BROCKTON ENTERPRISE "Stonehill women's soccer team off to impressive start"


Senior Alexandra Losi is one of the leaders of a defensive unit that has ceded just seven goals in seven matches this season.

By Jim Fenton
Enterprise Staff

The Skyhawks are 5-1-1 heading into Wednesday's home game against Southern New Hampshire University.

One month into the season, the Stonehill College women's soccer team has already matched its win total of a year ago.

The Skyhawks are off to a 5-1-1 start and are ranked sixth in the East Region after going 5-11-2 last season when they lost eight of the last 11 matches.

Two more wins would equal the 7-1-1 record that Stonehill had to open the 2011 season. The Skyhawks (3-1-1) are in a three-way tie for second place in the Northeast-10 Conference, two points behind Assumption College.

Stonehill will host Southern New Hampshire University this afternoon as part of a stretch that includes five of six games at home.

"I thought that the team was capable of doing this,'' said second-year coach Alex Wilson. "We had 23 returning players and a senior class of nine that is leading that charge. We keep getting better every day.''


Junior forward Meagan Elliott has a team-high ten points on four goals and two assists.

The Skyhawks won their first four games before a 0-0 tie at Le Moyne College and a 4-0 loss at Franklin Pierce University.

Stonehill is riding a stingy defense, allowing seven goals in the seven games. Sophomore goalkeeper Jamie Block has a 0.97 goals-against average with 28 saves and three shutouts.

Wilson credits the play of senior Danielle Sears, sophomore Claire O'Brien, senior captain Alexandra Losi and sophomore Brianna Duserick for the strong defensive performance.

The offense is led by junior Meagan Elliott, who has four goals and two assists; sophomore Lauren Kapatoes with three goals; and senior Kate Wegener of Brockton, who has two goals and an assist.

"Meagan is really coming into her own,'' said Wilson. "She's always been good and now she's producing. She's gotten more goals this year than the last two years.''

Wegener, one of the team captains, is providing leadership from the midfield.

"She's just a solid player,'' said Wilson. "She's smart, creative and knows where to be on the field.''

With 10 matches remaining, Stonehill is looking to keep improving and getting to the postseason in November.

"I just tell the players to keep listening to the coaching staff and look around at what we're doing in practice and it'll keep translating into the games,'' said Wilson. "I only see more wins going into October."

Jim Fenton may be reached at jfenton@enterprisenews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JFenton_ent.