WOMEN'S SOCCER
2001
PRE-SEASON OUTLOOK

2000 RECAP: The New Jersey Athletic Conference bolstered its claim as one of the top conferences in the country with the crowning of The College of New Jersey as women's socccer national champion. Four more teams participated in the ECAC Tournament: William Paterson University, Ramapo College, Richard Stockton College, and the eventual 2000 champions, Montclair State University. Overall, the NJAC posted a non-conference record of 61-37-4.

2001 OUTLOOK: The coaches are unanimous: The College of New Jersey juggernaut will control to roll. However, expect stiff challenges from Richard Stockton College (the only team to beat TCNJ in 2000) and William Paterson (runners-up in the title game the past two seasons). 2000 ECAC Metro Region champions Montclair State should not be underestimated, with Rutgers-Camden regarded as the team to keep an eye on by its NJAC rivals.

2001 NJAC
COACHES' POLL

1.) The College of New Jersey (1)*
2.) Richard Stockton College (4)
3.) William Paterson University (3)
4.) Rowan University (5)
5.) Montclair State University (2)
6.) Kean University (6)
7.) Rutgers University-Camden (9)
8.) Ramapo College (8)
9.) Rutgers University-Newark (7)
10.) New Jersey City University (10)

* number in parentheses indicates last year's regular season finish

Dark Horse:
Rutgers-Camden

KEAN UNIVERSITY
COUGARS
Head Coach: Brian Doherty
2000: 4-5 NJAC, 6-11 Overall

The 2001 version of the Cougars will look to turn the corner with the program and move back into the post season for the first time since 1996. In the last few seasons, Kean has competed well against top-flight Division III competition, but a lack of a finishing punch has made it difficult to move onto the post-season. This squad has experienced growing pains with players having to step to the forefront early in their careers, but this year’s team, boasting veteran talent, brings a greater understanding and appreciation of what it takes to win in the highly competitive New Jersey Athletic Conference.

Returning this year are seniors Chrissy Powers (Shawnee HS/Medford, NJ), Erin Shortmeyer (St. John Vianney/Freehold, NJ) and Carlie Bennett (Cherokee HS/Marlton, NJ). Powers earned second team all-conference accolades last season from her midfield position, Shortmeyer made a 109 saves in 2000 in goal, while Bennett added two goals.

The Cougars will look to a talented group of newcomers to provide speed and athleticism to the team. April Dunker (Hamilton, NJ) and Deirdre Trujillo (Barnegat, NJ) will add strength to the defense, while Marie Anne Rebustillos (Brick, NJ) and Stephanie Pallone (Middletown, NJ) should be scoring forward threats.

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY
RED HAWKS
Head Coach: Eileen Blair
2000: 7-1-1 NJAC, 17-4-2 Overall

After winning a school-record 17 games, finishing second in the conference, and clinching the 2000 ECAC Division III Metro Championship on a last-minute goal, the Montclair State University women’s soccer team will be reaching even higher in 2001. NJAC Coach of the Year Eileen Blair will need to replace top three scorers Maggie Findlay, Marie Plaskett, and Nicole Coplan, but the Red Hawks still retain some firepower up front. Junior forward Stephanie Santos (East Hanover, NJ/Hanover Park) finished fourth in team scoring last year with five goals and nine assists for 19 points, while sophomore midfielder Kristin Weber (Union, NJ/Union) was fifth with 7g and 2a. Sophomore forward Michele Comito (Blackwood, NJ/Triton) is also back after tallying 3g and 5a to place sixth in scoring.
Senior defender and All-NJAC Second Team member Christin Cifelli (Union, NJ/Union) will again anchor a defensive unit that allowed just 13 goals in 23 games last fall. Junior goalkeeper Stephanie Romanko (No. Brunswick, NJ/No. Brunswick), who batted .351 to help the MSU softball team to an ECAC title last spring, returns to the soccer field this September after recording a school-record 14 shutouts last season.

THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY
LIONS
Head Coach: Joe Russo
2000: 8-1 NJAC, 23-1 Overall

TCNJ returns a powerful attack with the likes of senior tri-captain Denise Buckley (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Boro) and junior tri-captain Gia Rosamilia (Parsippany, NJ/Parsippany), as well as junior forward Alison Baker (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury). The Lions set the school record for most goals in a season with 89 last season, while Buckley led the team with 33 points on 11 goals and 11 assists.
Newcomers will give the team extra scoring punch this year in the form of players such as Janette Ladislaw (Cinnaminson, NJ), the leading scorer from 2000 NJ State Tournament qualifier, Cinnaminson H.S., as well as Dana Logandro (Runnemede, NJ), a Second Team All-South Jersey from Triton Regional H.S. TCNJ's midfield will grow as the season progresses and junior midfielder Cara Gabage (Vineland, NJ/Vineland), a 2000 NCAA All-Tournament Team member, will be a key factor in that growth as she notched a team-high 15 goals a year ago.

Leading the defensive unit will be 2000 NJAC Defensive Player of the Year and NSCAA All-American, Vanessa Wong (Chester, NJ/Mendham), as well as two-time First Team All-American goalie, senior tri-captain Victoria Nusse (Westfield, NJ/Westfield). In net for the Lions, Nusse returns as the Division III National Player of the Year as a junior after recording 21 shutouts and a 0.092 goals-against average.

NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY
GOTHIC KNIGHTS
Head Coach: Kelly McCracken
2000: 0-9 NJAC, 2-15-1 Overall

Times, they are a changing for the New Jersey City University women’s soccer program. A new era in coaching began last January with the hire of Ted Flogaites, a member of the Bergen County All-Decade Boys Soccer team for the 1990s out of Tenafly high school, and a former standout at UC-Santa Barbara. Flogaites has combined a solid class of recruits with several talented returning players, and is confident that with his mentoring this once mediocre program is ready to emerge from the doldrums.

His first challenge is to replace four-year starting goalkeeper Amanda Cobb (Parlin, NJ/Sayreville) who ended her career last October as the NCAA’s all-time career saves leader with 1,114. Cobb has joined the staff as Flogaites’ assistant and will have a hand in training freshman goalkeeper Erika Padilla (Kearny, NJ/Kearny). Padilla is a very quick, very fit keeper who is an exceptional athlete. Another major challenge is the forward position. Offensively in 2000, the Knights scored only 16 goals in 18 games. But NJCU has a talented front that could change that. Sophomore Jenilee Abad (Jersey City, NJ/St. Dominic’s) scored five points in six games last season before leaving the program, and her return is a major plus. Freshman Carine Carvalheiro (Newark, NJ/Newark- Eastside) shoots the ball from 30-35 yards out with good accuracy. Fellow freshman Stacy Fruscella (Carteret, NJ/Carteret) is another player with very good speed and might be a candidate to play up top.

In the midfield, senior Second-Team All-NJAC selection Colleen Bigelow (Bayonne, NJ/Marist) is a veteran who possesses vision and knows where to play the ball. She will likely be joined in the midfield by senior Andrea Cardoza (Modesto, CA/Thomas Downey (CA)) and Yolanda Letang (Newark, NJ/Science) who can act as a catalyst for the team.

RAMAPO COLLEGE
ROADRUNNERS
Head Coach: Arnie Ramirez
2000: 2-7 NJAC, 9-8 Overall

The Roadrunners ended their 2000 season with their best overall record in the history of the women’s soccer program, surpassing the old record of seven wins in a season set back in 1995. Coach Ramirez and Coach Tardio have high hopes of setting another record this fall. The 2000 season ended in the quarterfinals of the ECAC Metro Region tournament.

Coach Ramirez, in his third year, holds a roster of 25, 13 which will return from last year. The team looks to returning senior and co-captain Amy Gordon (Middletown North HS/Middletown, NJ), and sophomore Gillian Curtis (Point Pleasant Boro HS/Point Pleasant Beach, NJ), to lead the team to another postseason game. Last year Gordon led the team in scoring with 17 goals and 15 assists while Curtis added 12 goals and nine assists of her own. Key returners also include junior defender Jessica Brown (Haddon Twp. HS/Haddon Twp., NJ); forwards Pamela Kalyoussef (Westwood HS/Woodcliff Lake, NJ) and Ann Sanford (Manchester HS/Whiting, NJ); and midfielder Kate DeNova (West Milford HS/West Milford, NJ).

Look for newcomers Cassandra Deperi (Clifton, NJ) and Lauren Reynolds (Monroe, NJ) to add scoring punch to the Roadrunner team.

