New Paltz women's soccer season preview

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – After winning the first State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) championship in program history, the State University of New York at New Paltz women's soccer team looks to not only defend its title, but also improve upon it in its 2012 campaign.

New Paltz finished its season 14-6-3 with a 6-2-1 mark in the SUNYAC, good for second place. The Hawks defeated top-seeded SUNY Cortland in the SUNYAC Women's Soccer Championship Tournament final, 1-0, to move on to their first-ever NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship Tournament.

New Paltz made its first stop in Lynchburg, Va., to take on nationally ranked No. 11 Lynchburg in the opening round of the tournament. After the game ended in a 0-0 tie, the New Paltz topped Lynchburg on penalty kicks, 3-2, to move on to the second round. 

In their second tournament matchup, the Hawks were successful once again, dropping Rowan, 2-1, in the first overtime, completing their second-straight upset in the tournament. A week later, the Hawks were matched up against the top-ranked team in the nation, undefeated Messiah College, in the Sweet 16. The game was neck and neck until the 72nd minute, in which Messiah scored the only goal of the game to end the Hawks' season.

"[Last season] was an incredible season and we're still kind of riding high," said New Paltz head women's soccer coach Colleen Bruley. "We know that it's a new year now, but the kids still talk about it all the time."

Bruley said that last year's success has instilled a sense of confidence in her players that she has never seen before.

"Now they understand that they can step on the field and if they play their game, play the way we can, they can compete and/or beat any team that we come up against," said Bruley.

After the incredible success of the 2011 season, Bruley has set her team's goals higher than ever. Not only does she want to win another SUNYAC championship, she wants her team to finish the regular season as the top team in the conference. The team also looks to take non-conference games more seriously this year. After last year's success, an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament is highly possible for the Hawks and non-conference games become more crucial.

Another objective for the Hawks is to score more goals this season. Last year, New Paltz ranked third in the conference, scoring 1.57 goals per game.

Scoring more goals than last year may not be necessary with who the Hawks have guarding their goal. Senior goalkeeper Stephanie Vega (Oceanside, N.Y./Baldwin Senior) is highly regarded as one of the top goalkeepers in all of Division III women's soccer. She led the SUNYAC with 13 shutouts in 2011, which includes a streak of 699:07 in which she did not allow a goal from Sept. 10 to Oct. 1, 2011. She ranked second in the nation with a .914 save percentage, sixth in goalie minutes played (2106) and 15th in goals against average (.470). She was named a D3soccer.com Third Team All-American, as well as an All-SUNYAC Second Teamer and the SUNYAC Tournament MVP. She was also recently included on the NCAA's Division III women's soccer players to watch list for 2012.

"I want her to be an All-American," said Bruley. "There were teams last year in the NCAA Tournament that said she's the best goalkeeper in DIII that they've ever seen."

The Hawks graduated two seniors after the 2011-12 academic year, and though both were leaders for the 2011 team, Bruley expects different players to step up and lead the team this season.
Bruley named senior defender Emily Rokitowski (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) as a player she expects to lead in the backfield after making the move from midfielder to defender. She said senior midfielder Gabby Martino (Islip, N.Y./Islip) is expected to take over the middle back position, and that the other three backs are more than comfortable playing with her. Among them is senior defender Katie Oliver (Bellport, N.Y./Bellport), who started all 22 games in which she played in 2011.

Expected to make a big impact in her first season is freshman midfielder Kristina Gandolfo (Merrick, N.Y./Sanford H. Calhoun). She was the second-leading scorer in Long Island last year and will play an important role for the Hawks.

"Her possession is great, her touch on the ball is great and we're looking for her to work really well with [sophomore midfielder] Eleni Anselmi (Garnerville, N.Y./North Rockland), who has had an awesome preseason."

Up top, Bruley anticipates senior forward Samantha Abravanel (Islip, N.Y./Islip) to continue being the threat that she was last year. She is also looking forward to how well freshman forward Chelsea Weir (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) can play on the Hawks' front.

Bruley spoke about the depth of her team at the striker position. Senior forward Shelby Kondelka (Bloomingsburg, N.Y./Pine Bush) led the team with nine goals a year ago, and sophomore forward Sarah Painter (Blue Point, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point), who notched a pair of goals in limited time in 2011. Joining them and adding depth to the team is freshman forward Allie Festa (Centereach, N.Y./Centereach).

One of the top scorers for the Hawks last season, senior midfielder Beth Bowling (Islip, N.Y./Islip) is expected to do the same this year on the left side with help from her cousin, senior defender Patti Bowling (North Babylon, N.Y./North Babylon), who plays right behind her as the left back.
Tied for second on the team last year with four assists, sophomore midfielder Rebecca Rothman (Oceanside, N.Y./Oceanside) is expected to improve upon her freshman year and increase her production.

Other returners looking to make a bigger splash this season are sophomore defenders Christine Lacaria (Watertown, Conn./Holy Cross) and Shaun O'Hanlon (Eastchester, N.Y./Eastchester) and sophomore midfielders Bryce Kristall (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills West) and Katie Knapp (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point).

Bruley brought in freshman goalkeeper Krysten Kane (Macedon, N.Y./Wayne Central) who will have the opportunity to work with and learn from Vega for a year before taking over next season.

Rounding up the incoming class of first year players are midfielders junior Theresa Park (Plainview, N.Y./East Meadow) and freshman Marissa Carlton, and defenders sophomore Melissa Reed (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Arlington) and freshmen Kristen Loyer (Forest Hills, N.Y./Archbishop Milloy), Caitlin Adams (Valley Stream, N.Y./Valley Stream Central), Ava Yurchison (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) and Sarah Nowak (Newburgh N.Y./Marlboro). All are expected to play a role and get playing time this season.

"We're excited. We can't wait to start," said Bruley of this upcoming season. "We feel like we're stronger and we feel like we're better than last year."

The Hawks open their 2012 season this Friday, Aug. 31, with a matchup against Mount Saint Mary College at 2 p.m. in the opening round of the second annual Michelle Vargas-Robin Tournament to be played at Alumni Field on the New Paltz campus.