2010 preview
Sports Information Department – 112 Dods Hall
Phone (716) 673-3100 / Fax (716) 673-3136
CONTACT: Matt Palisin,
Sports Information Dept.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Women's soccer
FREDONIA, N.Y. -- Long before his team went on summer break, Fredonia State women’s soccer coach Chris Case knew he had to come up with a way to upgrade his team’s scoring potential this fall. He didn’t know at the time just how severe a challenge that would be.
Case was already prepared to move on without Lauren Heilweil, the program’s all-time leader in goals and points (33 and 80, respectively), one of three departed seniors from last year’s team. He had not counted on going into the fall without two-time All SUNYAC Reilly Condidorio (LeRoy), but go on without her he must. Injured during a summer-league game, Condidorio will sit out the entire 2010 season.
Heilweil and Condidorio, with 10 goals each, accounted for half of last season’s total goal output. The Blue Devils finished 11-5-3 overall and 6-2-1 in the SUNYAC, good for second place in the conference.
“Reilly,” Case said, “played a huge part in the success of last year’s team with us moving her from a new position (forward as a freshman, center midfielder as a sophomore). She was a player that not only scored, but did the little things that go unnoticed.”
The 11 wins last season – one short of the single-season school record – represents the second straight season the Blue Devils have reached that total, and the fourth time they’ve won 11 games in Case’s eight seasons as head coach. So it’s safe to say there are other returning players who are capable of helping pick up the scoring slack.
Among those who’ll be counted on for offense will be forward Julie LaPolla (Penfield). One of three seniors on this year’s team, LaPolla was third on the team with seven goals last season. She, junior defender Lyz Dembrow (Lockport), and senior defender Nicole Campbell (Rochester/Greece Arcadia) will serve as the 2010 tri-captains.
“Julie is an extremely hard worker,” Case said. “She’s developed her left foot as a shooter and gradually each year she has strengthened as an overall threat up top. She’ll be someone we’ll look to go to as we looked to go to Lauren last year in certain situations.”
Case has what he calls “a good class of freshmen forwards.” Among them are Katie Kleine (Cazenovia), Taylor Wingerden (Macedon/Palmyra-Macedon), and Nicole Lauricella (Clarence). In drills and scrimmages so far, Kleine has displayed the ability to beat her defenders one-on-one, while Wingerden has a impressed with a good first touch and composure around the net. Both have flashed the ability to finish plays. Lauricella, on the other hand, has missed drills while recovering from an injury; Case compares her game to that of Heilweil, who got by on strength more so that sheer speed.
“(The forward position) is an area where we can excel, once they (the group) find their chemistry together,” Case said. “It’s going to take (time) understanding runs and their combination of play along with that of our midfielders and an understanding of their teammate’s overall strengths.”
Despite the loss of Condidorio, the midfield will not be lacking experience. Two full-time and two part-time starters return. Junior outside midfielders Emily Beh (Penfield) and Melissa Cummiskey (Clarence) have combined to make 62 starts over the previous two seasons. Cummiskey was third in the team with 17 points and Beh fifth with 12 in 2010. Meanwhile, junior Julia Medwid (Alexander) and sophomore Michelle DiRaimo (Webster/Webster Thomas) split starting assignments last season; both will look to claim full-time work this year in the central midfield.
Four freshmen will also vie for time in the midfield: centrals Mary Bruton (Palmyra/Palmyra-Macedon), Catie Hale (Lockport/Starpoint), and Maria Green (Albany/South Colonie); and outside Cecilia Roche (Spencer/Spencer VanEtten). Case said Bruton has been a standout so far during the preseason due to her work ethic and a soft touch, Hale has displayed a knack for possessing the ball long enough to allow her teammates to get up the field on offense, Roche has shown craftiness and the ability to beat her defender, and Green’s good vision allows her to play dangerous through balls.
Two starting defenders return – center back Dembrow and sophomore outside back Maddie Brown (Wheatfield/Niagara-Wheatfield). Their experience, especially that of Dembrow, will be utilized to the full extent alongside several younger teammates. “Lyz,” Case said, “will be the leader in the back. She will be someone we’re going to rely on to keep us organized and to keep things difficult for our opponents.”
Case has already liked the chemistry developing between Dembrow and freshman center back Ellen Gager (Brighton), who in addition to have a quick and technically sound game has shown no fear going up against bigger opponents. Another freshman, Sara Wilczek (Grand Island), hasn’t been afraid to get the ball forward and create offense from her outside back post. “She reads the game very well,” Case said.
In goal, sophomore Meaghan Meszaros (Selden/Newfield) is the incumbent starter while freshman Kayleigh Forger (Rochester/Churchville-Chili) is pressing for the starting role. Meszaros posted a 1.29 goals-against average while making 18 starts in 2009. Forger has impressed Case, a former goaltender, with her technical ability as well as her control of her penalty area.
The defense will have to come up big if the Blue Devils have trouble putting the ball in the net. Of course, that would have been the case even with a healthy Condidorio in the lineup.
“We’re missing one of our key players,” Case said, “but I have confidence in the players we do have on the field. I think we’re capable of finding success.”