The season may be over, but there is still plenty of work to do.

The University of West Florida women’s soccer team is already looking to the 2010 season after reaching the NCAA Final Four for a second consecutive year.

“Every year we have a target on us,” UWF coach Joe Bartlinski said. “We’ve done very well over the past couple of years, and there are several teams that want to take a shot at us. We’re going to have to step up our game. I tell my players that as soon as the season is over, it doesn’t end. Next season begins now.”

Only weeks after the Argos’ loss to Cal State-Dominiguez Hills Torros in a shootout at the NCAA National Semifinal, Bartlinski is already setting his sights on next season.

The Argos will lose 10 seniors before next season, eight of whom were starters. Among those starters are twins Shameka and Shaneka Gordon, the latter of whom was selected as the 2008 Daktronics Ron Lenz National Player of the year.

Other notable losses for 2010 are Dernelle Mascall, Marcela Franco, Kaley Morris and goalkeeper Courtney Jones.

“Our coverage has been depleted,” said Bartlinski, who was named the South Region Coach of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. “We had the leading goal scorer, the leading assist person, three Academic All-Americans … we’ve only lost one game in two years (The 2008 NCAA Championship). This group we’re graduating — those kids can play.”

Among those returning for the 2010 season is Shakira Duncan, the Daktronics Ron Lenz National Player of the year.

Duncan led the team with a record 32 goals and 77 points. She averaged 3.5 points and 1.455 goals per game and was named to the Gulf South Conference First Team as well as the GSC All-Tournament Team before collecting South Region Player of the Year honors.

In addition to Duncan, Bartlinski is already scouting for new players, getting in contact with everyone from local kids to international players from Canada, Norway and Sweden.
Will his team be ready for another championship run?

“It all depends on how recruiting goes,” he said. “Right now there are a lot of unanswered questions. As always, our plan is to win a National Championship.”

The Argos’ 2009 season ended in December after falling, 1-4, in penalty kicks at the NCAA National Semifinal. UWF took a 1-1 tie through two sudden death overtime periods and into penalty kicks before eventually losing to the Torros. UWF’s final 2009 record is 22-0-1.