Women’s Soccer Positional Preview No. 2: Midfielders

BOCA RATON, Fla. – As the countdown continues to Friday's season opener, the conversation with Patrick Baker, head coach of the Florida Atlantic University women's soccer team, continues as well. This is edition two of four, previewing the 2018 squad by position groups, and today's is the largest of those groups, the midfielders.

Friday, Aug. 10: Forwards
Today: Midfielders
Wednesday, Aug. 15: Defenders
Friday, Aug. 17: Goalkeepers

An even dozen of the 29-player roster currently takes shape in the midfield, including three returning starters, a position change for a Preseason Conference USA selection, and a batch of newcomers.

Returnees (7): Senior Ebba Blomqvist (switch from defender), Redshirt Junior Mimi Godoy, Senior Mary Hasler, Junior Jessica Monteiro, Junior Mary O'Hara, Sophomore Sammy Vitols, Redshirt Freshman Allyssa Woodring
Newcomers (5): Junior college transfer Kaila Armstrong, Freshman Madison Davenport, Freshman Emma Grissom, Sophomore transfer Maddison "Gi" Krstec, Freshman Jenna Ortiz
Lost (4): Asta Arnadottir, Lucy Carter, Maddie Pung, Meredith Roberts

Coach Baker on the midfielders:
"I'm excited about this group. This group has the most returning players, but we're also excited about the newcomers, whether it's a freshman, JUCO All-American or a four-year transfer. We can do a lot of different things with them. They are able to cover ground, attack and defend in transition. I'm looking forward to this group growing as the season goes and to see if they can become one of the best in Conference USA."

Kaila Armstrong

Newcomer from Daytona State College, and originally hailing from Broomfield, Colorado
Twice named NJCAA All-Region 8, including a First Team selection last year
As a sophomore at DSC, scored nine goals (four of which were game-winners) and had eight assists

"Kaila is smooth. She is calm, cool and collected. We had watched some tape of her at Daytona and I liked what we saw, but she's even better in person. She has technical ability, vision, and her soccer IQ is really high. We think we can play her anywhere in the midfield."

Ebba Blomqvist

Had a fantastic debut season, leading the team in goals with five and in minutes played in the field
Started the last seven matches in the midfield after anchoring the back line for the previous 14
Earned First Team All-Conference USA and Second Team All-South Region; was selected Preseason All-C-USA as well

"Ebba is poised to have a great senior year. She has come in with good fitness and good form, and she's going to lead with her voice and by example. She's been picked Preseason All-Conference and rightfully so. Again, she's positioned to have her best year. She came in last year and found her way to fit right in, I think her second year, she's going to continue to get better."

Madison Davenport

One of five newcomers, and three freshmen, in this position group
At Christ's Church Academy in Jacksonville, was Team MVP in 2016 and Best Attacking Player the year before that
Led the district in points her senior year

"Madison, again, can play multiple positions in the midfield. I think with her attacking prowess, it's best to play as one of the three attacking mids. She can run with people and can really strike the ball well. She's good now, but in two years, she's going to be really, really good, providing she stays with what we're trying to do. She is a huge piece of the puzzle. She's come in in a good spot and can have a really good freshman impact on the season."

Mimi Godoy

Sparkplug fourth year returned after a season missed due to injury to play in 12 matches
Scored first collegiate goal last season at Rice
Now has 27 career caps heading into her final year

"Mimi, this is the best shape she has come in, and it shows. She's impacting training, she's making a lot happen. She's able to get on the ball more. Mimi is naturally left-footed, we've tried to add those each class. It's her last go-round, we want her to have a tremendous year individually, and hopefully for her class as a whole."

Emma Grissom

Another true freshman, and a Pensacola native
Was J.M. Tate High School Offensive Player of the Year; three times, a member of the FHSAA All-State Team
Set school record with 32 goals and was named Florida District 1-4A Player of the Year

"Emma just gets the job done. No matter what. She's capable of playing on both sides of the ball. She's definitely a very gifted central midfielder, playing up the spine whether holding or attacking. She has great vision, plays really good balls, and has range to her game with the various passes she can make. Similar to Madison, Emma is young, talented and is pushing some big personality players on our team. We're very high on Emma."

