2006 season preview

August 30, 2006

NORTON, MA- Head coach Luis Reis is hoping the more things change, the more things stay the same for the Wheaton College women's soccer program. While the 2006 team has altered strategies and style of play since last year, Reis said the Lyons' top objective is winning the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC). The Blue and White qualified for the last six NCAA Tournaments, won five of the last six conference crowns and was the top regular season league team the past seven seasons.

"We expect to go out and try to maintain our reputation, our tradition and our history," said the 10th-year head coach, who has a 175-28-6 career record and had one of the top 10 winning percentages heading into last fall among active NCAA women's head coaches, regardless of division. "We can't get caught up in the past and just assume things will go well because of the past. We'll have a different look this year. We're changing our style, changing our formations, and with the players we have, I feel comfortable the changes we made will improve this team." Reis is joined by second-year assistant Scott Dolan, who was last with Wheaton in 2004, and first-year assistant Tracy Prihoda '04, the program's all-time leader in points, goals and assists.

After going 18-5-2 in 2005, including 8-0-1 in the league, and advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the fourth straight season, the Lyons drew a number-13 ranking in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) preseason poll. Wheaton will rely heavily upon its 16 returning players, as the top nine scorers and top goalie from last season return to the squad. Ten newcomers round out a deep, balanced roster.

"I haven't felt this great about depth in a long time," said Reis. The skills of the fresh faces have also addressed some concerns Reis had about the team. "We fulfilled our needs in every area we were looking for: size, speed, experience and technical ability. We're really pleased with that."

Due to their success during Reis' tenure, the Lyons find themselves carrying a 64-game undefeated streak in NEWMAC regular season and postseason play into the 2006 campaign, with the last blemish prior to the 61-0-3 run coming on Oct. 17, 2000. Wheaton's conference streak is the third longest of its kind in NCAA soccer history, regardless of division or gender.

Wheaton hits the field with three goalkeepers this year, led by junior incumbent Stacey Kronenberg (Belchertown, MA/Belchertown). Kronenberg is battling for this year's starting job with junior transfer Elana Cockburn (Chestnut Hill, MA/Brookline) and freshman Abby Isaac (Larchmont, NY/Proctor Academy). "I think we have a great situation," said Reis. "We have three starters. We're going to have to find a way to play them. Coaches dream of having one fantastic goalkeeper, and I'm confident we have three."

Kronenberg is one shutout shy of matching the program's career record of 26, and she's third at Wheaton with 36 wins. In two years, she has allowed 25 goals in 4,137:11 for a 0.54 goals against average. Cockburn comes to Wheaton after two seasons at Division I University of Vermont, where she made eight starts and picked up three wins. Her lone shutout came in 2004 against Binghamton University, which won the America East regular season and tournament titles that fall and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Reis said the 5-11 Isaac has been calm and composed despite her freshman status and continues to develop her skills.

While Reis said he'll rely upon all of his seniors and juniors to keep the program headed in the right direction, junior defenders Erin Davis (Easton, CT/Joel Barlow) and Jenna Stiegler (Madison, WI/Middleton) each earned captain honors this fall. Reis said Davis is the team's rock in the backfield, while Stiegler, a 2005 all-conference selection, organizes the defenders from her center back position.

A number of players join the captains in the mix for starting defensive positions, led by senior Courtney Hale (Andover, MA/Andover), who will be the first back off the bench if she doesn't nail down a starting job. Sophomores Jessie Landau (Pound Ridge, NY/Fox Lane) and Amanda Role (Ashland, MA/Ashland) will each provide depth in the back and can play midfield, while classmate Jamie Smith (Kensington, CT/Saint Paul Catholic) is in the mix to start after appearing in 23 games as a freshman.

Among this year's first-year backs, Lyndsey McManus (Marshfield, MA/Marshfield) has the best chance to be in the starting lineup and would likely be flanked by Davis and Stiegler as she becomes accustomed to the college game. Classmates Kerry Kiley (Dedham, MA/Brimmer and May School) and C.C. Medenica (Pelham, NY/Pelham Memorial) are expected to contribute off the bench.

Junior Ashley Furr (Chicopee, MA/Cathedral) and sophomore Angelamaria Viscomi (Newton, MA/Newton North) have locked down starting spots in the midfield after breakout years in 2005. Furr quietly netted 10 goals and 26 points as an all-conference forward, while Viscomi started all 25 games as the center midfielder. With a league-leading 12 assists, Viscomi became the first freshman to lead the Lyons in helpers since 1999 and the first to start every game since 2002.

Two veterans are among those competing for the remaining starting midfield spots. Senior Bridget Furlong (Newburyport, MA/Newburyport) and junior Katelyn Brack (Lake Oswego, OR/Oregon Episcopal School) each started a dozen contests last year and combined to miss only one game. Reis said freshmen Rosie Levy (Torrance, CA/Chadwick School) and Chloe Truglio (Berlin, CT/Kingswood-Oxford School) have also drawn starting consideration, and classmate Kathleen Carroll (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz Central) could help the team off the bench either as a midfielder or forward.

Reigning NEWMAC Player of the Year Lauren Konopka (Medford, NJ/Holy Cross), an All-New England selection by both the NSCAA and New England Women's Intercollegiate Soccer Association (NEWISA), leads a talented group of forwards. The junior notched league highs last season with 17 goals and 44 points and sits seventh at Wheaton in each career goals (29) and points (75). "Lauren's going to create opportunities for us with her dribbling ability and her ability to be dangerous," said Reis. "She creates a lot of attention, and that can only benefit us."

Complementing Konopka up top is junior Jenna Rabesa (Teaticket, MA/Falmouth), who was a 2005 all-conference selection after placing second in the league in each assists (11) and points (29). Classmate Julie McLane (New Canaan, CT/New Canaan) is expected to provide a spark off the bench after collecting 11 goals and 28 points during her first season of college soccer. Sophomore Jessica Bramucci (Ludlow, MA/Wilbraham and Monson Academy) is in the mix to start, while classmate Bailey Edwards (Austin, TX/Saint Stephen's Episcopal School) has been moved from the midfield and will see time as a reserve.

Freshman Sarah Krause (London, England/Hotchkiss School) has taken a circuitous route to Wheaton's front line, as she grew up in Milwaukee, moved to London six years ago and attended high school in Connecticut. Reis said she is on the bubble to start and could be a quiet but dangerous scorer her freshman year. First-year player Katie Watson (Langley, WA/South Whidbey) could earn time as a reserve at any of the three field positions and is among seven players Reis expects to play forward in 2006.

During the preseason, Wheaton prepped for the approaching campaign by posting a 3-2 win over Division II Assumption College, which earned the 13th spot in the NSCAA preseason rankings and was picked to finish second in the Northeast-10 Conference. That contest was a preview of what the Lyons hope to achieve during their 19-game regular season slate, which begins on Friday when the Blue and White hosts Simmons College. The conference season starts on September 23 against Smith College at Mirrione Stadium.

"We have outstanding team chemistry already in place thanks to the work of our captains and the upperclassmen before preseason began and during preseason camp," said Reis. "This is a team that has brought an extremely focused and determined approach to training and to the 2006 season. I am thrilled with the new mentality and the drive the players have exhibited thus far. There is a different feeling about the team this season."

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 1/31/07.
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