August 22, 2007

Women's Soccer Picked to Finish Fifth in NE-10 Preseason Poll

SOUTH EASTON, MASS. - After recording a school record 15 wins and advancing to its second career NCAA Tournament, the Bryant Women's Soccer team has been picked to finish fifth in the Northeast-10 Conference, as voted on by the conference's coaches. Led by tri-captains, Diane Pascale, Tricia Spada, and Lauren Childers, the Bulldogs open their season Sunday at Bulldog Stadium against Adelphi at 1 p.m.

2007 NE-10 Preseason Poll

1. Franklin Pierce (13), 223

2. Saint Rose (2), 212

3. Merrimack, 174

4. UMass-Lowell, 169

5. BRYANT, 164

6. St. Anselm, 131

7. Assumption, 123

8. Stonehill, 120

9. Southern N.H., 100

9. Le Moyne, 100

11. So. Connecticut, 82

12. Pace, 79

13. St. Michael's, 72

14. Bentley, 29

15. AIC, 22

OVERVIEW
A school-record 15 wins. The first All-American in Bryant soccer history. A NCAA appearance. Four All-Conference members. A run to the conference championship. The 2007 Bryant Women's Soccer team has the arduous task of following-up one of the most successful teams in school history. Experience won't be an issue, as Head Coach Chris Flint returns 21 players from a 2006 team that had just two seniors. However, seniors Megan Reising and Casey Grange leave behind two big holes, especially the latter, who was the first Bulldog to be honored as an All-American. The 2007 squad is defensive-minded and deep at midfield, defense and in goal. If they can replace Grange's 19 goals and 46 points, another NCAA appearance is in the team's sights.
 
FORWARDS
Obviously, replacing Grange will be the biggest hole to fill. Last season, she was Bryant's playmaker, sniper and team leader. In her place is tri-captain Diane Pascale (Plymouth, MA.). Pascale, who posted nine goals last season, including six game-winners, will be looked upon to be the go-to player offensively. She needs 14 goals to tie Grange's school record of 40 career goals. Joining Pascale up-front is senior Stephanie Zalewski (Parsippany, NY). Zalewski scored three goals, including one in the Northeast-10 Semifinals against Saint Rose, and added two assists. Also on the front line is junior Kristin Fisher (Plymouth, MA.). Fisher had an assist and six shots in four games, before missing the remainder of 2006 due to leg injuries. Ryann Healy (Candia, NH) (two goals) and Erin Szewc (Ellington, CT) (goal) both provided sparks as freshmen in 2006 and will be counted on more as sophomores. Newcomers Kim Rich (Lancaster, MA.), Kristin Mulry (Holbrook, MA.) Megan Vayo (Hanson, MA.) and Kelly Campelia (Acton, MA.) all will get plenty of opportunities to showcase their offensive talents with the lack of depth on the front line.

MIDFIELD
The Bulldogs are deep in the midfield, as Amy Orzechowski (Milford, CT) and Tricia Spada (Dedham, MA.) return to anchor this group. Spada, a tri-captain, was third in scoring last season with three goals and six assists. She took the majority of the team's corner kicks and is the team's playmaker from the midfield. Orzechowski is a more defensive-minded midfielder, but chipped in with four goals in 2006, including two in the 3-1 conference semifinal upset victory over Saint Rose. Daisy Martinez (Eliot, ME) tallied four assists last season. She showed her versatility by starting at forward after Pascale was injured in the conference tournament. As a junior, she will look to score more, playing both forward and midfield.  Alex Dipippo (Shelton, CT) will look to crack the starting lineup as a sophomore. As a freshman, Dipippo was typically the first player off the bench. She scored one goal on 14 shots, while playing in all 24 games in 2006. Holly Tyser (Somers, CT) and Ashley Montgomery (Hollis, ME) round out the returning midfielders for the Bulldogs. Tyser scored two goals in 22 games, playing both forward and midfield. She is an offensive-minded player, who will look to score more as a sophomore. Montgomery played in just three games as a freshman and will look to see more time this season. Freshman Sarah Donovan (Storrs, CT) aims to crack the line-up and provide a spark.

DEFENSE
The backline is the real strength of the Bulldogs, as all three starters from 2006 return in 2007. Junior Danielle Malta (Bethel, CT) is the back-bone of the back-line. Malta played virtually every minute of every game, posting six assists and shutting down opponent's top scorers. She is extremely talented and strong defensively and has an offensive side to her game. Junior Alaina Iannazzi (Methuen, MA.) is a shut-down defender. Iannazzi played all 24 games last season, chipping in one goal. She will compliment Malta in the center back position. Sophomore Molly Wallace (East Sandwich, MA.) will look to continue her successful freshman campaign where she contributed two assists in 23 games. Wallace is another excellent defender, capable of contributing offensively. Senior tri-captain Lauren Childers (Franklin, MA.) will use her experience and versatility on the backline. As a freshman, she tied for the team lead in assists with seven. She missed 2005 due to injury and shifted to defense in 2006, scoring once and adding an assist in 14 games. Brianne Lustenring (Massapequa, NY) is another defender whose talents add to the team's overall depth on the backline. Lustenring played in all 24 games as a freshman, registering one assist. Jessica Conley (Salem, NH) and Kristina Dionne (Raymond, NH) round out the returning Bulldogs on the backline. Freshmen Steph Del Mistro (East Williston, NY) and Kristy Doherty (Monroe, NY) join an experienced and deep Bulldog backline and will look to learn from the team's junior and senior leaders.

GOALKEEPERS
All three 2006 netminders return for 2007 and will all compete for time in goal. Junior Jessica Neales (Swansea, MA.) leads an impressive trio. Neales followed up a freshman campaign in which she started all 21 matches, with a 8-2 record in 2006, and a 0.81 goals-against, to go with three shutouts. She was the Bulldog netminder down the stretch, before going down with a shoulder injury before the Northeast-10 Championship. Sophomore Katie Mitchell (Deer Park, NY) hopes to improve upon a freshman season in which the goaltender appeared in 12 games. She posted a 4-6 record, with a 1.83 goals-against, while appearing in two playoff games. Mitchell started most of the games at the onset of the 2006 season, before giving way to Neales down the stretch. Junior Jessica Clark (Barnstable, MA.) rounds out the trio in net. When called upon, Clark was solid in goal, as she allowed just one goal in 315 minutes, while recording two shutouts and posting a 3-0-1 record.

SCHEDULE
The Northeast-10 Conference is highly regarded as one of the toughest conferences in the nation. Last season, the top four New England region teams came up from the Northeast-10. The Bulldogs will compete with Franklin Pierce, Saint Rose and UMass Lowell for the top spot in the conference. Franklin Pierce and Saint Rose will visit Bryant this season, with the Bulldogs traveling to Lowell. The team will kick-off its preseason with a highly anticipated trip to Europe from August 10-20. Notable non-conference games include playing C.W. Post and Georgian Court in the Assumption Nike Kick-Off Classic on August 31st and September 2nd. The Bulldogs will welcome powerhouse New Haven to Smithfield, R.I. on September 28th and will host Bridgeport two days later on September 30th.  Senior Day is slated for October 23rd against Pace University at 3 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium.