When practice began Aug. 16, Baker women's soccer coach Ivan Huntoon had a potential problem.
Despite returning 20 players from last year's 12-8-1 team, Huntoon entered the fall without either of his team's two leading scorers -- a duo that accounted for over three-fifths of the Wildcats' goals the season before.
Yet despite those losses, Huntoon's team has had little problem finding firepower so far this season. Heading into today's game at Central Methodist College in Fayette, Mo., Baker had scored 14 goals while rolling to a 4-1 record and a national ranking.
"I'm not really surprised at all," said Huntoon, whose team is ranked No. 20 in this week's NAIA national poll. "I felt going into the year that this was going to be the most talented team I've ever coached here. I really believed that even with those losses, we'd be right where we needed to be."
Already, Baker has had enough offense to defeat a nationally ranked team in Park College and score eight goals in one match. The squad's one loss came at the hands of National American University, which is ranked No. 12.
Perhaps most pleasing to Huntoon is the way in which Baker has been scoring. After depending on Vicky Morrison -- the most valuable offensive player in the Heart of America Athletic Conference last season -- and Laura Wycoff for 31 goals, no one player has been forced to carry the scoring load without the pair.
Currently, sophomore Meghan Braun leads the team with three goals.
"Everybody has really stepped it up," Huntoon said. "It's been a total team effort since the first game. I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss having Vicky, but this year everyone has put pressure on themselves to take advantage of opportunities."
In addition to scoring balance, Baker receives contributions from all four classes. Three freshmen have roles in the starting lineup while four seniors provide leadership. Sophomores and juniors comprise the rest of the team and majority of the starting lineup.
The team captains are senior Amy Taylor and junior LaShon English, who were both all-conference selections a year ago.
"We'll have some significant losses after this season, but it's a group with a really bright future," Huntoon said.
In the meantime, Baker is looking to put itself in the running for a HAAC title. The Wildcats will host two of the conference front-runners -- Lindenwood and Benedictine -- on its own turf.
Baker will play Benedictine next Tuesday afternoon in Baldwin. Last season, the Ravens defeated the Wildcats, 4-3, after trailing by three goals in the first half.
"It was pretty upsetting," Huntoon said. "We definitely want to make up for last year's mistake."
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