"I was a little disappointed in our offensive attack last year in terms of not stepping up to the plate," he said. "Yeah, we lost a lot of scoring from the previous year, but I guess I learned my lesson that I have to look for those players with a hunger to get better and help the team score goals and win, rather than settling with those that are complacent with where they are."

Injuries in 2009 to key players Heather Muilenburg and Corina Villegas did not help the situation either, but it's something that Dibbini and the Coyotes have rectified for the 2010 campaign.

"This year we have found the pieces to get us back to the top," Dibbini said. "Offensively we are more explosive and we have that sense and idea on how to attack and how to score. Our offensive I.Q. is much better."

Dibbini said there a lot of options this year that weren't there last year on the offensive end.

"We have options, lots of options this year, and that's a difference maker for us," he said. "Last year we had to pray, this year we have options."

THE DEFENSE

Wesleyan's back line returns a group that is young, but has a year of experience at this level, which will help greatly. Playing together for a season already has helped the back line gel and come back stronger than last season.

"Our strides have been huge in the back line," Dibbini said.

Brittany Corcoran (So., 5-7, Long Beach, Calif. / St. Joseph HS) will anchor the back, along with returners Leanne Brown (So., 5-6, Palmdale, Calif. / Highland HS)and Rachelle Medina (Jr., 5-2, Ventura, Calif. / St. Bonaventure HS).

GOALKEEPER

In goal, the Coyotes return three players all who split time last season in KJ Stupey (Jr., 5-6, Everett, Wash. / Kamiak HS), Erin Gilmour (So., 5-5, Temecula, Calif. / Chaparral HS) and Karina Albarran (So., 5-4, Lancaster, Calif. / Paraclete HS), but Dibbini has brought in transfer player Amanda Radich (Jr., 5-8, Vacaville, Calif. / Solano College (Calif.)) that brings much needed experience into the mix leaving the door wide open at goal as to who will get the starting nod.

"The goalkeeper position is still very much up in the air heading into the season," Dibbini said. "Karina has the most experience of our returners, and Amanda was very good at Solano CC last season, but it's still up in the air right now."

MIDFIELDERS

Dibbini feels the control of the game will be through the midfield this season.

"I think the brains and control of our team will go directly through the midfielders this year," he said.

Corina Villegas (Sr., 5-3, Perris, Calif. / Cerritos College (Calif.)), Elba Menjivar (Sr., 4-11, Panorama City, Calif. / Cerritos College (Calif.)) and Makenna Eide (Fr., 5-5, Corona, Calif. / Centennial HS) are three players Dibbini immediately points out as key players in the midfield for the Coyotes.

"All three are very good on the ball, and have a great soccer I.Q.," he said. "And they all connect. As long as they can come together defensively, the offense will come and that's my main concern."

As long as the midfield can avoid injury through the season, the Coyotes will be very good in the middle according to Dibbini.

FORWARDS

Dibbini did not have to look far to find some of the scoring prowess that was missing last season.

A familiar name to KWU soccer dots the roster again along with another transfer will pay immediate goal scoring dividends for the Coyotes this season.

Transferring from South Carolina State is Dani Benton (So., 5-5, Trabuco Canyon, Calif. / South Carolina State), the younger sister of former Wesleyan All-American Kat Benton, along with California Baptist transfer Diana Ravenda (Jr., 5-3, Laguna Niguel, Calif. / California Baptist University). Benton led the Bulldogs in goals scored last season with 19.

"Dani and Diana are going to do well together and bring a different element," Dibbini said. "Obviously we have other athletic players that can pass and can find the back of the net or be able to cause enough havoc to get others open to create opportunities to score. Dani and Diana have a great understanding on how to finish and when to finish. They are filling that void left by Kat Benton and Eliana Parada after the 2008 season."

Ravenda is a great ball handler and knows when to shoot or when to pass according to Dibbini, while Benton is a great player with her back to the ball, with the ability to turn and score or dish the ball off to a teammate.

Hannah Kern (Jr., 5-8, Wichita, Kan. / Maize HS) and Ameenah Issa (So., 5-4, Arcadia, Calif. / Alverno HS) are a pair of players that fit that role nicely.

"Hannah and Ameenah will be able to get our offense going and free up Dani and Diana to finish," Dibbini said.

All that offensive firepower for this season will be even more complimented when Corina Villegas comes up from the midfield into a striker position. Dibbini looks for her to have a breakout season in 2010 after missing a majority of the 2009 season with an injury, but still earning KCAC Co-Newcomer of the Year honors.

"I think that Corina will have a break out year for us," Dibbini said. "She can come up from the midfield and do a lot of things for us. She will control the offense for us. I look for her to have a good year."

THE SCHEDULE

Dibbini feels the non-conference portion of the schedule will be a big test with four if the first six opponents of the season with national tournament experience. The Coyotes open with Benedictine at home on September 1 and then make a trip to Sioux City to take on Morningside (Iowa) on September 4, always a tough place to play.

"Our California trip to take on Azusa Pacific and California Baptist will be our biggest early test," he said. "Both are national tournament teams and those matches will give us a great gauge of where we need to be to make a return trip to the National Tournament."

Dibbini feels that the target is back on the back of the Coyotes heading into the 2010 conference season, as was duly noted by the coaches of the conference, giving KWU the unanimous first place selection in the preseason poll.

"I think we will be the team to beat in conference," he said. "We will see strong competition from both Ottawa and McPherson as in the past."

Ottawa returns nearly its entire lineup and McPherson always presents a challenge for the Coyotes.