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RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Under the direction of first year head coach Brendan Lawler, the Manhattan women's soccer team will take the field Friday night for their home opener with Fairleigh Dickinson. Kick off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Gaelic Park. Fans can also watch the live webcast and follow live stats exclusively at GoJaspers.com.
2010 Manhattan Women's Soccer Season Outlook
The Manhattan women's soccer team enters the 2010 campaign prepared to make a strong run at the MAAC title. Returning a blend of skilled players at each position and a crop of talented newcomers head coach Brendan Lawler has reason to be optimistic for his first season in Riverdale.
The Lady Jaspers look to pick up where they left off last year after playing their best soccer during the final weekend at the MAAC Tournament in Orlando, Fla. Coming just a shootout shy of advancing to the 2009 semifinals, the Lady Jaspers feel they can build on the experience and make a claim for the program's first MAAC championship.
"Every time we speak with the players their excitement and passion is infections as they prepare to build on the successes of last season," said Lawler. "The players put in a lot of work this summer. With the continued hard work, dedication, and a little bit of luck this group of returning players and incoming freshmen will be ready to make a strong run at each and every opponent on our schedule."
Manhattan has 15 returning letterwomen and 10 newcomers who will rally behind the leadership of two-time team captain Kara Bucci. The senior from Newburgh, N.Y. will lead the Lady Jaspers from the back and anchor a defensive unit which helped generate six shutout victories a year ago.
The Lady Jaspers return their leading scorer in two-time All-MAAC selection Caroline Morse who finished with 20 points and eight goals last season, including four game winners which ranked as the third most in the MAAC. Fellow seniors Marissa Greco, Michelle Miyaki and Kristin Spiros offer the Lady Jaspers veteran leadership at the midfield, while MAAC All-Rookie goalkeeper Kara Davis looks to build on a successful campaign where she finished third in the MAAC with a 1.19 goal against average and five shutouts.
Lawler's expectations for his program this season are simple, "We expect each player and coach to work hard and smart every second of training. I have no doubt that if we can maintain our focus for the entire season, we will be in position to challenge in the conference tournament."
Attack
The Lady Jaspers have several weapons up front, including senior Caroline Morse who has already engraved her name in the Manhattan record book with 45 points in her first three years with the program. Known throughout her career for 'timely' goals, half of her 16 scores went for game winners. Morse brings an aggressive attacking dimension to the field and an indisputable will to win.
Juniors Tara Gleason and Megan Lavecchia are also expected to bolster the Manhattan offense. Despite missing the first half of the 2009 season sidelined with injuries, the duo provided much of the offensive support during the Lady Jaspers stretch run. Combining for seven points in the last eight games, Gleason and Lavecchia represented one-third of the team's offense.
Gleason was a star in the 2009 MAAC Tournament scoring the game winning goal in the Lady Jaspers' opening round victory and assisting Manhattan's goal in a double overtime draw in the quarterfinals. Manhattan will again look to Gleason to create scoring opportunities with her energetic attacking nature.
Lavecchia brings firepower to the forward position as she displayed in her first four games back last season by scoring two goals which helped Manhattan to three wins and a tie. Over her career, she has used her speed and elusiveness with the ball to record nine points, including four goals, over 25 matches.
Kayla Howden should be in the mix after playing in 18 games last year, starting in four as a freshman. She helps stretch opposing defenses with her quickness and versatility. The product of Monroe, Conn. lifted the Lady Jaspers' last season with the game winning goal in a victory over Army.
"The speed and attacking mindset of our returning players will really allow us to get in behind our opponents and will be a great example for our incoming freshmen to follow," explained Lawler.
The Lady Jaspers add four newcomers up front who can contribute and add depth to the lineup: Martine Diamond, Kathleen Jordan, Caroline Kaplan and Lauren Narode.
Diamond, a dynamic player from Island Park, N.Y., lettered all four years at Kellenberg Memorial High School. She creates well off the dribble and makes tremendous runs off the ball.
Jordan is a technically skilled forward with good quickness who helped power Haddonfield Memorial High School (NJ) to two state championships. She is an intense player who brings a plethora of energy to the field.
