SUNYAC Women's Soccer Preview
August 31, 2011
With tons of returning talent and each team battling for contention for the championship and playoff spots, 2011 could be a banner year for SUNYAC Women’s Soccer. Expect the same superior standard of play and some of the same teams to battle for conference supremacy as the season gets started on Sept. 1. However, there could be a number of teams in contention for the title and the six playoff spots as last year's top teams try to maintain their success, and the rest of the league looks to jump into that upper echelon.
SUNYAC conference soccer games begin Friday, September 23. The six-team SUNYAC tournament will be held on Oct. 29, Nov. 2 and Nov. 5 on campuses. The top-two squads will receive a first-round bye.
Quick Team Overviews
BROCKPORT
2010 Record: 9-9-1 Overall, 3-6 SUNYAC
Head Coach: Joan Schockow, 24th season
Brockport returns plenty of experience in the back. Goalie Erin Asquith second-team all SUNYAC, stopped 87.1 percent of all shots to top the SUNYAC in 2010. Arielle Schneider, Gina Laing and Courtney Belding started nearly all of the games in front of Asquith in 2010 and will be among the most experienced units. However the Golden Eagles must replace two of their top three scoring option. But Sarah Lawson is back after setting a Brockport schools record with 13 assists and forward Kalia Maguire returns after netting five goals.
The Golden Eagles kick off the 2011 season on the road against Dickinson (PA) College on Friday September 2 at 3:30pm.
BUFFALO STATE
2010 Record: 11-6-3 Overall, 6-2-1 SUNYAC
Coach: Nick DeMarsh, 10th season
The Bengals enter the 2011 campaign with high expectations after posting 11 wins, finishing as the #3 seed and earning back-to-back playoff berths for the time. A challenge for the team could lie with replacing the graduated 2011 SUNYAC Player of the Year, Barb Kiliszek. Melissa Mahoney and Amanda Sauer will certainly help to fill the void after being named to the All-SUNYAC second team. The duo combined for 11 goals and 31 points. Jordan Dudish was the first-ever Bengal’s freshman to earn first-team All-SUNYAC honors. Dudish alongside second-teamer Ashley Mazurkiewicz helped anchor a defense that surrendered 22 goals in 19 games. Buffalo State hosts Daemen on Thursday September 1st at 4pm.
CORTLAND
2010 Record: 11-6-3 Overall, 5-3-1 SUNYAC
Coach: Heidi Woodcock, 8th season
Cortland is hoping that in 2011 they can bring home their first SUNYAC title since 1991. First team All-Conference goalie selection Pam Monnier returns for her final season. She finished with .081 goals against average and a .838 save percentage. Forward Bridgette DeSantis, second-team all-region, led Cortland in scoring for the second straight year. She scored nine goals, including seven game-winning tallies, for 18 points in 19 games.
The Red Dragons travel north Sept. 2-3 for their opening weekend as part of the Clarkson North Country Classic. Cortland faces St. Lawrence at 6:30pm on Friday.
FREDONIA
2010 Record: 8-10 overall, 3-6 SUNYAC
Coach: Chris Case, 10th season
The Blue Devils seem to be rotating their leading scorer. Taylor Wingerden, who scored 10 goals to lead Fredonia last year will be out for the season with a knee injury. But not to worry too much because junior forward Reilly Condidorio is back. The two-time SUNYAC first-team selection returns after missing the 2010 with an injury. Condidorio will enter the 2011 season with 20 career goals in 37 games. On the other end of the field, senior Lyz Dembrow will be taking charge of the defense.
The Blue Devils open the season with a trip to Texas. They meet Texas-Tyler on Sept. 2 and Texas-Dallas on Sept. 4.
GENESEO
2010 Record: 12-6 Overall, 5-4 SUNYAC
Coach: Nate Wiley, 6th year
Head coach Nate Wiley welcomes back eight starters to the 2011 squad. Leading the group of returning players are seniors Anne Beinetti, Kelly Bergin, Molly Bralower, Alex Miller and Bre Glynn along with junior Emily Novak. Beinetti and Bergin attributed for 22 of the teams 39 goals in 2010. Bergin led the team with 12 goals while being a second team All-SUNYAC selection. Beinetti made her mark with 23 points in only 14 games. Molly Bralower and Alex Miller return to defense for the Knights after allowing the fewest goals (14) a season ago in the conference.In the midfield Glynn, a first team All-SUNYAC selection, scored two goals and four assists for eight points and Novak added nine points.
