Aug. 17, 2010 SEATTLE - Having a strong, athletic and experienced goalkeeper is a big key to any soccer team's success, and for the University of Washington in 2010, they have three of those to choose from. Dani Boross, Kari Davidson and Jorde LaFontaine-Kussmann all return for head coach Lesle Gallimore this season and between the three of them have plenty of experience, leadership and skills. "Washington soccer is about being organized and diligent defensively so that we spend less time defending and more time attacking," Gallimore said. "With that said, beginning at the back we will have our best tandem of goalkeeper's in a long while. Kari Davidson and Jorde LaFontaine-Kussmann have been in a heated battle for top-spot for over a year. Jorde sat out last year due to the Pac-10 transfer rule, so all of that competition was basically in practice or spring games. Kari and Jorde have very different styles, very different strengths and weaknesses, and they both have starter qualities. Goalkeeping should be a strength for us regardless of which one of them minds the nets. Healthy back-up in Dani Boross should be for a solid cadre of goalkeepers." Davidson, a junior from Portland, Ore., returns after being the starter the last two seasons. As a two-year letterwinner, she already ranks fourth all-time in school history with a 1.22 career goals against average and sixth in saves (97) and shutouts (7). She has a 19-9-5 record in two year's playing in the toughest conference in the country. In 2009, she finished the season with a 0.96 GAA which ranks fourth in UW single-season history, ranked third in the Pac-10 with 64 saves and fifth in the league in shutouts. Davidson earned her first solo shutout of the season against then-ranked No. 11 Illinois. She also blanked Ole Miss in the NCAA First Round. After transferring from California two years ago, LaFontaine-Kussmann redshirted the 2009 season and will be a junior this fall for the Huskies. Originally from Lakewood, Wash., she played half of her freshman season at Cal, allowing just two goals in 261 minutes. She was chosen as the teams Most Inspirational after becoming ill. She redshirted the end of the 2007 season and all of 2008 while at Cal before moving to Seattle. At Charles Wright Academy, LaFontaine-Kussmann was rated the top keeper coming out of Region IV and has a lot of National team experience. She was the No. 12 recruit in the nation named by Soccer Buzz coming out of high school, a 2007 Parade Magazine All-American and a 2006 NSCAA All-American. A sophomore from Belmont, Calif., Boross practiced full-time with the team in 2009 after making the team as a walk-on. At Woodside Priory in Portola Valley, Calif., she led her team to the league championship three years and a second place finish her senior season. Fans can watch these three goalkeepers and the rest of the Huskies on Friday at 5 p.m. as they open the season at Seattle University's Championship Field. Log on to www.gohuskies.com on Wednesday for a preview on the defenders. Thursday we will preview the midfielders and Friday the forwards. Monday: Season Preview - http://www.gohuskies.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/081610aaa.html. |