The Lady Jaspers will also utilize Kaplan who is an All-Section I honoree from defending New York State Champion John Jay East Fishkill High School. Kaplan is a versatile forward who can excel either playing on the flank or more centrally.
Narode can help power the Manhattan offense from the midfield. The local product from Blauvelt, N.Y. is explosive, technically sound and can break down defenses in 1-v-1 opportunities.
"We have a great mix of returning upperclassmen and some new legs to make us really dangerous in the attack," explained Lawler. "I strongly believe that we have terrific depth at forward and in the wide attacking positions that will provide diversity in how we make our attack harder for opponents to plan for."
Midfield
Manhattan returns an experienced midfield that will look to increase its production and fill a void from the graduation of Courtney McMahon, the program's all-time assist leader and two-time First Team All-MAAC selection. The Lady Jaspers' veteran core of seniors Marissa Greco, Michelle Miyaki and Kristin Spiros, along with sophomores Brittany Egan and Allison Pfeiffer will likely take on the bulk of the work.
"Our midfield has a great mix of attacking flair and physical ball winners," stated Lawler. "We have the capability to dictate the pace of play through our technical ability and tactical awareness, while also playing physical enough to make it difficult for our opponents to establish a rhythm in the center."
Greco is one of the Lady Jaspers' most consistent players at both ends of the field. She played in all 20 games last season and has 35 games under her belt since transferring to Manhattan two years ago. The Long Valley, N.J. native has a good vision of the field and uses her creativity on and off the ball to break down defenses. Greco finished with three points last season and tied second on the team with a .625 shots on goal percentage.
Miyaki is the most experienced among the Lady Jaspers midfielders as she enters the season with 49 games played during her career. She brings a good defensive presence to the midfield and excels playing in the air. Miyaki did not miss a game last season, appearing in all 20 matches. The Trumbull, Conn. native displayed she can also be a threat on offense posting three points, including a game winning goal.
Spiros can strengthen the Lady Jaspers' offensive efforts with her good technical skills and ability to finish inside the box. She started 13 of 19 appearances last season finishing with three points.
Egan and Pfeiffer earned valuable experience last season coming off the bench in their rookie campaigns. Egan has good knowledge of the game, along with an explosive presence as she displayed in all 16 appearances. Pfeiffer brings a plethora of energy to the field and has a knack for creating scoring opportunities. She played in 17 games and scored a game winning goal.
Newcomers Claire Reinhard and Keara Hunt will compete for time at the midfield. Reinhard, a junior transfer from Southern Connecticut State, offers an excellent technical presence and excels playing in the middle of the field. With good composure, Reinhard knows how to control the tempo of a game. Hunt is a three-time All-Section I honoree from John Jay East Fishkill, the two-time defending New York State Champion. Hunt is a hard-nosed player with tremendous pace.
Back
The Lady Jaspers will rely on upperclassmen Kara Bucci and Devon Lutz to carry the bulk of the work in the back. Bucci, a returning team captain, is a confident player who beholds a natural ability to lead as she has shown in 51 career appearances. She was one of just two Lady Jaspers to start all 20 games last season, and will be looked upon to lead the way again this season.
"As a key defender organizing the team in front of her, Kara has proven through her career that she commands the respect of her teammates, leading through word and action on and off the field," stated Lawler.
Lutz will also be a big part of the Lady Jaspers' back field. The junior from Waterford, N.Y. started 31 of 37 appearances in her first two seasons in Riverdale. As one of the Lady Jaspers best attackers out of the back, Lutz has a reputation of generating offense at key times as her six career points include a game winning goal and three assists which set up game winners. Defensively, Lutz covers significant ground and displays great composure on the field.
Sophomore Nicole Landes will make the transition to the backline this season. She gained plenty of collegiate experience playing in 15 games, starting three, last year at the midfield and forward positions. The Stony Point, N.Y. native came on the scene strong posting her first career assist in a season opening victory. Landes led the team in shots on goal percentage (.833).
