Brooklyn women's soccer season preview

With the completion of Brooklyn College's brand new state-of-the-art athletic complex that includes a soccer/softball multi-purpose field and a track, BC will be implementing its 13th varsity team in 2012-2013 with the addition of a Women's Soccer program.

Veteran Head Coach Patrick Horne, who has spent time coaching at various colleges including Concordia College (NY), Molloy College, Globe Institute of Technology, Southampton College and SUNY College at Old Westbury, will look to take the reigns of the BC Women's Soccer team and begin to set the building blocks of a successful program in 2012.

The Bulldogs will make their debut on the road against City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) rival City College of New York (CCNY) on September 7th. They will make their home debut on September 11th against another conference foe, Lehman College.

CCNY will pose a tough matchup for the Bulldogs right off the get go, as the Beavers finished second in the conference in 2011. However, Coach Horne wouldn't have it any other way, saying "I think it's good to go against the best in our conference right away so that we know just where we stand."

Horne thinks that his first-year team is up to the challenge and points to the positives. "Not much is expected of us, which will work in our favor; but at the same time we expect much from ourselves. We are a first-year team, but our student-athletes are not first-year players."

The team has talent, but most importantly is the high level of enthusiasm, leadership and camaraderie that has developed among the squad during the pre-season.  There is a good spirit among the student-athletes, as they have encouraged each other in practice and have done what was asked of them, according to Coach Horne.

Among the talented players on the team are a trio of freshmen that led High School for Telecommunications and Arts to a 5-4 victory over James Madison High School to win the 2011 Brooklyn B Division Championship. Forwards Jillian Protin and Laura Ashley-Pfeifer and midfielder Sayla Flores played major roles in Telecommunications' championship run, with Flores scoring 37 goals and adding 13 assists in 16 games during the season.

The Bulldogs' talent is also manifested in freshman defender Shani Nakhid-Schuster, who played her high school soccer in Auckland, New Zealand; midfielder Moritza Morency, who learned the game in her native Haiti; and forward Malaika Contaste, a standout from Benjamin Banneker High School.  Senior forwards Catherine Quinn and sophomore forwards Stephanie Mezzaferro and Eka Beriashvili, all former standouts at Leon M. Goldstein High School, will add much to the Bulldogs' new offense.

Tri-captains Shani Abrahams, Colene McFarland and Florin Petcu provide leadership for the team, while defenders Angelica Romero and Sharon Chuchuney and midfielder Janet Rodriguez will also add much needed leadership on the young team. Goal keepers Karolina Gorna, Melissa St. Loius and Cynthia Campos have set a very high standard for work ethic. 

"We've already begun to accomplish some of our goals that are directly in our control, such as a positive attitude and high enthusiasm, which accounts for a team spirit that is conducive to learning," said Coach Horne.  "Our next goal: earning a spot in the CUNYAC Championships!"