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Women's Soccer Kicks Off 2015 Season At Saint Joseph's On Friday
8/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo, The State University of New York women's soccer team kicks off their Mid-American Conference title defense on Friday night as the Bulls travel to take on Saint Joseph's in their season opening match. The match is set to start at 7:00 pm at Sean Sweeney Field in Philadelphia, PA.
"I'm excited to see how our players respond to expectations," said second-year head coach Shawn Burke. "While we bring back a lot of experience, our success will be determined by this team making their own mark. It's been exciting to see our returners elevate their game and how quickly the new faces have been able to mesh."
The Bulls return seven starters to a squad that won the MAC East Regular season championship and the MAC Tournament championship a season ago while posting a program-best record of 16-3-3 on the year. The Bulls qualified for their first NCAA Tournament in program history as they finished off MAC play with an unblemished 9-0-2 record, just the third unbeaten MAC regular season in conference history. UB was not only dominant in MAC play but also on home turf at UB Stadium, posting a 11-0-1 record.
The Saint Joseph's Hawks accumulated a 11-9-0 record last season while making it to the A-10 Championship Game before losing in overtime, 1-0, to the third-seeded Dayton Flyers. The Hawks return leading scorer Emily Gingrich who finished off her sophomore campaign with 14 goals and three assists for 31 points. Allison Ebling also returns for Saint Joseph's after a stellar junior season between the pipes as she earned a 11-9-0 record to go along with a 1.14 goals-against average, .783 save percentage and eight clean sheets.
POSITION OUTLOOK
GOALKEEPERS
After entering last season with a question mark between the pipes, UB has found their goalkeeper of the future in sophomore Laura Dougall. The Ontario native turned in the most impressive season in program history in goal despite being just a freshman. Dougall finished off the campaign with a 16-2-3 overall record to go along with a 0.54 goals-against average and 13 cleansheets. Her 16 wins and 13 cleansheets set program records while her 0.54 GAA ranked second in program history for a season.
Backing her up will be a pair of very strong goalkeepers who will push Dougall for the opportunity to start next season for the Bulls. NYIT transfer Cassie Betancourt has trained hard and shown flashes of greatness for the Bulls while senior McKenzie White finally returns to the field after injury problems kept her out of each of the past two seasons. Betancourt and White each have unique skill sets that will push Dougall to perform at new heights in 2015.
DEFENSE
The key to the UB success in 2014 and the reason they won their first MAC Tournament Championship was their stingy defense that allowed just 17 goals over 22 matches. The Bulls hard-nosed defense which recorded a program-record 14 clean sheets was led by third team All-American and MAC Defensive Player of the Year Jackie Hall at the center back position. Hall turned in one of the most impressive defensive campaigns in UB history as her aggressive style of play helped the Bulls set a program-record shutout streak (482 minutes) and also limited 16 of 22 opponents to five shots on goal of less.
Although Hall collected all the accolades, Kristin Markiewicz and Angel Hart deserve a lot of credit for the great defensive season. Markiewicz calming presence on the backline helped lead the Bulls to a program-record 16 victories while Hart was one of the most underrated players in the MAC. Hart's strong play made the UB defense nearly impossible to beat on a game-to-game basis. Markiewicz will most likely be making the switch to the holding midfield spot that is vacant with the departure of Courtney Mann from last season. All signs point to freshman Brianna Shingary taking over the left back position for the Bulls this season after starting the Bulls exhibition match and flourishing, connecting on one of the two UB goals.
The Bulls will have to replace second team All-MAC performer Sophie Therien on the backline as she graduated following the historic 2014 campaign. UB will have multiple options to replace Therien including juniors Andrea Niper and Ashley Evans. A pair of freshman, Meghan Simmons and Kayla Hospodka, will also provide the Bulls with some much needed depth on the back line.
MIDFIELD
In the midfield, UB will return two key components in senior Kassidy Kidd and sophomore Julia Benati. Kidd had her best season as a Bull in 2014 as she was dangerous every time she touched the ball, finishing the season with a career-high two goals and four assists for eight points while starting 21 matches. Benati came in and started all 22 matches for the Bulls during her freshman campaign as she proved to be one of the most dangerous midfielders in the conference, scoring three goals and adding four assists while earning MAC All-Freshman team honors.
With two holes left in the midfield by departed senios Courtney Mann and Megan Giesen, the Bulls will be searching for the right fit to carry on their defensive success from a season ago. Alabama transfer Moira Petrie has a good chance at coming right in and starting for the Bulls in the midfield after a freshman campaign that saw her appear in 16 matches for the Tide. The final opening in the midfield should be occupied by senior captain Kristin Markiewicz who has proven throughout her career to be a defensive stopper for the Bulls. Markiewicz started 21 of 22 matches for the Bulls last year and helped UB turn in their best defensive season in program history.
Also adding some depth in the midfield for the Bulls are Dana Lytle and Jessica Marlowe along with a pair of freshman Nicole Gerritz and Rachel Villalta.