The Knights will open their season at the Rochester tournament versus Skidmore on Friday, September 2, with the home opener coming on Tuesday, September 6 versus St. Lawrence at 4 p.m.
The Knights will open their season at the Rochester tournament versus Skidmore on Friday, September 2, with the home opener coming on Tuesday, September 6 versus St. Lawrence at 4 p.m.
NEW PALTZ
2010 Record: 7-8-4 Overall, 4-4-1 SUNYAC
Coach: Colleen Bruley, 15th season
New Paltz welcomes back 13 returning players to the 2011 squad. The Hawks’ leading scorer from last season, Shelby Kondelka, can hopefully make as big of an impact on the team’s attack in 2011 as she did in 2010. Kondelka, third-team All-SUNYAC, found the back of the net nine times last year.
Shannon Cobb, and Patti and Beth Bowling fortify a talented back line in front of netminder Stephanie Vega. Vega logged 1,663 minutes across 18 starts, compiling 106 saves.
The Hawks open up their season on Sept. 1 when they host Vassar College.
ONEONTA
2010 Record: 17-5-2 Overall, 7-1-1 SUNYAC
Coach: Liz McGrail, 5th year.
The Oneonta State women's soccer team will open the season #13 in Div. III, after winning the 2010 SUNYAC Championship and advancing to the round of 16 in the NCAA Div. III tournament. The DeSimone sisters are among key returners for the Red Dragons. Dana led the team with 13 goals a season ago while Karly, SUNYAC Rookie of the Year, played in all 24 games and finished with six goals. Alanna Fisher will be the anchor to the back line while senior Amy Lusby returns to goal where she posted nine solo shutouts last season.
The Red Dragons open its 2011 campaign at the Rachel Miller Tournament at RIT on the weekend of Sep. 2-3. Oneonta will open its SUNYAC schedule of games on Saturday, Sep. 23 at home versus Oswego.
OSWEGO
2010 Record: 7-10-1 Overall, 1-7-1 SUNYAC
Coach: Brian McGrane, 5th season
Oswego State hopes to build on a 7-10-1 season as the Lakers return six players that started at least 10 contests last year. Six of the losses came in one-goal decisions. Sophomore Nikki Liadka made an immediate impact on the team as she paced the Lakers in scoring with 29 points on 13 goals, including three game-winning scores, and three assists. In conference play, she compiled five goals and one assist. Liz Conrad and Steph San Antonio both appeared in all 18 games and return to the defensive end of the field.
The Lakers open their schedule at the Alfred Tournament this weekend. They face Juniata on Sept. 3 at 3:00 pm.
PLATTSBURGH
2010 Record: 15-4-1 Overall, 7-1-1 SUNYAC
Coach: Karen Waterbury, 22nd season
The Cardinals return four of their top five scorers including midfielder Lindsey Keyser from last year's 15-4-1 squad that gained an at-large berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the second straight year. Keyser, a third-team All-American, first-team All-SUNYAC and first-team All-Region, registered 17 points on seven goals and three assists as the Cardinals finished tied for first in the SUNYAC standings. Alina Greiser posted 11 solo shutouts, including six against conference opponents, with a .71 goals against average.
Plattsburgh opens the season with the Cardinal Classic this weekend when they host Nazareth at noon on September 3.
Plattsburgh opens the season with the Cardinal Classic this weekend when they host Nazareth at noon on September 3.
POTSDAM
2010 Record: 10-10 Overall, 1-8 SUNYAC
Coach: Mark Misiak, 1st season
Under the direction of first-year head coach Mark Misiak, the 2011 SUNY Potsdam women’s soccer team looks to transition to an offensive style of play. Forwards Ashley Thayer and Heather Johnson combined for 14 goals and 32 points in 2010. They will be supported by the seven seniors on the squad who make up the midfield and defensive lines. Defenders Alissa Tischler, Maggie Malinowski and Maribeth Simmons have combined to start 122 games throughout their careers. Their leadership will be needed as the experience in goal is left in the hands of two first year players.
Potsdam’s season begins Sept. 1, at Wells College. Along with the usual grueling conference schedule, the Bears will host SUNY Canton for the second annual Boyd Jones Cup, as well as local rivals Clarkson and St. Lawrence.
Potsdam’s season begins Sept. 1, at Wells College. Along with the usual grueling conference schedule, the Bears will host SUNY Canton for the second annual Boyd Jones Cup, as well as local rivals Clarkson and St. Lawrence.