Kluetmeier's net play is key to W. Soccer's chances

Imagine the pressure if you're Anne Kluetmeier: Your job is to defend an area 8 feet tall by 24 feet wide from 10 people determined to do anything to put the black-and-white checkered ball in the net behind you. If you fail, euphoria erupts among your opponents in a spontaneous celebration. If successful, you could face an additional onslaught from the other team's most talented goal scorers, trying even harder to get one past you the next time down the field. With the high expectations that come from finishing 14-5 last year and returning 22-of-23 lettermen and 10-of-11 starters, the Penn women's soccer team hopes to improve on last year's three way tie for second in the Ivy League and compete in the NCAA tournament. One of the most valuable spokes in the wheel will undoubtedly be Kluetmeier and her play in goal. Kluetmeier, a junior from Saratoga, Calif., is in her second year as the starting goalkeeper after missing her entire freshman year with a pre-season injury. Last year she showed no significant ill effects from the season off as she held nine opponents scoreless. She ended the season with a .814 save percentage and a 1.19 goals against average, merit enough to be voted an All-Ivy honorable mention behind Dartmouth's Kristin Luckenbill and Harvard's Jen Burney. "Anne has been an integral part of the team with the ways she's kept us in with a number of key saves," senior midfielder and captain Lindsey Carson said. "Where she's been most important is when she gives us time to put in the go ahead or equalizing goal by keeping the score close. Anne has come up big for us on a regular basis." Over the off-season Kluetmeier continued to work out, although she was unable to compete on a club team during the summer both because her parents moved to a new community and in order to reduce the chance of injury. "Coach gave us a weight training and running packet," Kluetmeier said. "I ran and worked out on my own and tried to stay contact-free from soccer as long as possible." The health of the Quakers' "last line of defense" is especially worrisome with the team now carrying only one other goalie, junior Lauren Dickie. "There is definitely competition between us, but we're pushing each other beyond our limits," Kluetmeier said. "It's a friendly rivalry." Beginning the '98 season, Kluetmeier has picked right up where she left off, already posting shutouts against Radford, a 4-0 win on Saturday, and East Carolina, a 2-0 victory. Like any team player, she credits the other 10 players in facilitating her success. Penn coach Patrick Baker recently installed a new defense that uses only three defenders, replacing the older scheme that utilized three man-markers and a sweeper. "The whole team, not just the defenders, is pressuring the ball and forcing the other team's mistakes. The defense is also not allowing any good shots," Kluetmeier said. "The defense now drops back quickly from the forwards, which forces shots from well outside," Carson said. "The shots are now coming from 20-25 yards out." The team still has three games to fine-tune their play before Ivy League play begins Sept. 26 against Cornell with Harvard, currently ranked 16th, and Dartmouth (14th) just around the corner. In the meantime, Kluetmeier continues to search for perfection. "I'm trying to settle back into an aggressive style of play," Kluetmeier said. "I'm getting my timing back and trying to get my rhythm in sync with the rest of the defense." As the saying goes, offense sells tickets and defense wins championships. The buck, and the ball, must stop with Kluetmeier if the Quakers are to have any chance of fulfilling their potential. After all, who wants to see any kind of euphoria in places like Cambridge or Hanover?