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Women's Soccer Ready For 2010 Season
The Stevens Institute of Technology women’s soccer team will enter the 2010 season with much of the same expectations its had for the past decade: to earn the right to compete with the nation's best come November. Under the tutelage of head coach Jeff Parker, the Ducks rebounded from a rough start to last year’s campaign, winning six of their final nine matches – including their final three Empire 8 matchups – to finish 5-3 in league play en route to the team’s ninth-consecutive postseason appearance.
“Here at Stevens, all of our expectations are high,” said Parker. “We expect big things because of what we’ve done in the past and expect to continue that tradition of excellence this season.”
Having lost just three seniors from last year’s squad, the Ducks will look to couple a group of 16 veterans with 13 talented newcomers in hopes of extending their postseason streak.
“We have 16 returnees and 10 of the student-athletes who started our last game are back, so we have a good starting point,” Parker said. “With that said, we also have a solid group coming in. It’s going to be really interesting to see how it all plays out and to see how all of our different pieces fit together.”
Of the team’s 16 returnees, five earned all-conference honors last season in second-team All-Empire 8 selections senior Mary Chew (West Deptford, N.J.), junior Kathleen Schuckers (Lincoln Park, N.J.), and sophomore Paige Allen (Manalapan, N.J.), and honorable mention awardees Alexandra Lyons (Trumbull, Conn.) and Kaitlin McClymont (Corpus Christi, Texas).
Schuckers, a sophomore transfer and one of last season’s breakout stars, ranked in the top-10 in the conference in shots (50), points (21), goals (9), and assists (3) – leading the Ducks in all four categories. Stalwarts on the Stevens’ defense – one of the team’s strengths heading into this season – Chew netted four goals in 18 appearances, while Allen and Lyons combined for 27 starts on a Ducks backline that helped post four shutouts in 2009.
McClymont recorded 945 minutes in net last season over 12 starts, posting a 1.90 goals-against-average and a .794 save percentage. The gritty goalkeeper was especially tough against conference opponents, tallying a 4-1-0 overall mark with a 1.40 goals-against-average, an .825 save percentage, and two shutouts against Empire 8 programs. The Corpus Christi, Texas native wrapped up her sophomore campaign with a career-high 17 saves against Ithaca College in the Empire 8 tournament semifinal.
“I think going into the preseason that our goalkeeping is something you would have to look at and circle as a team strength for us,” said Parker. “We have some very capable individuals and we are looking forward to watching them develop along with our backs.”
In addition to Chew and Lyons there are five Stevens’ seniors returning for their final seasons at Castle Point in Nicole Brand (West Windsor, N.J.), Katria Misilo (Short Hills, N.J.), Kara Pepe (Staten Island, N.Y.), Kathryn Stascavage (Brookfield, Conn.), and Jenn Pontier (Forked River, N.J.) – all of whom will look to help fill the leadership void left by former captain and All-Empire honoree Kate Stewart.
“Our senior class of Lexie (Lyons), Kara (Pepe), Mary (Chew), Nicole Brand, Katria (Misilo), Kathryn (Stascavage), and Jenn Pontier, are a strong group and will be big for us as well,” Parker said.
Also returning to the fold this season are juniors Zabella Simos (Valley Stream, N.Y.) and Sarah Lehman (Gilbert, Ariz.) and sophomores Teegan Kelly (Charlton, N.Y.), Tara Callahan (Harrisburg, Pa.), Gia Gonzales (Encinitas, Calif.), and Nicole Serino (Parsippany, N.J.).
“We’re also returning a few midfielders including (Sarah) Lehman, Zabella (Simos), and Nicole (Serino),” Parker said. “Upfront, Katria (Misilo) and (Kathleen) Schuckers also return, as does Gia (Gonzales) and they were a handful for a couple of teams to handle – especially towards the end of the year.”
New additions to last year’s roster for the upcoming season are: senior Sonia Kappeler (Westwood, N.J.), sophomores Brittany Odgers (Roseland, N.J.) and Stefannye Barragan (Newark, N.J.), and freshmen Bridgette Barden (Redondo Beach, Calif.), Kaitlin Connell (Burrillville, R.I.), Lauren Hammerle (Sayville, N.Y.), Jessie Huff (Emerson, N.J.), Catherine Keough (Barnegat, N.J.), Caitlyn Labonte (Northbridge, Mass.), Melissa Murphy (Penquannock, N.J.), Kyle Stephens (East Lansing, Mich.), Becky Wos (Mukwonago, Wis.), and Jessie Wos (Mukwonago, Wis.).
“It’s going to be a really interesting mix between the experience and leadership we have, coupled with the new faces coming in. Our philosophy with this is to relate it to an orchestra. We want everyone in the orchestra to contribute and we want to treat every game like it’s a new piece of music,” explained Parker. “Everyone has a role to play. While some parts may be bigger than others as far as on the field time, there is no role too small to play in our program. They have to work hard to get there. We’re excited about the new group coming in and their energy, as well as those we have coming back. If we can get a contribution from everyone, hopefully we’ll be able to make music this season.”
Stevens opens the year against New York University at the De Baun Athletic Complex in Hoboken, N.J. on September 1 before partaking in the Fairleigh Dickinson University Tournament on September 4-5. The Ducks return home to host Ursinus College and Kean University in the seventh Annual Stevens Engineering Cup on September 11-12, before hosting Vassar College on September 15 in what will serve as the team’s annual Duck Country event.
Stevens opens Empire 8 play against defending champion Ithaca College on September 18 before hosting its Soccer-For-A-Cure event on September 25 against conference rival St. John Fisher College. The Ducks take a break from league action to travel to Drew University on September 29 before returning to the friendly confines of De Baun for an October 2 Alumnae Day matchup with Rochester Institute of Technology.
The Ducks faceoff against Utica College on October 16 as part of the team’s Senior Day festivities, before taking on non-league foe Ramapo on the evening of October 20. Stevens hits the road for its final three matches, at Hartwick (Oct. 23) and Western Connecticut State (Oct. 27) before wrapping things up on October 30 at Elmira College.
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