July 29, 2004

FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State head women's soccer coach Steve Springthorpe has announced the hirings of Thomas Chestnutt and Lindsey Sosovec as assistant coaches.

Chestnutt, who served two seasons as an intern at the University of Florida, previously served four years as the technical advisor for the Gainesville Select Soccer Club and Legacy Soccer Club. Sosovec comes to Fresno State after spending the previous two seasons as a graduate assistant and goalkeeper coach at South Dakota State.

"I'm excited to have my coaching staff on board," said Springthorpe, who begins his first season as the Bulldog's skipper after serving five years as an assistant coach at the University of Florida.

"Thomas Chestnutt has an extensive soccer background and his professional playing experience will help us with the technical and tactical training of our team. Lindsey Sosovec brings goalkeeping knowledge and experience and will serve as our recruiting coordinator. Both coaches are very dynamic and will be tremendous additions to our program."

Chestnutt, a native of New Port Richey, Fla., also served as the head coach of the men's club team while at the University of Florida. His professional playing experience includes one-year stints with the Tampa Bay Mutiny of the MLS, FSC Lohfelden of Germany and the Tampa Bay Cyclones. In 2003, Chestnutt was a member of the Tampa Bay Kickers regional championship squad and also played for the state amateur champion Pumas.

In addition to being an Olympic Development Program (ODP) staff coach, Chestnutt has directed several youth soccer camps and coached a variety of club teams. Chestnutt, who played collegiately at the University of Dayton from 1991-1994, holds an "A" National Coaching License from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and a Level II Goalkeeping Diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

A native of Cheyenne, Wyo., Sosovec played collegiately at National American University (NAU) in South Dakota, where she earned All-America honors in 1999 and 2000 as a goalkeeper. She was also an NAIA All-America scholar athlete in 2000 and 2001.

Earlier this summer, she served as a staff coach for the Region II Olympic Development Program (ODP), as well as the goalkeeper coach for South Dakota ODP. She holds a "C" National Coaching License from the USSF and a Level II Goalkeeping Diploma from the NSCAA. A 2001 graduate of NAU, Sosovec earned her masters degree from South Dakota State University in May.

After playing the first of two exhibition contests at Bulldog Stadium on Aug. 20, the Bulldogs open the season with road matches at UC Riverside (Aug. 27) and Cal State Fullerton (Aug. 29) the following week. In addition, the team will hold its annual Meet The Team festivities on Saturday, Aug. 21 at Sierra Vista Mall in Clovis from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.