FLUSHING, NY -- The 2010 CUNYAC / Applebee's Women's Soccer Championship will have different feel when it is contested on Saturday, November 6 (2:00 pm) at the Metropolitan Oval in Maspeth, Queens, overlooking the Manhattan skyline. Two huge factors have changed on the CUNY Women’s Soccer scene to get everyone excited about 2010. First, for the first time since 2005, the initial season of the Championship event, there are four Conference members competing for the crown, with the return of John Jay College, elevating the event to the level of the other 23 CUNYAC Tournaments. Secondly, for the very first time, the College of Staten Island is not the defending champions, having won the first four events. Last season, City College won the title over the Medgar Evers College, 1-0. The Cougars return the top player in the league as they look to finally break through and win the school’s first-ever title in 2010.
CITY COLLEGE OF NEW YORK
The 2009 soccer season was a year of "Firsts" for the CCNY Women’s Soccer team. The Lady Beavers welcomed new coach Don Manfria and proceeded to show him and the CUNY Athletics Conference what the program was made of. As the year progressed, the Lady Beavers kept working and learning each day. Their tireless work paid off as they won the first ever “Double Championship” in the colleges illustrious history, winning both the regular season and tournament titles.
The 2010 season will find 8 starters gone from that championship season. The Lady Beavers lost CUNYAC Tournament MVP Carina Subia to graduation and returning Caption Mallory Torres to an ACL injury. While some coaches and onlookers would deem 2010 a rebuilding year because of the tremendous personal loses, Coach Manfria thinks otherwise. “We had a great year recruiting, bringing in some top players from The PSAL plus upstate New York. Sure it will be tough replacing that many players, but these young ladies have been working hard during the pre-season and we are progressing daily.”
The 2010 Lady Beavers will be lead by Co-captains Kristina Phu and Monica Bojaca. ”Monica and Krissy know the system and have been doing a great job helping the new players learn our style of play,” said coach Manfria. The newcomers include 3 of the top players out of the PSAL Rebecca Arce, Lindsey De La Rosa, and Yanique Newman. Joining those " Big 3 " are Amanda Drizis from Margretville, Melissa Pastoressa from Mineola, and Angela Choi from Bayside. Rounding out the 2010 recruiting class are Jessica Salas and Jessika Cardona a junior college transfer from Bergen Community College. Manfria fully believes 2010 season will hinge on how quickly the incoming freshman players adapt to the college game. “It’s exciting trying to integrate this many young and talented players into our line-up. The faster we can come together as team will dictate how we can go in our conference tournament.”
MEDGAR EVERS COLLEGE
The Women’s Soccer team at Medgar Evers College has high expectations for the 2010 season. The team has 10 players returning from the 2009 team that played in the CUNYAC Championship game and won the Hudson Valley Women’s Athletic Conference Championships.
Leading the way in offense for the Lady Cougars is junior forward Shakera Ho-Sang. Ho-Sang, a product of Prospect Heights High School in Brooklyn, has netted 54 goals in her first two seasons for the Lady Cougars. Key players returning with Ho-Sang, include juniors Kerissa Harris, Wendy Gallegos, Giancarla Denegri, and Laura Morales. The lone senior on the team, Giselle Morgan, will continue to demonstrate her leadership from her midfield position, as Medgar Evers College attempts to improve on last season’s 10-10 record.
Kathy Salcedo, a sophomore from New Utrecht, will be expected to improve on her solid freshman season. She is joined by some talented freshmen recruits. Renel Dennis, Shandell, Lissetty Veliz, Carolina Salazar, Shanice Walters and Tiffany Worrell are all expected to move the Lady Cougars forward this season.
“The team does not have that much depth,” said Head Coach Roy Anderson. “But it does have a little more depth than last year. We also have some quality in key positions. The sooner we can gel in the new players in what we are trying to do, the better we will be.
COLLEGE OF STATEN ISLAND
After finishing 3-11-2 in the 2009 season, the Dolphins are back and have been working hard for a more promising season. With six freshmen and nine first year players, the young Dolphins have a lot to do. “We’re a new and young team,” states sixth year Head Coach John Guagliardo, “But we’re faster, quicker smarter and better.”
In goal for the Dolphins will be freshman Victoria Donegan. “She was the best goalie on the Island in high school,” says Guagliardo of the 5-8 keeper, “Donegan will add atleast three or four wins to our schedule just by being in goal for us.” Sharing the duties of goalkeeper is former CSI basketball star Daniellie McLaughlin who sees her first year on the roster with senior status.
“She’s got a nose for the net,” says Guagliardo of freshman forward Demi-Jean Martorano who will serve as a key scorer. Moved from her original position, veteran player Paige Buono will be playing center-mid along with senior Lauren Neglia and senior Michelle Kelley. Guagliardo is confident with the trio reporting that, “The three of them are the base of our team’s strength.”
At midfield are Christina Sgarlato and Natalie Tombasco. Defense will be led by two-team athlete Nicole Quattrocchi along with Jessica Levy and heavily recruited freshman Amanda Peccacio. “My mid-fielders are very physical and I’m very excited about defense is rock solid,” states the head coach.
Freshman Cassandra Black will add a lot of depth to the mid-field while Christina Jacob and Stephanie McNichol will share the stopper position defensively. Helping up front on offense will be sophomores Christina Flynn and Nicole Iacona.
The Dolphins suffer the loss of Valerie Incontrera who tore her ACL in the team’s scrimmage a few weeks ago.
Hoping to bring the CUNYAC Championship trophy back to CSI, Guagliardo believes, “We are a very young team but I am so optimistic about how the season will turn out.”
JOHN JAY COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
The newest program to hit the athletics department, women’s soccer, is set for a successful first season, as the Bloodhounds prepare for a pioneering year.
John Jay will take the field for the first time in five years (John Jay had a women’s soccer program during the 2005 season and finished 3-3-2 overall) and the Bloodhounds expect to compete at a solid level.
“Our goal is to win the conference. We are going to play hard, play to win and have fun,” said Kamal Haruna. “Everyone looks good, the players are working hard in practice, and team chemistry has been great.”
An outstanding talented group of players will take the field this season for John Jay, including transfer Yuri Giraldo
Talented first year players include Marcelina Kopec, Lizette Trevino, Gabriela DeJesus, Jennifer Gomez, Ashley Oaks, Stephanie Ibarra, Shpresa Isufi, Giselle Linares, Joleen Richards, Alexis Ochoa, Rosa Aguirre, Danielle Bassett, Katherine Gallardo, Brenda Pitts, Kimberly Martinez, Jennifer Gazca and Norhan Basuni.
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