Izzo-Brown preps for season after summer of recruiting

In the eyes of West Virginia women's soccer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown, one of the most strenuous yet rewarding aspects of being a Division I coach comes prior to the season.

It comes in the dog days of summer when women's soccer coaches span the country for recruiting purposes.

"It's one of the craziest things about this job," Izzo-Brown said. "It's all about hitting major tournaments, evaluating players and tying them down to this great University."

This summer, Izzo-Brown traveled across the country scouting out potential future Mountaineers.

The 15-year coaching veteran hit nearly a dozen states including Louisiana, Nevada and Kansas. She has been as far away as Seattle and Canada, where she has built a pipeline.

After the better part of two decades of recruiting for WVU, Izzo-Brown is used to the process.

Her selling message remains the same, though.

"I tell the girls that we play to win championships," Izzo-Brown said. "We want to compete, focusing on player development as students most importantly and then athletes."

While admitting a lot of schools convey similar themes, Izzo-Brown feels WVU is in a class of its own.

"When you're a Mountaineer, you are a part of a very large family. That is the best thing," she said. "There are so many people here to look after you and make you part of something special."

Even though this summer Izzo-Brown was busy positioning the Mountaineers for future success, she surely has not overlooked the 2010 season.

"We're still a young team in terms of minutes played and starting time, so I wouldn't say it's the best team we've fielded," Izzo-Brown said. "But we can do some damage."

Fall practice begins Aug. 4. The team's first test comes Aug. 10 in an exhibition against Indiana. The Mountaineers' second exhibition is against Wake Forest Aug. 14.

West Virginia opens the season Aug. 20 against Penn State.

With only six days to prepare for the first game style tilt Izzo-Brown welcomes an challenge right off the bat.

"The nice thing is that is so early," Izzo-Brown said. "We get to see how the game plays out and what we could work on for the rest of the month."

Much of the team's success will gauge from a pair of seniors, forward Megan Mischler and goalkeeper Keri Butler.

Last season, Mischler, a Moon Township, Pa., native, led the Mountaineers with five goals.

Starting in all 23 matches a year ago, Mischler played the entire 90 minutes 11 times.

"Mischler has the biggest impact on this team," Izzo-Brown said. "She has been a key player since her freshman year."

Butler has more than two years of starting experience.

In 2009, Butler's goals-against average (0.67) ranked 30th in the country. The Fredericksburg, Va., native recorded 12 shutouts last season.

"Butler coming back is huge for us," Izzo-Brown said. "She is hands down one of the best keepers in the Big East (Conference)."

Behind Butler is redshirt freshman Sarah Keane, a player Izzo-Brown said could start for many teams.

"Sarah will push Butler and learn from her, because we will definitely need her down the road," Izzo-Brown said. "Both have great skills."