Patience Key For Women's Soccer In 2008
PATIENCE KEY FOR WOMEN'S SOCCER IN 2008
CHICOPEE, MA, Sept. 3, 2008 - When asked, Elms College fifth-year women's soccer coach Ryan Kelly is quick to note this year's team is the deepest he's coached since taking over the program in 2004.
With 12 returning players, including its top four scorers from a year ago, the Blazers appear poised for a breakthrough season in 2008.
"This is definitely the deepest bench I've had here at Elms College," Coach Kelly noted. "I envision our defense is going to be strong, but we'll need our offense to score more goals than we did last year."
The return of its top four scorers - junior forwards Krystyna Gagne (Metheun, MA) and Kelsey Battige (Monson, MA), and junior midfielders Serina Percoski (Westfield, MA) and Shannon Schickler (Adams, MA) - should help alleviate Coach Kelly's concerns for increased offensive output.
The four combined to net 18 of the team's 23 goals in 2007.
"Our junior class is very solid and all, but one play up the field," Coach Kelly said.
Here is a breakdown of how the Blazers will take the pitch in 2008:
FORWARDS
Gagne led the team with 9 goals and 19 points and was named First Team All-North Atlantic Conference (NAC), while Battige added 5 goals and 12 points en route to Honorable Mention All-NAC accolades.
"Krystyna is as physically strong as anyone we play and can force her way into the goal area, and Kelsey is the fittest and fastest player on the team, so I expect her to own the flank," Coach Kelly predicted.
Freshmen Jen Killion (Cambridge, MA) and Christina Benoit (Belchertown, MA) will also vie for playing time up front this season.
MIDFIELDERS
Percoski and Schickler, add solid athleticism and experience in the midfield. Each scored a pair of goals last season.
"Serina looks very good this year and I expect her to score a number of goals working in tandem with Gagne, and Shannon is our team's best passer," Coach Kelly said.
Junior Maggie Rivers (Dalton, MA) will also add a critical component of composure for the Blazers, as she returns for her third season as a starter.
"Maggie plays a key role in the center of midfield by controlling the tempo for us," Coach Kelly explained. "The responsibility of keeping us patient will fall on her shoulders."
Junior Vanessa Pare (Belchertown, MA) should also bring added versatility, depth and an offensive presence in the midfield.
"Vanessa is another one of our speedy flank players," Coach Kelly said. "She is great at getting down the field and behind the defense, and has developed a knack for scoring big goals in overtime."
Sophomores Sarah Donais (Granby, MA) and Alison Couture (Chicopee, MA) also return in the midfield this season.
DEFENDERS
Arguably the area of most depth and experience for the Blazers lies in the back with the return of senior starting defenders Kerrie Bowden (Chicopee, MA) and Alicia Bobbie (Higganum, CT), as well as junior Justine Pereira (Ludlow, MA), who missed last season after starting for the Blazers as a freshman in 2006.
"Kerrie and Alicia are senior captains and will set the tone for us defensively," Coach Kelly said. "They are both very tough and have a willingness to work extremely hard.
Sophomore Stephanie Magalhaes (Granby, MA) returns this season and will be joined in the back by freshmen Laura Boone (Chicopee, MA) and Amanda Alvarado (Springfield, MA).
"Laura has been very impressive and will see a lot of playing time," Coach Kelly said. "She is going to become a team leader both on and off the field, and is one of the reasons I am so high on our defense this season."
GOALKEEPERS
The Blazers appear to have a nearly unbeatable tandem between the pipes with senior Shannon Donnelly (Florence, MA) and freshman Kelly Callahan (Monson, MA).
"Kelly is a great athlete," Coach Kelly said. "She is big, strong, and more importantly, she understands the position very well. I saw her play for Monson High School and I am positive she will come up big for us in games this season."
Donnelly, the team's starter in each of the last two seasons, returns after posting four shutouts and a solid 1.37 goals against average a year ago.
"Shannon has a lot of experience in goal and is a most capable backup," Coach Kelly noted.
SCHEDULE
The Blazers, who joined the newly-formed New England Collegiate Conference (NECC), will play league home games against Bay Path (Sept. 20), Becker (Sept. 27), Southern Vermont (Oct. 8) and Lesley (Oct. 25), as well as conference road games at Newbury (Oct. 1), Daniel Webster (Oct. 4), Wheelock (Oct. 11) and Mitchell (Oct. 22).
Elms College is also slated to play a tough slate of non-conference games against Vassar (home, Sept. 6), WPI (away, Sept. 9), MCLA (home, Sept. 11), Smith (away, Sept. 13), Westfield State (home, Sept. 16), Mount Holyoke (away, Sept. 23) and St. Joseph (CT) (away, Oct. 16).
"Our non-conference schedule is very challenging and we'll need to be at our absolute best to win those games," Coach Kelly said.
WRAP-UP
With the return of several players, including eight starters, the Blazers should be in contention for the NECC's inaugural title in November.
The key, according to Coach Kelly, is patience.
"We need to be patient because of the size of our field," he explained. "When we had a small field, there was no need for subtlety. We could just knock it up and get it across. Now, we need to take our time getting the ball forward, playing wide and back, and building possession as we move up the field. There may be times when we play directly, but that will be less often than in the past."