| Season record: 14-4-0 | |||||||
| 2002 Alphabetical Roster | |||||||
| # | Name | Class | Goals | Assists | Points | Shootout | Shutouts |
| 3 | Shana Bertetto | 12th | – | 2 | 2 | – | – |
| 14 | Katie Brandstetter | 12th | 1 | – | 2 | – | – |
| 9 | Megan Brandstetter | 12th | – | – | – | – | – |
| 18 | Kari Clark | 9th | 6 | 3 | 15 | – | – |
| 22 | Dana Deptola | 9th | – | 1 | 1 | – | – |
| 20 | Becky Hallman | 10th | – | 1 | 1 | – | – |
| 24 | Stephanie Hay | 11th | 15 | 8 | 38 | 2 | – |
| 2 | Michelle Huber | 11th | – | – | – | – | – |
| 11 | Amanda Moore | 9th | 6 | 6 | 18 | 1 | – |
| 12 | Katie Moore | 11th | – | – | – | – | – |
| 8 | Beth Morris | 12th | 2 | 1 | 5 | – | – |
| 16 | Chelsea Rueff | 10th | – | 1 | 1 | – | – |
| 19 | Stacie Silvers | 9th | 2 | 2 | 6 | – | – |
| 25 | Tyler Skelton | 12th | – | – | – | – | – |
| 21 | Libbey Smith | 11th | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | – |
| 10 | Ally Tucker | 11th | – | – | – | – | 8 |
| 17 | Tamryn Tuller | 10th | 3 | 2 | 8 | – | – |
| 4 | Stephanie Whonsetler | 10th | 1 | 1 | 3 | – | 1 |
| 15 | Claire Workinger | 11th | 3 | 3 | 9 | 2 | – |
| 26 | Kristen Young | 9th | 4 | – | 8 | – | – |
2002 Tribute
Mr. Dick Wilson, father of twin daughters Jennifer and Lauren Wilson who last played for South Oldham’s 2001 team , and who is still very much a part of the Lady Dragon soccer family, delivered a speech at the post season banquet for the 2002 team at the request of Coach Cy Tucker. His words provide a wonderful review of the challenges and accomplishments of this team and what it means to uphold the tradition of a successful sports program. Below is a copy of the speech and is posted on this website as a tribute to the 2002 edition of the South Oldham Lady Dragon Soccer Team !!
What am I doing here?
I’m not really sure myself, except that in post season conversation with Coach Tucker, I volunteered some opinions and observations about what a great job this team had done in silencing their critics while maintaining the highest levels of South Oldham Tradition.
He asked me if I would be willing to elaborate on that premise tonight.
South Oldham Lady Dragon soccer is one of the great traditions in Kentucky High School Sports.
But what is that tradition?:
> Six state titles out of 10 contested through 2001 (first contested in 1992)
> 8 straight District titles
> 8 straight Regional titles
> 9 straight winning seasons
> Seven straight 20 game seasons against progressively stronger competition
> 4 SOHS players named Miss KY Soccer including the last three straight years
> Not losing to Oldham County since 1993
(28 straight through 2002)
But there is a lot more:
> Sharing rides to practice
> Bus rides
> Group overnighters
> Spaghetti dinners
> Bonfires
> The chimichanga cheer that makes no sense to anyone – but unifies the players
Then there is the Coach:
> A coach that is liable to have the players playing duck-duck goose at practice
> A coach that sits quietly in his chair during games wearing the hat from which he occasionally draws names to determine the next substitution.
> A coach that consistently maintains a large varsity roster, and then deals with the inevitable “playing time” issues. Playing time – the very essence of compromise which has been defined as the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes she got the biggest piece.
> A coach who as a teacher realizes that referees frequently demonstrate the scientific fact that light travels faster than sound. That’s why they usually appear bright – “before” you hear the first whistle.
> A coach that has been nationally recognized for his accomplishments, that wins 200 games two games into his 12th season, 90 games more than any other girls coach in Kentucky.
While tonight is about the girls, we would be remiss in not recognizing Coach Tucker’s contributions to the SOHS tradition.
But how can this bunch of girls carry on the “Tradition”?
The Issues:
You lost 13 Seniors last year.
