Women's Soccer
2006 Season Recap
After earning its third straight New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) tournament berth, the seventh-seed Clark University women’s soccer team concluded its season with a hard-fought 2-1 overtime loss to second-seed Springfield College in quarterfinal round action. The Cougars ended the year 4-12-1 overall and 2-6-1 in league play.
Facing a daunting non-conference schedule and NEWMAC slate, the Clark squad held its own against five NCAA tournament teams and a pair of perennial New England contenders this season. The Cougars went 1-4 after facing three of the five NCAA teams, including a trip to the Oneonta State College Mayor’s Cup Tournament, to start the year.
Highlights for Clark included, an impressive 3-2 victory over regional powerhouse Keene State College, where junior midfielder Amanda Ramos notched a hat-trick, including the game-winner with 56 seconds left to play, decisive NEWMAC wins over cross-town rival WPI (4-0) and Coast Guard Academy (4-1), and a 1-1 double-overtime tie against Mount Holyoke College.
Ramos and senior defender Amy Wilson saw their first appearance on the NEWMAC All-Conference second team. Ramos, who earned NEWMAC Player of the Week honors earlier in the season, led the Cougar offense with a career-high 21 points on 10 goals and an assist. She also ranked second in the conference in goals per game (0.59) and tied for fourth in goals (10). Wilson, a tri-captain, anchored Clark’s defense in all 17 games and chipped in offensively with a key assist in a victory over Coast Guard. Wilson was also selected to play in the New England Women’s Intercollegiate Soccer Association (NEWISA) Senior Bowl.
Senior Sheri Brick and sophomore Kari Mruz represented the women’s soccer squad on the NEWMAC Academic All-Conference team.
2006 Season Outlook
Under the direction of Head Coach Joe Brady, the Clark University women’s soccer team has established itself as a legitimate contender in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) and the New England region. After reaching its first-ever ECAC Championship last season, and posting the most wins (12) and best finish (3rd) in the conference since 1999, the Cougars have even greater expectations this fall. Advancing to the NEWMAC tournament semifinals for the past two seasons, Clark is naturally progressing towards their next goal – the tournament championship and NCAA berth.
According to Coach Brady, experience and leadership will be the keys to unlock that quest. Returning 16 letter-winners and nine starters, including six seniors, from last year’s 12-8-1 (5-3-1 NEWMAC) team, the Cougars are ready to strap on their cleats and make some noise in the highly competitive conference.
“This year, we left the NEWMAC tournament feeling that, ‘we want more,’” said the Cougar’s sixth-year coach. “I’ve talked to the team, in particular the seniors, about how much they’ve accomplished in three years.”
“Now it’s time to end it the right way,” he added.
Led by NEWMAC all-star Lindsay Sylvester (3-5-11), the Cougars return a myriad of talent at midfield. Sylvester, a tri-captain, who also received third-team All-NEWISA and NSCAA honors, will likely be paired up with Julia Rizzo, a sophomore transfer from Wheaton College. Junior Amanda Ramos (3-1-7) and sophomore Maria Arabatzis (2-2-6) will make a formidable pair on the outside, while returnees Sheri Brick, Heather Winn and Kathleen O’Connell will give the Cougars valuable minutes off the bench. Converted goalkeeper Minta Trivette is also expected to make a contribution. Top recruits Lorna Lunney, an All-Scholastic midfielder from La Jolla, Ca. and Newton, Mass. native Kerri Moy will also be in contention for playing time.
Clark appears to have ample weapons up front, where they welcome back the tandem of NEWMAC all-star Liz Adamcik (11-1-23) and sophomore standout Kari Mruz. Adamcik finished the season ranked seventh on the Cougar all-time scoring list with 41 points on 20 goals and an assist, while Mruz is poised to have a breakout year. Jess Mirkin, a promising freshman from Wellesley, Mass., will give Coach Brady another option up front.
The Cougars return a back-line that remains virtually intact. Tri-captains Amy Wilson and Melissa Ambrose will anchor Clark’s defensive unit from the center back positions. They will be joined by Deena Zakim and Jen Dineen, on the outside. Seniors Thea Link (1.34 GAA, .783 SV %) and Nolizwe Nondabula (1.36 GAA, .789 SV %) will split time in goal for the Cougars.
With a tough non-conference schedule featuring three NCAA Tournament teams, and a daunting NEWMAC slate, the goal remains the same – reach the tournament finals.
“Playing a schedule like ours is only going to make us more prepared,” he added. I’ve never shied away from playing the best teams in New England. We’ve gotten to the point where we can compete with the best of them.”
For more information about Clark University Women's Soccer, please contact head coach Joe
Brady at (508) 421-3796 or by email at jbrady@clarku.edu
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