Women's Soccer Set To Open 2006 Campaign Tuesday Afternoon As Skyhawks Entertain 13th-Ranked Assumption In Northeast-10 Clash

August 28, 2006

With a high-powered offense, an all-conference goalkeeper and a wealth of experience returning, Stonehill Head Women's Soccer Coach Rolando Lopes certainly has reason for great excitement and enthusiasm as preparations continue for the 2006 season. During his inaugural campaign on the sidelines in 2005, Lopes led the Skyhawks to their highest win total in four years with an 8-4-4 mark, including six wins and four ties in Northeast-10 Conference play, and hopes are sky high as Stonehill returns 14 letterwinners and seven starters from last season's group, including a pair of all-Northeast-10 performers and 10 members of the junior and senior classes.

Here's a look at how things are shaping up for the 2006 edition of Stonehill Women's Soccer:

FORWARD. The return of all-Northeast-10 junior tri-captain Lauren Boyd (Sandwich, Mass./Sandwich) makes the Skyhawk forward line a very lethal unit, as she shared the team scoring lead last season with fellow all-conference performer and new assistant coach Kate McCarthy ‘06 in netting 12 goals and six assists for 30 points. Junior Caragh McManus (Spofford, N.H./Keene) added an assist in 14 appearances last fall, while senior Jessica Borges (Middletown, R.I./Middletown), who ranked among the team scoring leaders in each of her first two seasons, also returns after missing all of last season due to injury.

MIDFIELD. The middle will provide strength in terms of experience and numbers for Lopes, as six returnees will bolster Stonehill's midfield attack. Junior Ashley Bourne (Brockton, Mass./Brockton) brings speed and experience up front for the Skyhawks after netting four goals and three assists for 11 points in 2005, while senior tri-captain Caitlin Green (Bedford, N.H./Trinity) chipped in with a pair of goals and three assists for seven points last fall. Sophomore Kelley Harper (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) enjoyed a solid rookie campaign with three goals and an assist for seven points, while fellow sophomores Janine Connors (Holliston, Mass./Holliston) and Sabrina Cataldo (Saugus, Mass./Saugus) combined for 27 match appearances and a pair of goals as rookies. Senior Megan Veloza (Fall River, Mass./Durfee) returns after suffering an injury last year, while junior Erin McLaughlin (Norwood, Mass./Norwood) lends additional experience in the middle. The freshman quartet of Jenn Stanwick (Auburn, Mass./Holy Name), Kelly Regan (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield), Sarah Buckley (Tyngsboro, Mass./Tyngsboro) and Erin Bazinet (Charlton, Mass./Shepherd Hill) will be looking to impact Stonehill's fortunes during their inaugural campaigns as well.

BACK. Though the loss of all-conference sweeper Nicole Vailas to graduation will impact Stonehill's defensive unit, Lopes has a trio of experienced veterans that will provide leadership on the back line, led by junior Hilary Eckhardt (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield), who shared the team lead with six assists last fall while appearing in all 16 matches. Fellow junior Meghan O'Brien (Stow, Mass./Nashoba Regional) is a stalwart on both sides of the ball, as she netted three goals and a pair of assists for eight points on offense in 2005, while sophomore Rosie Perkins (Westbrook, Maine/Westbrook) also shined in 11 match appearances as a rookie while notching an assist. Freshmen Anna Kern (Attleboro, Mass./Attleboro) and Kirsten Rene (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug) will be vying for spots in the Skyhawk backfield as well this fall.

GOAL. Junior tri-captain Alex Eckhardt (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) returns as the solid last line of defense for the Skyhawks, as the all-Northeast-10 netminder posted a 7-4-4 mark with 96 saves and one shutout in nearly 1,400 minutes of play last fall. Sophomore Marissa Bramwell (Norton, Mass./Norton) picked up the other win in goal for Stonehill in 2005 and made 11 saves without allowing a goal in three appearances, as she will lend additional experience in the Skyhawk cage.

The second season of the Rolando Lopes era of Stonehill women's soccer begins on Tuesday, August 29th when the Skyhawks entertain league power Assumption in a Northeast-10 outing at Skyhawk Field beginning at 4:00 p.m. EDT.