The Bottom Line

School is back in session and summer is in the rear view mirror. With long and boring classes also comes the beginning of the fall sports season again. While the teams are expectedly excited about the new season, students also have reason to go out and support their fellow students' in their quests to bring some championships home to Frostburg State.

Bobcats football is back. After a disappointing season two years ago, last year the Bobcats finished with a winning record and an appearance in the ECAC Southwest Championship. The team returns some great players on both sides of the ball. The one big question mark for this team is who will be the starting quarterback on opening day. Three players are competing for the spot but none has had much playing time in college. This decision will largely impact how the season plays out for this team. Students can get excited because the first game of the season starts at 6pm on the new turf field and will give the team a chance for their first game under the lights.

Hopes are high this year for men's soccer team who hasn't won an AMCC title in four years. Although the team finished with a losing record last season, they did win seven of their final ten games to build some momentum for the new season. The team has a pair of All-Conference players returning to the midfield and another All-Conference selection in the backfield. A reason to be excited for this team to make a run for a title is the return of Derek Richardson in goal after allowing only two goals in conference play while posting five shutouts.

The Frostburg women's soccer team is a pre-season pick to win its sixth straight AMCC title. More accolades for this team go to Jen Naylor who is the AMCC Pre-Season Player of the Year. Naylor was an All-Conference pick a year ago with seven goals and two assists. The team has been to four straight NCAA tournaments under head coach Brian Parker and there is no reason to believe that it won't happen again this year.

The volleyball team will look to get back to their winning ways this season after an unusually disappointing finish last fall. While still having a winning record last year, the team failed to win the AMCC as it has in seven of the past nine seasons and make the NCAA tournament. Amanda Hernandez returns with an All-Conference selection from last season and looks to get the team moving in the right direction. A plethora of young talent will go a long way in getting the team back on track for another Championship year.

Bobcats field hockey has a new coach but the same will to win and get the to NCAA's this year. Over the summer assistant coach Anna Sidorenko was promoted to head coach of the team. Last year the team improved to 11-6 guided by Sidorenko's help and made a strong statement during the season with a win of then number fifteen ranked Catholic. This season's big match up comes when powerhouse Salisbury comes to Frostburg on September 16. It should be an exciting season for the girls.

The women's tennis team has not fared well in the past few years but with the new incoming talent and return of All-Conference selection Jenn Tolbert an AMCC title may not be that far out of reach. A plethora of new players have entered with eleven girls trying out for the team which should make for a great starting six in the line-up this fall.

All of this fall's teams have something to be excited about. Many of them have legitimate shots to bring home a conference title and make an NCAA tournament. Students should get out there and enjoy some of these great contests. Since there are night games now students should throw down a few brews with their pals and go out their and cheer on their fellow students loudly. Here's to a great fall season.

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