Scots’ first-year coach John Goddard is no stranger to the team, having served as an assistant coach since 2005. His assistants include veterans Hank Shimmin and Holly English. The staff has inherited a group with three, four-year starters and plenty of other experienced veterans with a hunger for the postseason. "Our No. 1 goal is to make it to the conference tournament," said Goddard. "Once we get there, it’s a whole new season and anything can happen. We’re very optimistic."

If it begins with pitching, the Scots are off to a good start with four returning pitchers that will give the Scots options, not just in the circle, but in the field and offensively. Leading the way are a pair of juniors – Sarah Christensen (Galesburg, Ill./Galesburg) and Amanda Murdock (Aledo, Ill./Aledo). Goddard expects the tandem to get most of the starts, but is quick to point out his two relievers could also start. "Valerie Mitchell (Port Byron, Ill./Riverdale) and Ashley Tocha (Kewanee, Ill./Kewanee) will be used primarily in relief, but we’ve made it clear that all our pitchers will need to start and relieve," he said. "Our philosophy is for our pitchers to go as hard as they can, for as long and they can. We’ve got four good pitchers and we’ll use them all."

The lanky Christensen, a power pitcher with good off-speed stuff, and Mitchell, known for her control, pitched the majority of the innings in 2007 and picked up all of the Scots wins. Murdock eased back into the circle last season after spending a couple of years away from the game and is returning to the form that made her a dominant force for Aledo High School. Tocha, the bulldog of the group, possesses a "really good" screw ball and is working on another pitch to compete her repertoire. The foursome gives the Scots an added bonus with the ability to play first base when they’re not pitching.

Whoever is pitching will have a four-year starter behind the plate. Kristen Bickett (Malden, Ill./Princeton) returns for her final season. She’ll be backed up by sophomores Val Stier (Avon, Ill./Avon) and Natalie Giannini (Richmond, Ill./Richmond-Burton) and strong-armed freshman Tiffany Leffler (Toluca, Ill./Fieldcrest), who Goddard says is adjusting well to collegiate pitching.

Another four-year starter, Emily Willems (Moline, Ill./Rockridge), will hold down the shortstop duties. Willems hit a blistering .376 last season and is geared for a standout senior season. "She and Anna Coutts (Ladd, Ill./Spring Valley-Hall) have already shown great team leadership," praised Goddard of his two seniors. "I couldn’t have asked for any more from our captains. Emily is a three-time all-conference selection and I don’t expect anything less from her this season."

All-conference third baseman Kembra Bell (Beardstown, Ill./Beardstown) is back to handle the hot corner. The sophomore led the team in RBIs last season and Goddard expects that production to continue her sophomore year. "Kembra is in better shape this year and has gotten much stronger and faster," he said.

After losing the right side of last year’s infield to graduation, Goddard’s lineup may sound like the Abbott and Costello routine "Who’s on First?" First base will be by committee as the Scots will have no less than six players capable of manning first. Rangy sophomore Maggie Dort (Spring Grove, Ill./Richmond-Burton) and freshman Jill Hennenfent (Wataga, Ill./ROWVA) will be sharing the first base duties with the pitchers. Dort, who hit .360 as a freshman, has been sidelined this spring with a hip injury. The Scots hope she will be cleared to play before the team leaves for Arizona Mar. 8. Mitchell and Hennenfent, a former third baseman, will likely split the majority of the duties at first in the early season, but Goddard warns, "It will really depend on who’s hitting."

The versatile Stier is projected to start at second if Bickett stays healthy behind the plate. Newcomer Erin Fitzpatrick (New Lenox, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor), a shortstop/third baseman by trade, will push Stier for the starting job and could be used to spell the other infielders. "Erin has a strong, accurate arm," reported Goddard. "She’s working on her footwork and is making a nice transition to the other side of the infield."

A senior, two juniors and a trio of freshman are in line for outfield positions. Returners Coutts, a four-year starter and an all-conference outfielder two years ago, and junior Ashley Parer (Rock Island, Ill./Rock Island) will get the early season assignment in right and center, respectively, with speedy freshman Haley Lyons (Grayslake, Ill./Warren) expected to patrol left field. Junior Maggie Scudella (Manhattan, Ill./Lincoln-Way) returns after a year off, and freshman Kendra Ricketts (Monmouth, Ill./Monmouth-Roseville) are also in the mix.

Offensively, the Scots will have to replace graduated leadoff hitter Drew Robinson, the Scots’ career-leader in steals (43), who hit a whopping .447 last season. "We can’t really replace the average and all the stolen bases," claimed Goddard. "We’ll make up the difference by reducing our strikeouts and getting some consistent hitting. If we can do that, we’ll be able to score some runs."

Don’t expect the Scots to play long ball, but with what Goddard calls "solid" hitters and decent team speed, Monmouth will sport an aggressive offense. The opening day lineup could put the fleet-footed Parer leading off and contact hitter Coutts in the No. 2 spot. The tandem of Willems and Bell, who combined for more than a third of last year’s RBIs, would hit in the 3-4 spots. The flex player – Mitchell or Dort, if she’s healthy – would bat fifth. Bickett, Lyons and Stier might round out the order with the pitcher batting ninth.

Goddard expects improved play from his group of veterans and has enough talent and versatility to experiment with a variety of lineups. The Scots, who were picked third in the MWC coaches poll, have improved their conference standing in each of the last two years and expect to turn the corner in 2008. So what kind of a stamp will the first-year coach put on the team?

"Hustle will be our trademark," guaranteed Goddard.

And the Scots first appearance in the MWC tournament since 2004 will be their goal.