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William Smith soccer season preview
August 30, 2004
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Senior Debbie Minarick will anchor the
midfield for the Herons this season. She
was fourth on the team in scoring last
year with three goals and five assists. |
GENEVA, N.Y.—No one ever said growing up came easily and the William Smith College soccer team found that out for itself after experiencing some ups and downs throughout the 2003 season. Featuring 17 underclassmen, the Herons missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 17 years. However, the young group made the best of its postseason opportunities, sending the three seniors out on a winning note with a convincing 4-1 victory over Rochester to capture the ECAC Championship.
Led by longtime Head Coach Aliceann Wilber, William Smith ended the season with a 15-5-2 record, marking the 20th consecutive winning season and third straight with at least 15 wins.
Kristin Perrigo ’04 led all scorers with nine goals and three assists for 21 points, while junior Steph Gridley (Auburn/Auburn, N.Y.) added six goals and five assists. Anchoring a defense that allowed just 18 goals were veteran defenders Pria Young (Council Rock/Richboro, Pa.), Seraphine Hamilton (Peddie School/Trenton, N.J.), and Jenn Tibbens (Sherburne-Earlville/Sherburne, N.Y.), while first-year goalie Nikki Dudley (Chittenango/Canastota, N.Y.) excelled, earning Liberty League Rookie of the Year honors.
Despite losing two if its top three scorers to graduation, the Herons have a solid corps of players returning, including nine who started at least 10 games.
The question mark for William Smith in 2004 will be its front line, but look for some of the younger players to step up and provide that scoring punch the Herons need. First-year Brittany Warren (Liverpool/Syracuse, N.Y.) is expected to contribute immediately. A quick and crafty player with the ball at her feet, she has the ability to be a scoring threat for the Herons. Also seeing minutes up top will be first-year Courtney Peters (Williamson/Williamson, N.Y.). A tall and powerful player, she is strong on the ball and will give the William Smith attack a dangerous aerial dimension it did not have last season.
Senior Caroline Wenzel (Geneva/Geneva, N.Y.) also will battle for time up front. One of the fastest players on the team, her speed often causes opposing defenses to make dangerous mistakes around the goal. Junior Danya Michaels (Cape Elizabeth/Cape Elizabeth, Maine) also is expected to contribute on the front line. Seeing action in 17 games last season, she continued to make strides in her game during the off season.
In the middle third of the field there are numerous combinations Wilber believes will be effective. Running along the sidelines could be Gridley and junior Kate Warner (Gould Academy/Gloucester, Mass.). A quick and technical player, Gridley was second on the team in scoring last season with six goals and five assists. Warner had a strong off-season and is poised to be an important part of the Heron midfield.
Sophomore Steph Bishop (F.D. Roosevelt/Poughkeepsie) and Young also could see some time on the flank. An attacking minded back the past two seasons, Young’s ability to serve the ball into the box could land her in the midfield this season. A smart player, Bishop possesses the ball well and will help the Herons build the attack through the midfield. Adding depth to the midfield line will be first-years Marissa Vespa (Immaculate Heart Central/Watertown, N.Y.) and Laura Burnett-Kurie (Oyster River/Durham, N.H.).
Anchoring the center spots will be senior Debbie Minarick (Wayne Valley/Wayne, N.J.) and sophomore Alex Rieben (Guilford/Guilford, Conn.). Minarick sees the field well and her play will be crucial to William Smith’s success this season. An offensive minded midfielder, Rieben possesses the ball well under pressure and will be looked upon to be a scoring threat out of the midfield.
With all four starters returning and a wealth of young talent coming in, the back line will be by far the most experienced and deep part of the Heron lineup. Returning for William Smith are Tibbens, Hamilton, Young, and junior Katie Murley (Auburn/Auburn, N.Y.). An experienced group, each of the players knows how to read the game allowing them to excel in the Herons’ defensive system.
Sophomore Ashley Kent (Westfield/Westfield, N.J.), recovering from injury, also should see time after starting in 13 games as a rookie.
A few first-years also are entering the fray for a starting spot. Gabe Allidi (Liverpool/Liverpool, N.Y.), Johanna Murphy (Woodbridge/Woodbridge, Conn.), and Leigh Williamson (Arlington/Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) all have shown they have the ability to be impact players on defense.
In goal, Dudley returns for an encore to a stellar rookie campaign. Allowing just 18 goals in 22 games, she posted 10 shutouts and finished the season with an 0.81 goals against average. She will be backed up by first-year Cindy Bors (Johnson City/Johnson City, N.Y.).
Ranked 21st in the NSCAA/adidas®, the Herons will test themselves immediately, hosting rival Cortland State on Sept. 1, at 4 p.m. William Smith will then travel the following to play defending national champions Oneonta and a perennially strong team in Gettysburg. Also featured on the schedule this season are 10th-ranked Union College (Sept. 24) and 23rd-ranked Allegheny College (Sept. 12).