FORWARD
Despite losing MAC Offensive Player of the Year Katie Roberts to graduation, the 2015 Bulls roster is packed with scoring punch for second-year head coach Shawn Burke. The Bulls return dynamic junior forward Celina Carrero who finished off her impressive second season as a Bull with a career-high six goals and a team-leading seven assists for 19 points. Carrero earned second team All-MAC honors as she started all 22 matches for UB, becoming the Bulls biggest playmaker and most dangerous threat down the strecth.
Along with a flourishing Carrero, the Bulls gained a huge goal scorer in Carissima Cutrona, who transferred to UB after spending one season at Colgate. Cutrona sat out the 2014 season due to injury but during her high school career she was one of the best goal scorers in the country, notching 161 career goals and 68 career assists at Williamsville South High School.
Joining the dynamic duo of Carrero and Cutrona up front are N'Dea Johnson and Alex Lambert. Johnson returns after missing the past two seasons while Lambert returns for her sophomore season after producing a nice spark off the bench for the Bulls last season. Freshman Rebecca Bramble will add some depth up front for the high-scoring UB attack.
NEWCOMERS
Second-year head coach Shawn Burke announced the signing of six freshman along with two transfers for the upcoming season. The Bulls also added Isabella Borini from the UB track and field team to the roster to add some depth in the back line. Burke hopes that all nine newcomers can contribute towards another championship run this season.
Moira Petrie comes to the Bulls after spending just one season at the University of Alabama. In her freshman campaign for the Tide, Petrie established herself as an early midfield option off the bench as she appeared in 16 of Alabama's 20 contests. She earned her first career collegiate start in a 1-0 win against Vanderbilt on Sept. 28, helping the Tide earn their second straight conference road shutout, something that has happened only twice in program history. She recorded six shots including two shots on goal during her freshman season.
Carissima Cutrona returns to Western New York after sitting out her freshman season at Colgate due to injury. Cutrona was a heavily sought after recruit after posting eye-popping numbers during her five-year career at Williamsville South High School. The three-year team captain was named to the All-WNY team all four years while earning NSCAA All-American status as a junior and senior. The electric forward produced a school record 161 goals and 68 assists during her five seasons including an astonishing 40 goals and 28 assists as a senior. Cutrona led the Billies to three straight sectional championships while leading the team in scoring in each season.
Rebecca Bramble joins the Bulls from nearby Brampton, Onatrio where she starred for the Brams United club along with St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School as a forward. Bramble was named high school Athlete of the Year as a freshman and was named soccer team Most Valuable Player as a sophomore. Bramble has been a member of the Ontario Provincial team since 2011. At the club level, Bramble was a key factor in her teams' three national titles, from 2011-13. During the 2011 and 2012 campaigns, she led her club team to a #1 ranking to go along with League Championships and Ontario Cup Championships.
Brianna Shingary comes to the Bulls following a four-year career at Medina High School for head coach Doug Coreno. The two-year team captain had a dynamic senior campaign, which saw her accumulate a career-best 19 goals and 11 assists as she led Medina to a 13-3-3 overall record. Ranks in the top-25 in school history in goals and assists and was named first team All-Conference as a freshman and senior. As a junior she was named second-team All-Ohio while garnering first team All-Ohio recognition as a senior. She also led her team to back-to-back district championships and a conference championship during her final season. Shingary was also very successful at the club level, currently playing for Ambassadors FC. She formerly played club soccer for the multiple State Cup winning Cleveland FC, a club that produced three Bulls from their 2014 MAC Championship squad.
Kayla Hospodka comes to UB following a standout career as a defender at South Side High School for head coach Shannon McEntee. Hospodka played four years while leading the Cyclones to three county titles and four state championships. The hard-nosed defender helped lead her squad to a 15-4-1 record during her senior campaign and their fourth-straight state championship. She also had a successful club career playing for both the Albertson Fury and the Long Island Fury.
Rachel Villalta comes to Buffalo following a successful high school career at Shattuck St. Mary's for head coach Joe DeMay. After a strong junior campaign in 2013, Villalta was named Most Improved Player for Shattuck St. Mary's as she demonstrated great determination and ability at the holding midfield position. She led her team to the State Cup finals in 2013 and helped lead her team to the Mayor's Cup championship in Las Vegas during her senior campaign.
Meghan Simmons was a key member of the Glen Shields FC that won the U21 Ontario Provincial Central Championship during their 2014 campaign. In 2013, captained Brams United FC to the U16 Ontario Youth Soccer League Championship, the U16 Ontario Cup Championship and the U16 Canadian National Club Championship. The strong defender was also a member of the U16 Ontario Provincial team in 2012 and 2013.
Nicole Gerritz comes to UB after a successful career at Webster Thomas High School, Gerritz earned Most Valuable Player honors after leading her squad to a 13-3-4 overall record and racking up 12 goals and five assists. Gerritz finished her career as a two-time Monroe County first team member, All-Greater Rochester first team member and third team All-State member.
