may be the most competitive women's soccer conference in the country at the NCAA Division III level," Kulas said. "Everyone involved in our program is excited about the fact that we are competing against some of the best teams in the country on a weekly basis. An immediate goal that we have is to win the NCAC championship. That is a feat that has not been accomplished in the 15-year history of the program, and our players are excited about having the opportunity to make a mark in the record books." While Coach Kulas is aware of the fierce competition provided by the conference schedule, he is also excited about the high level of non-conference opponents. "We try and create a schedule so that we can develop our players throughout the season," he said. "Three of our 2000 non-conference opponents were regionally ranked in 1999, and not only are we playing Division III teams in 2000, but Division II and NAIA programs as well.

"I'm extremely excited not only about the talent we have on the roster this season, but what is most impressive is the chemistry among all of the players. This season really is a turning point for our program. Our experienced upperclassmen will be joined with incoming freshmen, who bring a wealth of high school, club, and ODP experience into our program." Seniors Shana Ryan and Natalie Estep and junior Emily Gersbach have been selected as tri-captains for 2000. "I'm very pleased with the leadership that is in place for this season," Coach Kulas said. "These captains know how to lead both verbally and by example, and they know what it takes to succeed at this level. I am counting on our captains to lead the younger players in the program, not only on the soccer field, but from a social and academic standpoint as well."

Coach Kulas is confident that everything is in place for success. "There is no question in my mind that the Wittenberg women's soccer program will become a national power in a very short period of time at the NCAA Division III level," he said. "Two-thousand will be the first year of the new winning tradition here in the Wittenberg women's soccer program."