Lady Toppers, freshman, Christen Sims, freshman, Sydney Sisler, senior, Kellie Walker, and sophomore, Kelsey Meyer all midfielders, embrace one another in celebration after a goal by Walker, in the final two minuets of the game on Sunday against Eastern Kentucky University. The Lady Toppers won 1-0 over Eastern Kentucky University. BRENDAN SULLIVAN/HERALD
Western women’s soccer coach Jason Neidell is facing a problem this season, but he said this particular problem is a good one to have.
Sophomore goalkeeper Libby Stout rewrote the record books last season, but she’s now competing for playing time with senior goalkeeper Leslie King, a transfer from Morehead State.
“It’s a healthy competition,” King said. “We support each other and help each other work on our weaknesses.”
Lady topper’s, freshman midfielder, Ali Stahlke, challenges Eastern Kentucky, sophomore, midfielder, Heather Bruce to the ball during the first half of Sunday’s game. Lady Toppers won 1-0 over Eastern Kentucky. BRENDAN SULLIVAN/HERALD
King set numerous single-season and career records in her three years with the Eagles, including saves, wins and goals-against percentage.
Though King quit soccer to focus on school during her senior year, she transferred to Western to pursue a master’s degree in health care administration and will use her last year of eligibility with the Lady Toppers (3-0-0).
King’s arrival has created uncertainty at the goalkeeper position, where Stout allowed just nine goals and recorded 14 shutouts last season, a Lady Topper and Sun Belt Conference record.
Stout was also second in the nation in save percentage in 2008 and was the first Lady Topper to be named to the freshman all-American team.
Though Stout started the 2009 season opener, a 1-0 win over Butler on Aug. 21, Neidell gave King the start in Friday’s 3-2 defeat of Southern Indiana.
“Leslie has been working hard all preseason and we wanted to reward her with a start,” he said.
Neidell said he’s not sure how he will utilize Stout and King, a pair that he considers the two best goalkeepers in the conference.
But both players said there are no bitter feelings between them.
King said she had heard about Stout’s accomplishments from 2008, so she knew she wouldn’t be handed the starting job.
“I just came here with the attitude to push her and make her the best she could be and also compete for the starting spot,” she said.
Last season, Stout was the only goalkeeper on the Lady Topper’s roster, but Stout said she welcomes the competition.
“It gives the team a lot of confidence to know we have experience back there,” Stout said.
Freshmen goalkeepers Katlyn Barnes and Cheryl Onwu also joined the team this season, and goalkeepers coach Will Beddingfield said the extra depth will be beneficial for Stout and King.
“We’re able to spend a lot more time training with them,” he said. “Last year, when Libby was the only goalkeeper, we didn’t train her as hard in order to avoid injury. Now she can get the right amount of training.”
Beddingfield said King’s maturity and work ethic have been contagious for the rest of the team.
“It feels like she’s been here for four years because of the way the girls respond to her,” he said. “She brings a new level of competition … Our practices are more intense and are closer to game-like situations.”
The Lady Toppers travel to Memphis to face the Tigers at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
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