Athletica Expecting a Big 2010

99 days to go...

The New Year has run in with style, from the historic “Ball Drop” in New York City to the traditional fireworks show on Sydney Harbor in Australia. Across the world, folks are welcoming in 2010, ready for the change and prosperity only a new year can bring.

In the world of women's soccer, the St Louis Athletica are looking forward to the new year, hoping to improve on their terrific 2009 season. Finishing No. 2 in the league standings with a 10-6-4 record, the Athletica were disappointed with a 1-0 loss to eventual champions, Sky Blue FC in the super semifinal.

Despite their heartbreaking ending, the Athletica ended their inaugural season with a .75 goals against average (GAA), the second best record in the league and achieved a .95 goals per game average (GPG), the third best in the league.

The performance of the individuals was also stellar, with Athletica players in the top five league leader standings. Goalkeeper Hope Solo, who was also honored with US Soccer's Female Athlete of the Year award, held a .82 GAA and also boasted eight shutouts in 20 games played, both ranked No. 2 in the league. Forward Eniola Aluko garnered top five rankings in goals scored with six, as well as in assists with four.

The 2010 season begins in a little over three months, but first the highly anticipated WPS draft takes place on Jan. 15 at 10am ET. As of now, St. Louis holds the No. 17 overall pick, which takes place in the second round.

With the deep and talented pool of collegiate players entering the draft, as well as the remaining free agents available, the Athletica are looking to improve even more on their season. While they probably won't get the top draft prospects, the depth of the players in the draft will be beneficial to their team.

With only two forwards on their set roster, St Louis will be looking to garner a strong striking presence to compliment Aluko and add tallies to their goals scored average. Their position in the draft has the Athletica at a slight disadvantage over other teams to pick up top prospects, but names such as Katie Oakes (California), Michelle Enyeart (Portland), and Jessica Fuccello (Penn) are among those prospective picks who the Athletica might look to in order to buff up their goal scoring.

The Athletica defense boasted one of the strongest overall performances in the league in 2009, so St Louis will likely be focusing their draft choices on strong midfielders to support their forwards. There are plenty of names in the prospects including versatile Becky Edwards (Florida State), Jess Rosedt (Virgina), and Nikki Washington (UNC), who will add their play making abilities as well as scoring abilities to the league.

Their eye on an exciting first game against FC Gold Pride on April 11 at their home Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park, the “girls in green” hope to start the season with a win and eventually make their way to the title game in the summer.

PHOTO CREDIT: http://wps.pumafootball.com