RICHARD STOCKTON COLLEGE
OSPREYS
Head Coach: Roy Wilkins
2000: 6-1-2 NJAC, 13-4-3 Overall

The Stockton women's soccer team returns seven starters for the 2001 season. The Ospreys should be strong defensively with NJAC All-Conference honorable mention goalkeeper Sarah Miller (Highland HS/Brigantine, NJ) as well as NJAC All-Conference honorable mention defenders Corinne DeVirgilio (Freehold HS/Freehold, NJ) and Christine Baldino (Marlboro HS/Marlboro, NJ). Offensively, Stockton must replace its top two scorers from a year ago. Among returnees, Sheryl Sarnicki (JP Stevens HS/Edison, NJ) is expected to provide offensive punch after tallying nine goals and four assists as a rookie.

ROWAN UNIVERSITY
PROFS
Head Coach: Scott Leacott
2000: 5-3-1 NJAC, 13-4-3 Overall

This season the Rowan women's soccer team has high expectations. The Profs had several young players last fall and the team finished with a 9-8-2 record. Rowan had a 5-3-1 conference mark and advanced to the NJAC Championship Tournament. With the experience from last season, more depth and the loss of only one starter, coach Scott Leacott is expecting great things from this year's team. Watch for junior forward Colleen McCorry (Glen Rock HS/Glen Rock, NJ) on offense (6 G, 4 A in 2000), with help from a trio of freshmen: Chelsea Adams (Newark HS/Newark, DE), Bethany Christie (Holy Cross HS/Delran, NJ) and Megan Mackannan (Delsea Reg. HS/Franklinville, NJ).
Defensively the Profs will look to junior goalkeeper Becky Petsch (Delsea Reg. HS/Monroeville, NJ), who sported a 1.08 GAA and 89.5% save percentage last season; and sophomore back Lindsay Wilson (Indian Hills HS/Oakland, NJ).

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY - CAMDEN
SCARLET RAPTORS
Head Coach: Brian Sheehan
2000: 2-7 NJAC, 7-10 Overall

Rutgers-Camden coach Brian Sheehan is looking for improvement this fall as the Scarlet Raptors prepare for their second season of NJAC competition. Last season the Raptors went 2-7 in the NJAC and 7-10 overall. Rutgers-Camden returns their all-time leading scorer Mary Ann Martel (Archbishop Ryan HS/Bensalem, PA), and Second Team All-NJAC midfielder Jasmine Philip (Willingboro/Willingboro), a junior who has won team MVP honors in each of her first two seasons.
Senior Justine Palogruto (Erial/Highland) will help anchor the midfield, while senior Kristin Stewart (Maple Shade/Maple Shade) returns in goal. Among the key newcomers is forward Heather Greenwald, a freshman from West Deptford High School.

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY - NEWARK
SCARLET KNIGHTS
Head Coach: Celia Mosier
2000: 2-7 NJAC, 3-12 Overall

This Scarlet Raider team will be more athletic and deeper than the inaugural women’s soccer team of 2000, but only three starters return from that 3-12 unit. Head coach Celia Mosier brought in 10 freshmen and one transfer to bolster the squad.

Junior midfielder and defensive stalwart Rabiye Tala (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville HS) is back after scoring three goals and distributing two assists last season. Sophomores Krystle Singletary (Jersey City, NJ/Marist HS) and Marietta Murillo (Hasbrouck Heights, NJ/Immaculate Heart HS) are back on defense and at midfield, respectively.

Tops among the rookies will be midfielders Kate Hegewald (Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn HS) and Sarah Wilson (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph Hill HS). Freshman Jenna Weiss (Livingston, NJ/Livingston HS) and Felician College sophomore transfer Jenn Collins (Kearny, NJ/Kearny HS) will stabilize the defense.

WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY
PIONEERS
Head Coach: Keith Woods
2000: 7-2 NJAC, 15-7 Overall

Capping off the 2000 season with their third appearance in the New Jersey Athletic Conference championship match, the Pioneers are ready to chase after another NJAC title. WPU is led by a trio of seniors: First team all-conference selections Colleen McGhee and Marissa Fenner, and East Stroudsburg transfer Darla Snyder.

This young team will depend on a group of sophomores to perform like seasoned veterans: Amy Wieszun, who scored 9 goals and 6 assists last season; Lindsey Birdsall, a sweeper who played all 22 games for the Pioneers last season; Sarah Stowe, a two-sport athlete who will be counted on as a midfield playmaker; and the 2000 NJAC Rookie of the Year Erin Finn, who transferred from Rutgers-Newark.