Penn State women's soccer coach Pat Farmer started four of the rookies this season with pleasing results. Here's a brief overview of how each has fared thus far:
Heidi Drummond, forward
Drummond got off to a scorching start, netting five goals in her first five games as a Lion. She cooled off, but stepped up when Penn State's leading scorer, sophomore Christie Welsh, went down two weeks ago to a foot injury. Drummond scored the game-winning goals against Michigan and Ohio State in Welsh's absence before succumbing to an injury of her own — a sprained ankle during the Harvard contest.
"Heidi's been the exact answer we were looking for up there," Farmer said. "She's a good runner, she's very mobile, and a great complement to Christie playing on the opposite side."
Drummond, who hails from Littleton, Colo., is currently second on the team and eighth in the Big Ten in goals with eight, including three game-winners.
Leigh Hamilton, defender
A converted midfielder, Hamilton has been the season's most pleasant surprise, starting every game at the left back position for Farmer and the Lions.
"There has not been a surprise in the quality of her play, but where she's ended up playing," he said. "Accepting the challenge to go to the back has made all the difference."
Hamilton, from Willow Grove, where she played alongside Penn State teammate Emily Oleksiuk on the state title-winning club team FC Delco, has already earned the respect of her peers.
"She's an unbelievable blue-collar player who understands the midfield as well as defense," senior midfielder Shari Pickett said. "Once she got used to playing in the back, she did great."
Joanna Lohman, midfielder
It's not often that a coach refers to a freshman as the best player on the team, especially when that team includes Big Ten Player of the Year Christie Welsh, but Farmer said just that earlier this season.
"We have better games when we play through her more," he said. "She's the best passer on the team, and she's done really well settling down the center part of the midfield."
Rated one of the top three midfielders in her recruiting class, the athletic Lohman has provided the Lions with six assists as well as much-needed stability in the midfield, especially since senior midfielder Jeannine Verdrager has been playing at less than 100 percent all season. "It didn't seem like it was too overwhelming for her, but we didn't want it to be overwhelming," Pickett said. "She's the basis of our midfield now."
Stephanie Smith, forward
A speedy forward from White Plains, N.Y., Smith has stepped in and filled the hole that was created when Lions' playmaker Courtney Lawson graduated.
Besides driving opposing defenses batty with her dribbling abilities, Smith has also become the primary distributor in the Big Ten's top offense. Her nine assists in 19 games ties Smith for the conference lead in that category.
"She's done just what we thought she would — distribute the ball to Christie and Heidi," Farmer said. "She's beginning to look to the goal a little more as well."
With the injuries to Welsh, Drummond and Kristen Mandler, Smith has suddenly become the focal point of the offense as the Lions head down the stretch.
The fifth and sixth members of the class of 2004 are looking to contribute more in the coming seasons.
Stephanie Pezzullo, a highly touted defender from Chepachet, R.I., aggravated a stress fracture over the summer and has not seen action yet this season. Farmer said Pezzullo would likely redshirt this season.
Walk-on Alexandra Hill made the team at an open tryout earlier this year and recently has been coming on strong, Farmer said.
"With all the injuries to our forwards, she's going to be looked to more in the next few weeks," he said.
Overall, Farmer rates this year's freshman class among the best he's ever had in his 13-year career.
With another stellar group of recruits waiting in the wings and Welsh only a sophomore, the future is bright for the Penn State women's soccer program.
"They've brought exactly what we thought they were going to bring," he said. "I've been very pleased with the overall package."
