Skyhawks aim to get back to playoffs after appearing three two times in last three years
Northeast-10 Conference Annunces 2019 Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
Brown returns after being named NE10 Goalkeeper of the Year, tabbed on the first team, named to the United Soccer Coaches first team and D2CCA All-East Region second team. (PHOTO BY: Andrew Katsampes) |
EASTON, Massachusetts (August 15, 2019) – The Stonehill College women's soccer program has been voted to finish fifth in the Northeast-10 Conference as voted on by the leagues' 14 head coaches, announced Thursday.
Reigning NE10 champion, Franklin Pierce University was voted to take home the title once again as they received seven of the 14 first-place votes and 160 points. Southern New Hampshire University (155 points), who finished second in the regular season standings was tabbed to be the runner up with five first-place votes, while the College of Saint Rose (142 points) and Adelphi University (132 points) each received one first-place vote to rank third and fourth, respectively. Stonehill rounded out the top five teams taking home 114 points.
Stonehill, who was voted to finish ninth in last fall, posted a record of 13-7 overall and a 10-4 NE10 mark, good for third in the regular season standings. The Skyhawks competed in their 10th NE10 Tournament last season, as they fell to Assumption College in the quarterfinal round. Following the NE10 Tournament, Stonehill was granted its second NCAA Tournament bid, after seeing its first appearance in 2016.
Last season, Stonehill kicked off the year with a 4-0-0 record in its first four games, including four-straight shutouts, its best start since the 2016 season, when the Skyhawks won six-straight games. After seeing a 5-4-0 record in September, Stonehill ran through October with seven-straight wins. This was the longest run for the program since the 1999 team went on a 13-0 streak and finished with a 17-4 record overall and an 8-1 mark in Conference play.
Stonehill saw six seniors graduate the program, as eight freshman will join the postseason-experienced group.
The Skyhawks' offense was driven by returning sophomore Camryn Thompson, as she tied the program's points in a rookie season record totaling 24, as she scored nine goals and six assists to match Carolyn Cooney '05 in 2001 and Shelley Christie '98 in 1994. Thompson was followed by junior Kayla Henry who was second on the team in points with 20, as she scored seven goals and notched six assists. Senior Elizabeth Nerger was third on the team last year with 13 points, four goals and five assists, while classmate Nicole Geraghty tallied three goals and three assists for nine points.
Thompson returns as the leading scorer for the Skyhawks tying the program record for most points in a rookie season with 24. (PHOTO By Andrew Katsampes) |
The back line will return a handful of players including senior goalkeeper Kaitlin Brown who has compiled a 1.31 goals against average over her two years starting in net. She has totaled 10 shutouts and 182 saves and is currently ranked in Stonehill's record book in five categories. Seniors Emily Rosano and Isabella Collentro, and junior Tess Erwin will assist Brown with the defense after helping the team fend off opponents and keeping them to a 1.25 goals against average.
Stonehill earned a healthy amount of honors last year including Brown being named NE10 Goalkeeper of the Year and Thompson earning NE10 Rookie of the Year. Brown and Erwin were named to the first team, Thompson was tabbed on the second and All-Rookie Team, and Courtney Campo '19 was selected to the second team. Brown also earned D2CCA All-East Region second team honors, as the senior and Erwin were selected to the United Soccer Coaches' All-East Region teams.
The Skyhawks will open the 2019 season with the Molloy Kickoff Classic in Rockville Center, New York, opening the season against Molloy College on Friday, September 6 and Dominican (N.Y.) College on Sunday, September 8. Stonehill begins NE10 Conference play on Saturday, September 14 at the University of New Haven and then hosts Franklin Pierce University on Wednesday, September 18 for their home opener on Skyhawk Field.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.
2019 Northeast-10 Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
- Franklin Pierce University - 160 (7)
- Southern New Hampshire University - 155 (5)
- College of Saint Rose - 142 (1)
- Adelphi University - 132 (1)
- Stonehill College – 114
- Assumption College – 95
- American International College – 91
- Southern Connecticut State University – 87
- Saint Anselm College – 86
- Bentley University – 67
- Pace University- 64
- Le Moyne College – 37
- University of New Haven – 25
- Saint Michael's College - 19