Colorado University Athletics
Scout Watson saw action in six matches as a redshirt freshman last fall.
Photo by: CUBuffs.com
Tompkins, Watson Locked In Battle For Goalkeeper Spot
August 09, 2016 | Soccer
BOULDER - The position of goalkeeper is up for grabs this preseason for the University of Colorado soccer team as sophomore Scout Watson and redshirt freshman Jalen Tompkins look to replace two-year starter Kate Scheele. Watson saw action as a redshirt freshman in relief of Scheele and head coach Danny Sanchez expects the competition for the starting job to carry into the preseason as both players will have the opportunity to make their mark.
"Scout redshirted her freshman year and then got a little bit of time last year and did well in that time," Sanchez said. "She had some ups and downs during that time but also got some good experience, which carries a lot of weight when you get to this level."
Watson is a redshirt sophomore from Overland Park, Kansas, out of Blue Valley Northwest High School. She appeared in six matches, starting four last season. She added a 1.89 goals-against average and .529 save percentage with nine saves in 380 minutes of action including a second-half appearance which led to a 3-0 shutout of Colorado College. In high school soccer, she was a three-year letterwinner, helping her team to a 24-9-4 record in her sophomore and junior seasons and the 2013 state and regional championships. She also became the first female athlete at BVNW to play three sports all four years.
"I want to be cleaner with the ball and have better distribution, but I also want to be a better teammate by holding myself and others accountable," Watson stated on her personal goals for the year.
Team chemistry has been a hot topic this offseason and has been on the mind of Watson as well.
"We are working on our team chemistry," Watson said. "We have a lot of new girls so [we are] just getting in the flow of things. We definitely have a different mindset then we did last year. We are all going to be together we have worked on doing things outside of soccer to help build chemistry and it shows on the field already."
Colorado will lean on Watson's experience and also the experience of redshirt freshman Tompkins during the 2016 campaign. Tompkins has a major upside to her game and was able to use her redshirt last year to work with the strength and conditioning coaches to allow her to push for a starting position this season. Tompkins was a four-year letterwinner at Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, Arizona, helping lead her team to a state title in 2014. Tompkins has also played for Sereno 97 ECNL club team, winning five Arizona State Club Soccer Championships including a 2013 National (U-16) ECNL Club Soccer Championship.
Tompkins is focused the competition for the starting job but also mentioned this year has a different feel than in years past.
"It's really enjoyable to come to practice," Tompkins said. "We are having fun, but we are also competing at the same time and pushing each other to be the best we can."
"It's going to be a good battle," Sanchez said of the competition between Watson and Tompkins. "We have two goalkeepers and at some point one will step in front of the other but right now I think they are both pretty even and we are excited to see where it goes."
"Scout redshirted her freshman year and then got a little bit of time last year and did well in that time," Sanchez said. "She had some ups and downs during that time but also got some good experience, which carries a lot of weight when you get to this level."
Watson is a redshirt sophomore from Overland Park, Kansas, out of Blue Valley Northwest High School. She appeared in six matches, starting four last season. She added a 1.89 goals-against average and .529 save percentage with nine saves in 380 minutes of action including a second-half appearance which led to a 3-0 shutout of Colorado College. In high school soccer, she was a three-year letterwinner, helping her team to a 24-9-4 record in her sophomore and junior seasons and the 2013 state and regional championships. She also became the first female athlete at BVNW to play three sports all four years.
"I want to be cleaner with the ball and have better distribution, but I also want to be a better teammate by holding myself and others accountable," Watson stated on her personal goals for the year.
Team chemistry has been a hot topic this offseason and has been on the mind of Watson as well.
"We are working on our team chemistry," Watson said. "We have a lot of new girls so [we are] just getting in the flow of things. We definitely have a different mindset then we did last year. We are all going to be together we have worked on doing things outside of soccer to help build chemistry and it shows on the field already."
Colorado will lean on Watson's experience and also the experience of redshirt freshman Tompkins during the 2016 campaign. Tompkins has a major upside to her game and was able to use her redshirt last year to work with the strength and conditioning coaches to allow her to push for a starting position this season. Tompkins was a four-year letterwinner at Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, Arizona, helping lead her team to a state title in 2014. Tompkins has also played for Sereno 97 ECNL club team, winning five Arizona State Club Soccer Championships including a 2013 National (U-16) ECNL Club Soccer Championship.
Tompkins is focused the competition for the starting job but also mentioned this year has a different feel than in years past.
"It's really enjoyable to come to practice," Tompkins said. "We are having fun, but we are also competing at the same time and pushing each other to be the best we can."
"It's going to be a good battle," Sanchez said of the competition between Watson and Tompkins. "We have two goalkeepers and at some point one will step in front of the other but right now I think they are both pretty even and we are excited to see where it goes."
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