Season Preview: Gulls will be battle-tested as they aim for CAC Championship

SALISBURY, Md. - The 2010 Salisbury University women's soccer program has one goal to start the season: get better each and every day! SU 10th year head coach Jim Nestor believes that if his team sticks to that mentality they should be in the hunt for the programs fourth Capital Athletic Conference championship and with that make the program's fourth overall NCAA tournament appearance.

"Our main focus is to get back to that conference championship game and win it all and bring the CAC championship back to Salisbury," said Nestor, "Things are looking good as of now."

The Sea Gulls return 19 letterwinners from last year's squad that went 10-3-3 and captured the CAC regular-season championship.

SU should be an experienced team early into the season, as the Gulls feature a September schedule that most teams would choose to avoid. "In September, we are going to be battle and road tested as we play a number of quality teams during the month," states Nestor. "We are looking forward to getting through that stretch, knowing that we played well, improved as a team and remained healthy leading into conference play."

Forwards
The Sea Gulls averaged 2.12 goals per game in '09 and will look to a group of creative minded forwards to improve upon that number.

SU junior forward Sarah Jessilonis returns as the top returning point scorer from last year's team as she registered 11 points on five goals and one assist. The Pasadena, Md., native has been hindered throughout training camp by an injury, but is gradually working back into playing form.

Senior Sarah Koenig has made the switch from central midfield to the attacking corps as her speed allows the team to stretch the field. Freshman Colleen O'Connell has impressed the coaching staff in the early part of camp and should see significant minutes this year.

Sophomores Sarah Pfundstein and Jessica Robinson plus freshman Katy Barry add valuable depth to the forward position.

Midfield
One of the strongest areas of the team entering the 2010 season appears to be the midfield as the Gulls welcome back a number of experienced veterans.

Sophomores Casey Hafford and Bonnie Sandone have impressed in training camp and will spend significant minutes in the central midfield.

Junior Amanda Miele, sophomore Julia Finecey and freshman Alex Gower provide depth to the central midfield and will see time on the field. Junior Katie McMahon moved from the defense to a spot as a central defensive midfielder for the Sea Gulls.

On the outside wings, senior Brenna Stuhler and sophomore Erin Mooney have worked hard during training camp and will be constant threats to opposing defenses. Senior Shannon Donnelly and junior Amanda Zyzak will provide a spark off the bench for the Sea Gulls.

Defense
The Sea Gulls must replace most of the defense from last year's team as they lost several players to graduation. Junior Kira Mangone appeared in 15 games last year with seven starts and has shown great leadership in the preseason. Junior Brionna Barber was expected to start in the backline, but an injury will keep her out for a significant portion of the schedule. Senior captain Noel Bolmer has fought for time in the preseason and serves as a great leader both on and off the field for SU. Sophomore Sam DeRosa has made the switch from outside midfield to defense this season and has done a great job in learning her position.

The Sea Gulls welcome a number of newcomers to the squad that will battle for time in the defense in junior transfer Kelsey Worrill, sophomore Krista Fassio and freshmen Amanda Middleton, Emily Rice and Bobbi Salter. Salter is the younger sister of former SU women's soccer player Kelli Salter (2005-08).

Goalkeeper
The Sea Gulls return All-CAC second team performer Melissa Orgera for her sophomore season. In '09, Orgera posted a 9-3-3 record as she logged over 1,300 minutes and gave up just eight goals all season. The Arnold, Md., native has come into camp in great shape and improved in many facets of the game.

Orgera will be pushed by freshman Lauren West, who has played outstanding throughout the preseason. West is a very technically sound goalkeeper and does not give up a lot of rebounds for opposing offenses.

Senior Samantha Kaufman provides experience and leadership to the goalkeepers and will serve as the third goalie.

Schedule
The Sea Gulls' schedule features a number of nationally-ranked and traditional soccer powers that should have the Gulls prepared for a strong push as the season ends. "We are always trying to play the best team in the country that are realistically close so we don't have to travel too far," said Nestor.

SU's non-conference schedule features seven games against teams that made the 2009 NCAA tournament and three teams ranked in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America preseason poll. The Sea Gulls will square off with No. 4 Lynchburg College (Sept. 11), No. 6 Johns Hopkins University (Sept. 5), No. 17 Rowan University (Oct. 20) and Eastern (Pa.) University who received votes in the preseason poll.

The CAC should once again be one of the most competitive conferences in the nation, featuring a number of quality teams all vying for the conference championship. The conference features two teams that made the NCAA tournament last year in 2009 conference champion University of Mary Washington and first-year CAC member Frostburg State.