Mary Hasler

Fourth-year senior has 33 career matches played, including a career-high 16 last season
Was the difference maker in scoring the only goal in a C-USA victory over Old Dominion
Played for the youth national team in her native country of Austria

"Mary is another senior who's been through a lot. We're excited for her, she had a tremendous summer with her club team, being promoted, I know that was meaningful for her and her club. We want her to go off on a tremendous note. She's come in fit, positive, always with a smile on her face. She wants to have the best year she can have for her and her team. Unfortunately, she's had some untimely injuries in her career, if we can keep her healthy, like so many others, she'll have her best year to date."

Maddison "Gi" Krstec

Returns to the Sunshine State after playing 14 matches her freshman season at the University of Maryland
Had five starts for the Terrapins, including a goal against No. 12 Wisconsin
Originally hails from North Port, and after her senior year at Lakewood Ranch High, was 2017 Herald-Tribune Preps Soccer Player of the Year

"Gi is an impactful player wherever she'll play. We like her in the midfield right now, but she's very good on the ball. Very good decision-making, defends as good as she attacks. This was our second time recruiting her, even though we lost her the first time, we're very appreciative we didn't the second. You can tell she has played at a high level, and she's gonna have a great impact on our team this season."

Jessica Monteiro

In two years, has started 39 of 41 matches, with already over 2,500 total minutes on the pitch (2,581 to be exact)
Notched the fifth-most minutes among returning field players last year
Has had double-digit shot attempts each season as well (13 and 11, respectively)

"Jessi has had two very good years, but this may be the best she's looked this early in the season. With Ebba (Blomqvist) playing as a holding, Jess had played that, now she's higher and wider in the midfield. She has continued getting more and more confident. She has great feet, a tremendous skill base and is a very good passer of the ball. In an attacking role this year, she may get some more goals in the process, but she's capable of defending as well. She can easily slide back down and play the holding mid she's played for two years."

Mary O'Hara

Similar to Monteiro, enters her third year with 35 starts in 43 matches, and is just under 2,800 total minutes played (2,781)
Had two goals and two assists her debut year, and was chosen to the All-C-USA Third Team as well as C-USA All-Freshman
Added three more goals this past season, two were game-winners, and all were part of Owl victories

"This will sound repetitive, but very similar to Jess (Monteiro), they have come in and done a lot of great things their first two years, but this is the best early form we've seen from her too. She is always active, running at players, making things happen. All-Conference as a freshman, she missed out on some recognition last year, not that that bothers her. She was one of our team's top players, as an accomplished sophomore, but is now more mature, more experienced, more invested. You hope for them their season is one of the best, and we put this schedule together to challenge them as juniors."

Jenna Ortiz

Another freshman and another native Floridian, from St. Johns
Was team captain for Creekside High, who finished as Class 4A state runners-up in 2017
Was named the Team's Hardest Worker, and also has a Team MVP award to her credit

"I have been impressed with Jenna. I saw her the least of any of our freshmen, but she's done well. She's lively, brings positive energy, has a great personality and is very skillful. We have to decide, do we use her in the midfield from an attacking standpoint? We like her skillset under the line, and feel that she'll get minutes as a freshman."

Sammy Vitols

Debut season saw her log 13 starts, eight of which were against C-USA opponents and two more in the C-USA Championship tournament
All told, it was 21 match appearances and 1,042 minutes logged
Scored her first college goal in a win over Eastern Michigan, and was second on the team in corner kicks

"Sammy had a tremendous year as a freshman, starting about every game. The key coming back as a sophomore is building on that year. She is naturally left-footed, can create chances and score goals. Now, it's playing consistently at a high level, which is such a challenge after a positive freshman year experience."

Allyssa Woodring

Sat out her first season at FAU, rehabbing from a previous injury
Starred for her Palm Harbor High team, earning Team MVP and helping lead them to two state final fours
Also won three state titles with her club team, Tampa Bay United

"Coming off an ACL redshirt, Allyssa is a strong, imposing midfielder. She is great on the tackle, very good in the air, very good skillset, has a wide range of passes. We are excited she's available to play this year."

The breakdown of the 2018 Owls by position group is halfway through, and resumes Wednesday with the team's defenders. To purchase single-game or season tickets, including Friday's opening match, inside FAU Stadium against the University of Miami, visit www.fausports.com, or call 1-866-FAU-OWLS.

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Players Mentioned

Kaila Armstrong

Asta Arnadottir

Ebba Blomqvist

Lucy Carter

Madison Davenport

Mimi Godoy

Emma Grissom

Mary Hasler

Gi Krstec

Jessica Monteiro

Mary O'Hara

Jenna Ortiz

Maddie Pung

Meredith Roberts

Sammy Vitols

Allyssa Woodring

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