The word optimism can be applied to many things around the Binghamton University campus, none more fitting than the school’s women’s soccer team.
After a somewhat disappointing season, which saw the Bearcats (3-12-4) finish sixth in the America East conference, the team had to deal with a surprising blow when former head coach Jeff Leightman packed his bags and headed west to accept a coaching position at San Jose State.
The University then announced that Sarah McClellan, the assistant coach, would be promoted to the head coach position. While serving under Leightman, McClellan was responsible for on-field coaching, coordinating team practices, scouting and recruiting. In addition to this, McClellan is known for ensuring that all of the student athletes that play for her excel both in the classroom and on the field.
One of McClellan’s valuable skills is her ability to recruit top-shelf talents. Defender Taylor Kucharski and goalie Lindsay DeLap, both freshmen, are just two examples of her recruiting triumphs. Kucharski, whose brother, junior Kyle Kucharski plays for the BU men’s soccer team, led her Maine-Endwell team to four straight sectional titles, and was a first team all-conference and all-state player. DeLap, who will look to challenge junior Jen McEachron for time in net, was a three-time all-county selection for her Webster-Schroeder high school team.
One of the Bearcats’ biggest strengths in 2007 was their ability to stifle the attacks of opposing players. Junior Nicole Montoya and sophomore Stefani Knopick were a formidable duo last season, playing incredibly hard, and showing that any team wishing to score against Binghamton University would need to fight tooth and nail for that chance. Joining them will be sophomore Dani Raske, who missed the 2007 season with an injury, and Kucharski.
Despite the loss of team captains and leading scorers Kim Povill and Danielle White, the Bearcats’ offense does not look to suffer at all.
In terms of playmakers, the Bearcats have no shortage. In fact, junior Amanda Casares could be one of the best in the conference. Casares, who earned second team all-conference honors last fall is the proverbial player that never stops. Her constant movement both with and without the ball can catch opposing players off guard. Junior Casey Pedersen is another playmaker who has the ability to get to balls that other players can’t reach. She also has excellent skills in distributing the ball to her teammates. All of this could lead to tons of scoring opportunities for the Bearcats.
On the offense, senior Kelly Haslinger has emerged as a team leader and a potent scoring threat. Joining Haslinger will be junior transfer Emily Dixon and freshman AnnMarie Rizzi. Dixon compiled 85 points in her two years at Broome Community College, including 50 goals, and looks to continue that scoring onslaught this year. She was also named the 2007 NJCAA Player of the Year while leading the Hornets to a Division III championship. Rizzi was a four year starter at Cornwall High School and helped her team win two sectional titles while advancing to the state semifinals in 2005.
In the net, McEachron looks to build upon a strong 2007 campaign, which saw her split time with injured junior Erin Iman. She compiled a 1.47 goals against average in eight games and thrilled Bearcat fans when she made penalty-kick saves to help the Bearcats advance over Hartford in the America East quarterfinals.
In preseason polls, the Bearcats have ranked sixth in the America East, but it would not be the first time predictions have been proven wrong. Women’s soccer kicked off its season in stunning fashion with a victory over UMass 2-1. Dixon and Rizzi scored both goals in the last seven minutes and 11 seconds of the game while McEachron made four saves for the Bearcats.
What is ahead for the Bearcats is hard to tell, but with the first win, there are good reasons to be optimistic.