By Daniel Diliberto

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John Calipari isn’t the only new face in Lexington. The UK women’s soccer team replaced the only coach the program has ever known, Warren Lipka, with Jon Lipsitz, formerly of the University of Charlotte.

Lipsitz started his coaching career at Denison University in 1990, where he coached for three seasons. In his final season, Denison marched to the Elite Eight in the Division III national tournament. Lipsitz served as the Director of Coaching and Player Development for the Ohio Premier Girls’ Soccer Club from 1993 to 2005.

In 2005, Lipsitz became head coach at the University of Charlotte, where he coached the team to two NCAA Tournament bids in four years. His path has now lead him to Lexington, where he looks to turn a program that has struggled in the recent past into a national contender.

“The program is very hollow if not for the players and the time they put in,” Lipsitz said. “It’s important to me that we are a family first, with hard work and sacrifice, we can become a national championship contender in the future.”

Lipsitz’s goals for winning don’t just include the X’s and O’s. He believes this year’s and future teams will succeed when there is a vast amount of mutual respect and trust amongst each other.

“We treat each other as if we are sisters,” junior forward Giuleana Lopez said. “[We] invite each other over to hang out, watch a movie or eat dinner. It’s important we are close.”

On the field, the team looks to improve on a disappointing 2008 season when they finished 5-13-1. Senior defender Julie Hull said the team will use their disappointment from last season as fuel for this year. Focus in the offseason has been set on conditioning and improving on mental and physical toughness.

“Fitness is number one,” freshman forward Alyssa Telang said. “Making mistakes at full speed in practice makes the team as a whole a lot better.”

“The team is very fit; in a lot better shape since we started in the offseason,” freshman defender Leslie Twehues said. “There is no time for us to get tired.”

The women’s soccer team has eight home matches remaining this season including the UK Tournament, which will be Sept. 18-20. The Cats won their first game of the season on Friday, claiming a 2-1 victory over Cincinnati. Junior midfielder Samantha Au and sophomore defender Jenna Goblirsch each scored in the effort.

The Cats are hoping Lipsitz, the first fresh face the program has seen in 17 years, is just what they need to get back on track.

“My goal is to start making a name for the program again,” Coach Lipsitz said. “It’s not just about soccer, it’s about representing the Commonwealth.”