2004 WOMEN'S SOCCER OUTLOOK
PHILADELPHIA (7/19/04) -- Two years ago, the Saint Joseph's women's soccer program had a tough time finding the back of the net, let alone winning games. Now, thanks to improved recruiting and a newly found confidence, the Hawks are shooting for their first Atlantic 10 Championship. With 10 starters returning and featuring one of the top front lines in the conference, a league title may be within reach for the first time in the program's nine-year history.
“We're really excited because we think we have the chance for our best season ever,” fourth-year head coach Jess Reynolds said. “We definitely believe that the A-10 Tournament is within our reach. This year, we're going to try to win it.”
This confidence, which filters down to the team, springs forth from a 9-8-1 overall and 7-4-0 Atlantic 10 record last fall. The Hawks made their first trip to the A-10 Tournament and set school records for conference wins, points and assists in a season.
Headlining what Reynolds believes is the top frontline in the A-10 is sophomore Megan Schutt. The Sudbury, Ontario native burst onto the scene last season, earning First Team All-Atlantic 10 and Rookie of the Year honors after finishing second in the league with 27 points (11 goals, 5 assists.) It was the best offensive season by a freshman in school history and the second best ever behind Ellen Stenrud's 30-point performance in 1997. She was also a NSCAA Third Team All-Region pick and earned Freshman All-Region and Honorable Mention Freshman All-America status from Soccerbuzz.com.
Joining Schutt on the front line are two sophomores, Ali Wean and Nancy Cook. Wean, who transferred from Florida State last spring, is a tenacious goal-scorer who was a 100-goal scorer at nearby Strath Haven High School and a Pennsylvania ODP member. Cook, who is fighting back from injury, was an Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team selection last year after scoring five goals despite missing seven games.
Seniors Erin Ryan and Cristin Harris, along with freshman Jenna Martin, will provide depth up front. “With the combination we have, we're going to be dangerous offensively,” Reynolds said.
The talented midfield centers around sophomore Kimmy Leigh. A former transfer from Seton Hall, Leigh was a magician with the ball and sets up the Hawk offense. Despite only playing one game, Leigh was an Atlantic 10 All-Tournament team selection last fall.
“Teams are very aware of where Kimmy is on the field. We're hoping to play through her offensively,” Reynolds said.
Joining Leigh in the midfield is a trio of veterans. Senior Marisa Barriere (team high five assists) and senior transfer Ginnette Buffone (Delaware) will combine with sophomore Kaiti McCaffery, a starter in all 18 games, to form a potent quartet. Barriere and Buffone each have three-years of college experience under their belts, while McCaffery earned her stripes by playing nearly every minute of her freshman campaign.
Defensively, a veteran core of players also return. Senior co-captain Jen Harris anchors a defense that has been together for the past two seasons. Harris, a Second Team All-Atlantic 10 selection in 2003, has started every game of her career on Hawk Hill. Junior co-captain Alisha Paine is a tough defender who can play up offensively as well. Both have taken the reigns of leading the team during the offseason.
They are joined by junior Jess Daugherty and sophomore Emily Brant. Daugherty has been a mainstay on the back line since her rookie campaign, and Brant had a successful rookie season in 2003. Freshman Erin Bailey will compete for a starting job and along with Katrina Butner provides depth.
Junior Nicole DiEnna will battle with freshman Jen Kuhn for the starting role in goal. DiEnna started all but two games last season, posting a 1.62 GAA with 78 saves. Her five shutouts were the third most in a season at SJU. A hard worker, Kuhn is a vocal, athletic keeper. She was an all-state selection and a member of the EPYSA ODP team.
The Hawks lost their team MVP, Michelle Ford, to graduation and will have to replace her leadership as much as her scoring. But if early indications are accurate, the transition has been seamless with Jen Harris and Paine taking over the captaincy.
Reynolds has upgraded the non-conference schedule to include three teams (Villanova, Loyola (Md.), and Navy) that made the NCAA Tournament last year. Another NCAA qualifier, 2003 Atlantic 10 Champion Dayton, is again the favorite in the conference. Expect Saint Joseph's to battle with Richmond and Rhode Island for the top spots in the A-10.
The women's soccer program is on the brink of regional recognition. Their two-year turnaround alone is impressive, but just the tip of the iceberg. With a potent offense and veteran midfield and defense, don't be surprised to see the Hawks still playing in mid-November.
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