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CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
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DATE: Wed., Aug. 29, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Women's Soccer

Defense solid heading into season

FREDONIA, N.Y. -- With eight starters back -- four on defense -- and a solid group of recruits, the Fredonia State women’s soccer team has its sights on moving up the SUNYAC standings.

The Blue Devils finished fifth during 2006 regular season and, after leading 1-0 early, fell to host Geneseo in the first round of the SUNYAC tournament.

Ultimately, head coach Chris Case wants to see his team advance to the conference finals for the first time. The season starts Friday vs. NAIA school Trevecca Nazarene in Nashville, Tenn., followed by a Saturday game at Sewanee, Tenn., an NCAA Division III school.

“The conference is much tougher,” Case said, “ but I think we have the talent to finish in the top four. Last year the top six teams were very close (so) you never know what will happen.”

The Blue Devil defense should be solid. Three-time All SUNYAC defender Danielle Bleecker heads the list of players who return. No other Blue Devil woman has made the all-conference team four straight years, so Bleecker will be out to make a bit of school history. She was an honorable mention selection as a freshman before making the First Team the past two falls.

In addition, the 6-foot-tall Bleecker, a co-captain, had twice been selected to the All State team and twice was chosen regional All-American.

“Her size is a big advantage for her,” Case said, “She reads the game well and (has the) ability to play set pieces. She is able to play the ball out of the back … yet at the same time can jump into the attack. She is a very smart player.”

Also returning at the defensive end are three juniors: defenders Sarah Stewart and Meghan Thoin, and goalkeeper Becky Scroger. Stewart made 18 starts while Thoin made 12 in front of the battle-tested Scroger, who has played every minute of every game her first two seasons. Possessor of a career a 1.12 goals-against average, Scroger was named honorable mention All SUNYAC. She was a Second Team choice the year before. In addition, her 13 shutouts over two seasons is two short of Brianna Falvey’s school-record 15 shutouts (over 4 seasons).

“Becky has stepped in and anchored our defense,” Case said. “Without some of her saves, some of our close wins turn into ties and losses.”

This season, Scroger will have a back-up in freshman Molly Bojanek. Good at communicating instructions to her defense, Bojanek will be given a chance to unseat Scroger as the starter.

Meanwhile, Stewart might move from the right back, where she started nearly all last season, to the left side. Thoin will look to reclaim the starting inside back spot. Sophomores Gwen Curtis, who missed all of her freshman season with a broken bone in her foot, and Nicole Campbell, who saw limited duty as a freshman, are also back.

Christa Morgante leads the newcomers on defense. A freshman, Morgante will vie time at inside back. Maggie Stewart, Sarah’s younger sister, is a candidate at outside back, while Lauren Dahl has the versatility to play both inside and outside.

Two starting midfielders return for their junior years. Jacki Borcyk, an honorable mention All SUNYAC selection in 2006, started 20 games and tied for the team lead with six goals in 2006. Her speed on the flanks will keep pressure on opposing defenses. Joining her will be co-captain Kaelyn Puidokas, a possession-type distributor. “A lot of her attack will go through her,” Case said.

Another junior, Maggie McEntee, was impressive in spring drills playing the left outside middle, while sophomore Lisa Curtis is back to reclaim her starting center spot which she lost with the same foot injury which resulted in her twin sister Gwen’s lost season.

Four freshmen will be in the midfield mix: Kaleigh Vogan, Paige Nigh, Gina Palumbo, and Angela Beck.

Two starting forwards return: sophomore Lauren Heilweil and junior Mimi Blackman. The top recruit at the position is freshman Jessica Loretz, while Beck will also see action up front. An injury will sideline a third recruit, Jessica Nelson, for the entire season.

Heilweil was First Team All SUNYAC as a freshman after co-leading the Blue Devils with six goals and topping the entire team with 14 points. “She is a very dynamic in and around the box,” Case said. “She likes to take people on 1-v-1 and get the shot off. That’s what I want my forwards to do. She’s also good with her back to the goal.”

The diminutive Blackman made 12 starts as a sophomore as both a forward and midfielder. Her strengths are quickness, foot skills, to go along with a low center of gravity. “She does all the little things,” Case said.

The Blue Devils will be vying for their third straight season of 10 wins or more, a feat accomplished once before in school history. They will also be playing in a new facility, starting with the Days Inn Classic Sept. 7. Case said the state-of-the-art University Stadium has already helped with recruiting.

“I know the girls are excited,” Case said. “The (the stadium complex) upgrades our training facility as well as our game field. … It should create a great environment for our athletes to perform in.”

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