il
WedNEsdAy, ApRiL 10, 2002
TldE CI ac I< amas P rìnt
Former Pilot kicks off soccer program
letic Association of Community Clackmnas High Schools, both of
which have fielded competitive
Colleges.
She does believe in challeng teams in the past.
Nelson has contacted club
ing her athletes to play better
and in making a better team by teams, area high schools and in
The first piece of the puzzle is being very interactive in prac door soccer centers to spread the
in place for the Clackamas tices. But once the game is un word about the new program.
women’s soccer program: Tracy derway, Nelson says she tends Since Nelson is still a club coach,
Nelson has been named the in to step back and let the players she attends tournaments featur
augural coach for the team.
put what they learned in practice ing club teams and can recruit
Out of the seven applicants to work.
there as well.
The first tryouts are on April
that interviewed for the position,
“I’m not a screamer, not a
19 from 2-4 p.m. Nelson will be
Nelson was “the best fit for what yeller,” Nelson said.
we are trying to do for this pro
During her four years at the looking for athleticism, speed
gram,” Athletic Director Jim Jack- University of Portland, the Pilots and ball skill.
Students who are interested in
son said. “She was the best per won the West Coast Conference
son qualified.”
twice and placed in the Final trying out for the team can con
tact Tracy Nelson via e-mail at
Nelson brings 11 years of Four her senior year.
tracyn@clackamas.cc.or.us.
coaching
experience
to
For the first two years, the
Clackamas. Her ex
perience as a coach
reaches back to her
days as a Univer
sity of Portland
midfielder in the
early 1990s. The
Everett, Wash., na
tive has coached
high school and
club teams, and
Olympic Develop
ment
Program
teams, which are
part of the United
States Youth Soc
cer Association’s
attempt at develop
ing young soccer
players.
At Clackamas,
Nelson hopes to
establish the pro
gram as one of the
best junior college
squads in the
Northwest. While
dreaming
big,
Nelson knows that
it is not easy to
start a team from
scratch.
“It would be nice
to make it (to the
playoffs) this year,
but more realisti
cally, probably next
year when the pro
gram is more estab
lished and more
PHOTO BY SALENA DE LA CRUZ / Clackamas Print
people know about
it,” she said.
The first pre-season game for
The new coach has no set Cougars will play on the track
timeline for success, but feels infield until a new field can be the new women’s soccer team is
scheduled for Sept. 4.
strongly that within five years built on campus.
To reach Nick Barron e-mail
Coach Nelson is aiming to re
the Cougars should win the play
offs and be known as one of the cruit local athletes. Her empha barronoru@hotmail.com or
top teams in the Northwest Ath sis will be on Oregon City and drop by B-104.
NICK BARRON
Staff Writer
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PHOTO BY SALENA DE LA CRUZ I Clackamas Print
Above: Tracy Nelson played for the University of Portland
for four years as a center-midfielder. Since lea ving
competitive soccer two years ago, Nelson has concentrated
on coaching youth and club teams and now the new
Cougarsteam.
Left: Nelson is preparing Clackamas for its first season.
Nelson "s squad will compete in the Southwest Division of
the NWAACC, along with such teams as Tacoma and
Southwestern Oregon.