Women’s Soccer Positional Preview No. 3: Defenders

BOCA RATON, Fla. – In just over two days' time, the Florida Atlantic University women's soccer team lifts the lid on the 2018 season, hosting Miami at the school's on-campus football venue, FAU Stadium. This is the third of four position-by-position previews for the team, the defenders, as discussed with Head Coach Patrick Baker.

Friday, Aug. 10: Forwards
Monday, Aug. 13: Midfielders
Today: Defenders
Friday, Aug. 17: Goalkeepers

Eight defenders are made up of three returning starters, four returnees and a single newcomer. One of the team's strengths this last handful of years has been the outside back positions, and one of those is up for grabs still in this preseason.

Returnees (7): Senior Marli Batiste, Redshirt Sophomore Emma Jacobs, Sophomore Ashlyn Kitterman, Freshman Hailey Landrus, Junior Alex Maxson, Redshirt Sophomore Abby Ribas (switch from forward), Junior Maddie Winch, Junior Carolynn Wotring
Newcomers (1): Freshman Hailey Landrus
Lost (1): Madison Caldwell

Coach Baker on the defenders:
"Very experienced group, you've got a senior, three juniors, three sophomores and a freshman, Probably, with Marli and Alex, you have two of our more veteran players, and you've got a lot of young players as far as minutes and potential starts, having a big year on the outside. We lost (Madison) Caldwell to graduation, Sophie Sanchez the year before, Jade Rhodes the year before, but we've always been blessed with someone stepping up and having a big year. Centerbacks have been good for these last 12 months. Interesting to see how that line formulates and grows, not only for the non-conference season, but also the conference schedule."

Marli Batiste

Cemented her role late last season as a centerback, starting the last eight matches and playing every single minute of all of them
Earned well-deserved recognition for her postseason play, as she was chosen to the C-USA All-Tournament Team
Last year, started 10 of 20 matches, logging 1,213 total minutes played

"Marli had a tremendous junior year, finished very strong being named to the Conference All-Tournament Team. After being named a captain in the offseason, she has a big senior year ahead of her. She is strong, athletic, has been getting better on the ball, better decision-making. We love where she's at and are excited about what her senior year can become."

Emma Jacobs

Limited action her first season with the squad last year
Came to FAU from Kansas State, utilizing a redshirt freshman year there
Local product, from Parkland, starting three years at Stoneman Douglas, and totaling 18 goals and 11 assists

"Again, after a first year of being a redshirt freshman, Emma has worked extremely hard over the summer. She has come in and just played at a different level than a year ago. She's stronger, faster and has worked hard on better knowing the system around her. She's communicating more, just being more impactful and more of a presence. We needed to see that, and it's great she's providing that in the preseason."

Ashlyn Kitterman

Touted as C-USA All Freshman after a debut season that saw her start 18 of 20 matches and 1,387 minutes on the pitch
That latter total was fifth-highest on the team, and seven times, she played 90 minutes+
One of the team's rare out-of-state recruits (only five of 29), from Jenks High and Bixby, Oklahoma, where she was two-time MVP and three-time Best Defensive Player

"Ash had a tremendous freshman year, and is looking to build on that type of year. She is athletic, quick, has the ability to solve the game, and her decision-making got better and better as the year went on. We're looking forward to that improving even more this year. Many feel if we hadn't lost her before the North Texas game, things could have been different, but unfortunately, we didn't have her. We're looking forward to her having another good year."

Hailey Landrus

The only new defender, and another non-Florida native, from Andover, Minnesota, and Anoka High School
Was team captain and Anoka's Ms. Defense, and was chosen both 2017 Minnesota All-State and All-Conference
Led her club team, MapleBrook, to three state championships (2014, 2015, 2017)

"Hailey is really good. I saw her play, and thought, that could be a four-year All-Conference left back. She's come in fit, making good defensive plays, making good decisions with the ball at her feet, and she understands spacing. She's going to have a lot of good forwards running at her this year, but she has a good starting point. I'm excited to see what her overall freshman year will look like at the end. Excited to have her."

Alex Maxson

Veteran junior that has tallied 37 starts in 39 career matches, including having her name in the starting lineup for every possible match last year
Recorded over 1,500 minutes each season, at 1,561 and 1,662, respectively
Also is a team leader off the pitch, honored as a sophomore as C-USA All-Academic

"Alex, similar to other key players starting as freshmen and sophomores, has played in a lot of great games, logged a lot of minutes, and we expect this to be her best year. She plays at a high level, had a great summer with her club team, and it's good she got those minutes. Her partnership with Marli will be even better this year, that's the natural progression you hope for. She has been playing with great centerbacks, she played with Erica (Burt), Ebba (Blomqvist), Marli (Batiste), but the common face has been Alex, and we expect that to still be true this year. She's part of that talented junior class that changed so much for us as freshmen, and this should be one of the best years ever."

Abby Ribas

Will be making the switch from the frontline to the backline in her third preseason with the squad
Hails from Pembroke Pines and starred at Archbishop McCarthy High
Named both All-County and All-State

"Abby, we converted positionally in the offseason. We like her speed, and her athleticism, and she is still learning how to play as an outside back from a defensive standpoint, transition and attacking standpoint. We think this is the best position for her, to help us moving forward. She's had two years to watch and grow and develop, we're hoping this year that can translate this year into potentially more minutes and hopefully more opportunities for her."

Maddie Winch

In her first two seasons, has 28 caps to her credit
Had two starts among 13 appearances last year, and earned her first career assist
Was Palm Beach County All-Conference during her time at Jupiter High

"Maddie is again a member of that talented class with good experience. She can play center or wide, but we want to invest in her as an outside back. She can play left, play right, play center in a pinch. This could be her best year. Until we can sort out exactly what we want to do with the back line, there is plenty of opportunity to earn minutes. Until then, it'll be 'defender by committee,' and she'll be a big part of that group."

Carolynn Wotring

Another member of the team's vaunted junior class, from Lake Worth
At Park Vista Community High, was First Team All-Conference
Also led her club team to the State Final Four all four years

"Along with T (Tiril Haga), Caro is probably one of our top two improved players. She's fit and has been competing hard. She had a great spring, used that spring platform to have a good summer, and used that summer to have a great preseason. Can play outside, left or right, again, until we finalize, we're gonna use her and others to fill those positions, and eventually someone will win those spots. She's definitely in contention, and she's been in that starting group early this preseason."

One more positional breakdown remains, with the team's three goalkeepers set to post on Friday, the same day as the season opener. For tickets for that night, any other single match, or season passes, visit www.fausports.com or call 1-866-FAU-OWLS.

Calendar

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Players Mentioned

Marli Batiste

Madison Caldwell

Tiril Haga

Emma Jacobs

Ashlyn Kitterman

Hailey Landrus

Alex Maxson

Abby Ribas

Maddie Winch

Carolynn Wotring

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Florida Atlantic University Athletics