Several Capital Athletic Conference sports boast strong balance and depth throughout the standings, but none moreso than in women’s soccer. Five different teams have won the conference title in the last five years, and four of those five champions did not enter the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the tournament.
Last year, fourth-seeded Mary Washington registered shoot-out victories on the road over the regular-season co-champs - Salisbury and Stevenson – to win the CAC title and advance to the NCAA Championship.
The road to the throne will be more difficult this season with the addition of Frostburg State to the CAC lineup. FSU was also an NCAA Tournament team last year, finishing with 18 victories in 22 matches.
The 2010 campaign kicks off Wednesday (9/1) with eight teams playing non-conference matches, and every team will be in action (most in tournaments) during the Labor Day Weekend. The first CAC battle of the season features Salisbury at Marymount on Sept. 8, beginning the run of 36 matches over two months to earn one of the six berths in the 2010 CAC Championship Tournament, which culminates with the title match on Nov. 6.
Here is a look at each team heading into the new season:
FROSTBURG STATE is poised to make an immediate impact in the CAC in 2010 with the return of 10 starters from last year’s NCAA Tournament team. Senior Lauren Russell, the ECAC South Region Offensive Player of the Year, and sophomore Amanda Wharton, the ECAC South Rookie of the Year, return as a formidable one-two punch as the duo combined for 51 goals last fall. The Bobcats also return five all-conference players and will look to improve on last year’s school record 18 wins (18-4).
HOOD's senior class is stacked with five four-year starters who are determined to go out with a bang in 2010. One of them is forward Cara Jordan, who has led the Blazers in scoring each of her previous three years. She lists second all-time at Hood in scoring and is the Blazers' assist leader. The goalkeeping tandem of senior Rachelle Buhrman and junior Kirsten Cacciola have combined for 18 shutouts over the past two seasons.
Three of MARYMOUNT’s strongest players last year were forwards Stephanie Flood, Monica Paolicelli and defender/keeper Gaby Prellezo, who were among nine freshmen on the Saints’ roster last year. Flood and Paolicelli tied for third on the team in goals while Prellezo played more than half the season between the pipes, registering a .640 save percentage. Coach Gayle Smith Wilson continued to strengthen her young roster with nine newcomers in hopes of building a CAC playoff contender in 2010.
Fresh off a 2009 CAC Tournament title, MARY WASHINGTON welcomes back 14 players from last year's team, including All-CAC selections Sarah Tryon, Amy Olson, Karen Strat, Emmalee Denkler, Sunny Herold and Tina Brehm. The Eagles (12-5-5 a year ago) and CAC Co-Coach of the Year Corey Hewson had a successful start to the year with a 2-0 mark in Ireland to kick off the preseason.
SALISBURY will look to claim the program’s fourth CAC title in 2010 after claiming the regular season CAC title in ’09 before falling in penalty kicks in CAC tournament semifinals. SU will look to junior Sarah Jessilonis to provide a scoring touch as she registered 11 points last season. The Sea Gulls will rely upon 2009 All-CAC second team goalkeeper Melissa Orgera as the last line of defense.
When ST. MARY’S takes to the pitch this fall, fifth-year head coach Brianne Weaver will have a young, inexperienced squad in front of her as only three return from St. Mary's stellar 2008 season. Six starters, headlined by all-conference selections Allison Ahdieh and Bridget McGovern (2g, 3a), will help guide this season's youthful team through the rigors of a demanding schedule while the duo will direct the midfield for the Seahawks.
STEVENSON is optimistic about this season after posting a school record 15 wins, earning a share of the CAC regular season championship and advancing to the CAC title game. Graeme Millar, 2009 CAC Coach of the Year, returns three All-CAC selections in seniors Kaitlyn Amos and Allison Humphries as well as junior and reigning CAC Player of the Year Stephanie Eyler. However, Stevenson (15-4-2, 7-1 CAC in 2009) will be without the services of reigning CAC Rookie of the Year Melinda Kane, who will miss the 2010 season with a torn ACL.
WESLEY returns 17 players, including seven starters, for head coach Ed Muntz. Sophomore Sammi Nevin score six goals last year. Only three freshmen in the conference scored more last year. Classmate Sydney Kahan played every minute in goal last year and turned in six shutouts. A pair of starters return on defense in Sara Gergen and Brittany MacNeil.
YORK features an experienced group of talented returners that is primed for a run at a CAC crown. The Spartans, who advanced to the CAC semifinals after making a championship game appearance in 2008, are led by returning All-CAC players Steph Mergler and Kat Sipes. Mergler led the squad with 24 points on eight goals and eight assists. Seniors Ali Jones (17 pts.) and Carly Bock (12 pts.) are the other returners that reached double figures in points last year. Senior Ally Wivell anchors the defensive backfield while junior Sarah Spanarkel returns in goal after finishing last year with a 1.41 goals against average and a .709 save percentage.
