09/02/2008
2008 Women's Soccer Season Preview

Life is a game of inches - and so is soccer. After finishing just one win short of .500 (7-8-3, 4-5 NEWMAC) and one goal shy of advancing in the NEWMAC Tournament, the 2008 Clark University women's soccer team is looking for redemption.

"We play a tough schedule and were competitive in every game last year," says eighth-year head coach Joe Brady. "But we just could not get any real significant results. The penalty kick loss to Babson College in the conference tournament definitely gave us something to shoot for."

With eight starters and 17 letterwinners back, not to mention a bumper crop of solid recruits, Coach Brady feels he has assembled a team that is ready to compete in the conference and New England.

While the departure of two key members from last year's team - Clark's sixth place all-time leading scorer Liz Adamcik and Amanda Ramos, a former All-Conference pick - leaves vacancies up front, Coach Brady feels he has several talented players to fill the offensive void. Sophomore Julie Murray (5-0-10), who finished second on the team in scoring, and Kristen Murrone will provide the Cougars with a formidable scoring threat up front, while senior Heather Winn and junior Maria Arabatzis are in the running to complement her play. A pair of first-years, Molly Meehan and Erin Peete, as well as junior Brittany Flibotte could also give Clark a much needed offensive boost.

Coach Brady has plenty of candidates to consider at midfield including junior Charlotte Bowman and sophomore Megan O'Rourke. Bowman will give the Cougars' veteran presence, while O'Rourke returns after a stellar first-year campaign. Sophomore transfer Laura Hedden will be expected to give the team an additional scoring threat. The versatility of both Allison Kennelly and Kerri Moy will bolster the midfield and frontline play, while Celina Grisi also hopes to contribute.

"We want to get forward a little more and a lot quicker this season," Brady says. "Hopefully, we can get some goals not only from our frontline, but from our midfielders as well."

NEWMAC All-Star and senior co-captain Julia Rizzo will be back to anchor the Cougars' defensive unit that includes junior co-captain Lauren King, junior Lorna Lunney and sophomore Jess Mirkin, a transplanted midfielder. Junior Julia Hubbell, who may also see time at midfield, and sophomore Marie Sirois will contribute valuable minutes off the bench, while newcomers Sydney Bailey, Elizabeth Marconi and Rachel Minsky will also serve as viable options.

Joanna Clark (1.02 GAA, .829 SV%), who developed into an All-Conference keeper last year, returns for her second season as Clark's top goalie. Rookie netminders Kellie Barile and Audrey Eisemann will contend for the back-up position. "With the addition of Kellie and Audrey, it gives us two quality back-ups after surviving last year with only one goalie," says Brady. "Now, we have a solid goalkeeping contingency."

With a 26-person roster - one of the largest in Coach Brady's tenure - competition for starting spots will be fierce. "Pre-season kept everyone looking over their shoulder and wanting to get better," he says.

Playing a schedule that saw five teams earn NCAA Tournament berths, a pair advance to the ECAC New England Tournament finals and all but one squad garner regional recognition won't be easy. But according to Coach Brady, it will put the team in a position to contend in the NEWMAC.

"Our goal is to remain competitive in the conference and New England, and to take the next step in the program," he says. "In playing a schedule like ours, it will force us to be ready everyday and hopefully we are able to get some results from some quality teams."