Sara Jones along with freshmen Shannon Barry, Alex Iovine and Janie Schlauder will also vie for a position in the backline. Jones saw limited action as a freshman appearing in eight games as part of a veteran-laden defense. The California native from Aliso Niguel High School adds depth at the flank. Barry, a 5-8 product from Lagrangeville, N.Y., is a versatile athlete who offers the Lady Jaspers a good presence in the air. Barry was a two-time All-Section honoree at Arlington High School. Iovine comes to Manhattan from Canton, Conn. where she graduated as the all-time assist leader at Northwest Catholic High School. She is a technically superb player who is strong with both feet and plays with great composure. Schaulder, a product of Wallingford, Conn., is a creative player who has a true passion for the game. She offers Manhattan another attacking presence in the back.
"Our defenders are going to have a lot of responsibility placed on them as they will be asked to shutdown each and every opponent we face," explained Lawler. "Luckily, though, we have terrific returning leadership and experience directing our defensive tactics."
Goalkeeper
MAAC All-Rookie goalkeeper Kara Davis returns for her sophomore campaign, and will compete with senior Alyssa Bachowski and freshman Maria Sanzari for the job between the pipes.
"The goalkeeper position is going to win us games this year," emphasized Lawler. "Through preserving tight wins with their great ability to make saves, their intelligence in defensive organization, and starting attacking movements with their strong distribution, they will be vital to the success of the program."
Davis started all 19 appearances in goal last season as a freshman continuously improved as the year progressed. She ranked third in the MAAC with a 1.19 goal against average and five shutouts. Davis, a product of Redding, Conn., is a terrific shot stopper who has great athleticism and brings explosiveness to the goal.
Bachowski, a 5-8 keeper from Garden City, N.Y., brings an energetic presence to the cage. Despite missing last season due to injury, she displayed her abilities in 2008 when she started the final 10 games of the season and notched three shutouts.
The Lady Jaspers welcome Sanzari to the goalkeeping mix. A 5-9 rookie who hails from North Haven, Conn. Sanzari lettered four years at North Haven High School. She is a tremendous athlete who possesses quickness, agility and toughness, which goes along with her terrific hands. Sanzari's precise outlet throw can be a spark to counterattacks.
Schedule
The Lady Jaspers competitive 19-game slate features non-conference matches with members of the Colonial Athletic Association, Atlantic 10 and Patriot League. Manhattan will host nine home games on its state-of-the-art turf field at Gaelic Park.
The Lady Jaspers dive into the regular-season with their first seven games on the road, beginning with the season opener on Aug. 27 against Fairleigh Dickinson at Gaelic Park. Manhattan travels cross-town on Aug. 29 for its always highly anticipated contest with local rival Fordham.
Manhattan begins September with two of its first three games against Patriot League opponents. The Lady Jaspers travel to West Point, N.Y., to face off with Army (Sept. 5), which is two years removed from a Patriot League Championship and NCAA Tournament berth. The Lady Jaspers earned a 1-0 victory over the Black Knights last year on Senior Day. Manhattan will spend the next weekend in Maryland for matches at Towson (Sept. 10) and Navy (Sept. 12).
The Lady Jaspers travel to back-to-back America East Conference opponents playing at Albany (Sept. 17) and Stony Brook (Sept. 19). Manhattan returns to Gaelic Park on Sept. 24 for a match with Bryant under the lights. The contest with the Bulldogs jump starts a four-game homestand, which includes a contest with Cornell (Sept. 26) and conference matches against Siena (Oct. 1) and Marist (Oct. 3).
Manhattan hits the road again to face league members Fairfield (Oct. 8) and Iona (Oct. 10), before returning home for another four game stretch in Riverdale. The Lady Jaspers host Saint Peter's on Oct. 15 as the second half of a Manhattan soccer doubleheader with the men's squad. Manhattan also takes on Columbia (Oct. 18), and then completes its home slate with defending MAAC champion Loyola (Oct. 22) and Rider (Oct. 24). Manhattan eliminated Rider in the 2009 MAAC Championships, but fell to Loyola in a thrilling quarterfinal contest which came down to a shootout.
The Lady Jaspers spend the final weekend of the regular-season in Western New York when they visit Canisius (Oct. 29) and Niagara (Oct. 31). The top four teams in the conference will qualify for the 2010 MAAC Championships (Nov. 5 & 7) held on the Loyola University campus in Baltimore, Md. The league champion will receive an automatic bid to the 2010 NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament.
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