October 29 marked a sad but expected day for the four Lady Gators seniors, a new beginning for those who are staying and the closure of a great season of getting to know each other for the whole team.

While their record (6-12 overall, 4-10 CCAA) might not be what they expected, Coach Jack Hyde and the players unanimously said they had a great season and most of all enjoyed every moment of it.

Clark as well as juniors Natalie Macias and Candice Silva, was named to the 2005 All-CCAA Women’s Soccer Team. The three Lady Gators were selected to the Honorable Mention Team as voted on by the CCAA women’s soccer coaches.

Shannon Devine, a senior Kinesiology major who played defense for the Gators and will be graduating in May, said she is sad to leave the team but is confident that the team will be great next year.

“The season went great, we have a great team and great chemistry,” said Devine after playing her last game of her SF State career.

The gap between the statistics and the way the women actually played can be explained by the fact that this year’s team was almost brand new.

“I think we’ve had a good nucleus for that team,” Hyde said, “this season has been a team of new players, with only four or five returnees, it’s been about sorting out who can play where and putting together our team.”

Freshman defenseman Courtney Saldivar, said that the four seniors truly contributed to the well being of the team and although “losing them is scary,” the team will develop during the spring.

“We are a great team, we just had a little bad luck but as a team, we are all focused together,” said Saldivar, who, according to Devine promises to be one of the key players in defense next season.
Kathryn Green, will be replacing goalkeeper Erin Clark, who had 286 saves during her career at SF State, including 72 this season. Hyde said, “Kat will be OK, she’s fine and has been practicing hard.”

Hyde agrees with Saldivar in that it is hard and sad to lose players, “(The seniors) have been with us for four years, they went to the NCAA – National Collegiate Athletics Association, in 2002 - with us but that’s how it is,” said Hyde.

The bond developed between the players is what Sandra Everett, a nursing major and junior will be missing the most when the seniors graduate.

“We all get along so well, it will be hard to replace (their) personalities, and their skills,” said Everett.
Hyde said the statistics of the season showed the ability and improvements of the Gators; indeed, during the game against Cal State Stanislaus - who are number one of the CCAA North Division - both teams had almost the same amount of shots.

However, Hyde said, “The other teams put the opportunities away, next year, that’s what we got to do.”