Senior leadership will be low – not enough positive role models.
You lost 8 (or 9 or even 10…) starters (depending on who is counting)
You lost 6 Senior “All-State” players – including 2 “first teamers”
Last year the defense gave up less than a goal per game (0.8 goals per game), what can they possibly do this year?
There were 14 shutouts in 26 games last season (53.8% of their games) but… we lost the sweeper, the keeper, the defense, the midfield, the offense, etc. etc.
This team will be lucky to go .500
What is going to happen to the tradition that is Lady Dragon Soccer?
The Answers:
You lost 13 Seniors last year, what do you do?
REPLACE THEM!!
Replace them with a combination of returning veterans, ambitious newcomers, and some of the most improved “maturing” JV players ever to wear the green, gray and white. Just as these girls here tonight will be replaced as they graduate – but the tradition continues.
Not enough Senior leaders: BALONEY!!
Nowhere is it written that “Senior Leaders” must all be 3 or 4 year starters. My daughter’s freshman class was greeted by a senior class of five girls who had played for four years, and four of them had never “started” a single game. They welcomed the new players knowing that their personal playing time would probably lessen, but the team would be stronger. They made them all – varsity and JV alike, feel immediately that they were a part of something special.
This is the true tradition of Lady Dragon Soccer. These girls who are attending their last SOHS soccer banquet as players tonight have all been uncomplaining 4-year players, contributing in every way they could, on and off the field.
Tyler, Katie, Megan, Shana and Beth, you have done your part in the years-old process of building this team by example, believing in each other when it seemed no-one else was ready to believe in you, and we salute each of you for your efforts.
You lost 6 Senior “All State” players, What do you do??
GROW 6 NEW ONES!
Six new “All State” players will develop… including 2 new “first teamers”. All 6 of whom by the way, will be back next year.
Congratulations Stephanie, Katie, Michelle, Amanda, Chelsea, and Libby.
Last year the defense gave up less than a goal per game:
WORK HARDER
This year’s “new” untested, untried defense allowed only 13 goals – 0.54 goals per game – lowest in 3 years
After a 6-4 start, they reeled off 13 wins in a row.
14 shutouts last season (53.8% of their games)
THIS YEAR-13 SHUTOUTS IN 24 GAMES (54.2%)
This includes two shootout games against Sacred Heart who was ranked in the top ten nationally – that were actually shutouts through out the overtime periods.
With everything they lost, this team will be lucky to go .500.
THAT’S TRUE … THEY WENT .800
To compare a team to those of previous years is a foolhardy effort at best – although we all do it. History tends to not remember that the number and quality of High School girls soccer teams increases and improves each year. The competition has a right – in fact an obligation and a burning desire to develop and improve.
There were less than a dozen teams in 1990 – many (including SOHS) playing middle school players because there simply weren’t enough High School age players to field a team – in 2002 there were over 100 teams vying for the State title.
Teams that were a source of amusement in earlier years have begun to mature – and have now become serious competition. Shelby County, E-Town and others – you will have to agree cannot be considered the same as in the past.
And South Oldham continues to play the toughest schedule of any in the state.
The only thing that does not change, is the fact that everything continues to change – and as it changes, you have a choice to make as individual players, and as a team – keep up, or give up and get out of the way.
Winners have always had a target painted on their back – everyone wants to be the one to show that their team is “better”.
And through it all the Lady Dragons will continue to be the benchmark by which all other teams in Kentucky are measured.
No one can match the history of this team, but more importantly, no one can match the future potential of it’s players. These girls have always been academically strong. They will survive and succeed – not because of soccer, but because of who they are and what they have learned about themselves.
If these young ladies never play another soccer game, thay have all already had the opportunity to be a part of an indefinable something – something very special and totally unique – Lady Dragon Soccer.
They know what it means to rise to a challenge… how to win with grace, and lose with dignity – life lessons beyond the grasp of more adults than we would like to admit.
The road to the State Championship still goes through South Oldham.
To those who said this team was in trouble this year, you ladies have emphatically had the last word.
The Lady Dragons are alive and well, and already making plans for next year…. because… as Coach Tucker said back in August:
“TRADITION DOESN’T GRADUATE”