The Quadrangle

Issue date: 8/27/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: gojaspers.com

After falling just short of a MAAC Tournament berth last season, the women's soccer team is out to prove their worth this year. Last year despite tying Loyola, the MAAC Champion, and beating Marist, who finished second in the MAAC, the team still missed the playoffs due to their overall conference record. Head coach Sean Driscoll returns for his fourth season, and has a team full of his own recruits. In Driscoll's recruiting he has selected not only talented players, but players that will fit into the team chemistry, which is a big part of their team.
Many of the players along with Driscoll feel that this is the strongest team they have been a part of here at Manhattan College. Senior two-time captain Brittany Duhamel stated, "It is the most talented, cohesive group I have been a part of in my four years here, and I think we have the will and the determination to achieve our goals." Driscoll expressed, "Since I have been here this is the most talented team we have had on paper, and we will see if that comes to fruition. In the end it will depend on how we do against conference teams. Last year and the previous year we have beaten the number one ranked team in the conference, but have fallen to the lower ranked teams. We need to maintain consistency throughout the season… we can beat anyone and lose to anyone, that is just the nature of the beast of soccer."
The Lady Jaspers were selected to finish sixth in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, but the women's soccer team feels they will fare better than that. Duhamel stated, "It's really our year to prove people wrong and show that we will be a competitive force within the league." Junior captain Courtney McMahon said, "I definitely expect this season to produce some shock and surprise among the other teams in the MAAC conference. We were ranked the number six team in the preseason poll which proves that collectively the other teams do not foresee us making it to the playoffs. We will be overlooked and underrated, giving us the opportunity to leave a statement by making it to the MAAC playoffs." The women's soccer team feels strongly that they have the talent and drive to make it to the playoffs this year. Senior captain Viviane Masters said, "We have incredible returning and incoming talent and I really believe that we have a strong team that is capable of making it to the MAAC's this year."
Despite losing six seniors, their biggest loss being their goal keeper Alicia DeFino, nine freshmen join the team. Masters stated, "Almost everyone is competing for a starting position, which ultimately pushes the entire team to grow stronger." A team that has a very powerful defense, and had six consecutive shutouts last year, setting a school record, will be anchored by Duhamel and Masters, along with junior captain Jill Beauchamp. On the offensive side senior forward Christine Reina, McMahon, and sophomore standout, Caroline Morse, will be vital in producing goals.
The Lady Jaspers have an eighteen game schedule and Driscoll expressed it is the hardest and most interesting schedule they have had. The team is set to play nine non-conference games against teams from conferences such as the Big East, Atlantic 10, Colonial Athletic Association, and the Patriot League. The team will open MAAC play with St. Peters on October 4th. The Lady Jaspers kick off their season this Friday, August 29th at Northeastern University. Be sure to make it to the team's home debut which will be on Thursday September 4th against Stony Brook at Gaelic Park.

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