Observer: Courtney Crandell

Crandell puts 49ers on different playing field, Sophomore helped Charlotte achieve new heights last season
By David Scott, Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
August 27, 2003

With the temperature dancing toward 100 degrees one afternoon this week, Courtney Crandell put in the lonely, grinding work of an elite college athlete.

Standing near the top of the 18-yard box on the Charlotte 49ers women's soccer practice field, Crandell took dozens of free kicks, driving and bending them into the goal's upper corner.

It's that kind of practiced skill and intangible on-field presence that made Crandell an instant hit -- and a freshman All-American forward -- in 2002. It also made her one of the country's top returning players this season.

Crandell was an unknown recruit from Des Moines, Iowa, when she grabbed her teammates' attention a year ago.

"I remember last preseason in shooting drills," said 49ers defender Kim Moore. "She had a guy's shot."

Crandell (pronounced cran-DELL) went on to have a season for the ages. She set Charlotte and Conference USA records by scoring 21 goals and assisting on eight others.

She was the league's freshman and offensive player of the year, leading the 49ers to an unbeaten regular season and a spot in the NCAA tournament, where they lost in the first round to James Madison.

Now it's time to do it again. And she's not worried about a so-called sophomore slump.

"You've heard about that?" Crandell said, laughing. "I really don't know what it's going to be like."

For starters, the 49ers and Crandell won't sneak up anybody. Charlotte is ranked 25th in Soccer America magazine's preseason poll and opens Friday against Fresno State at TransAmerica Field.

Crandell and Charlotte coach Neil Roberts suspect she will receive lots of attention from the Bulldogs. But that happened much of the second half of last season, after word spread of her speed and ability to get to the goal and finish.

"One game she dribbled through four defenders, then shot and scored," said Moore. "I remember thinking that was pretty neat.

"But she doesn't play the game by herself. She'll get the ball, then pass the ball."

Crandell's influence is felt all over the field, and beyond.

"She'll lull you to sleep," said Roberts. "You'll watch a game and say, `Oh boy, what about this kid is an All-American?' But then she gets the ball and it's electric. It's exciting.

"She lifts the crowd. She lifts her teammates. She gives us confidence."

Crandell played with 49ers teammate Tiffany Ross in the semi-professional W-League this summer, helping the Hampton Roads (Va.) Piranhas to a championship. She scored four goals and had two assists in a substitute's role.

"I became more of a mature player," Crandell said. "I think I was the only one under 21, so everybody was a lot older and had more experience. It wasn't so much the skill thing, but how to deal with different situations."

Situations will continue to change for Crandell and the 49ers this season.

"We'll have a bull's-eye on our backs," said Roberts. "We have a higher standard here now."

For Crandell, that's fine.

"I've heard about all that stuff," she said. "But this is a team that can handle it."

 

dont know if it was a bad angle or what, but that pic in the paper today was not flattering. I'll leave it at that.

 

Crandell is really pretty in the face, but she's not skinny. Pretty athletic-looking, though.

 

As long as she gets it in the back of the net a lot I could care less how she looks.