NEW PALTZ — The 2003 SUNY New Paltz women’s soccer team will be shooting for one of the six available spots in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Tournament. Last season the Hawks went 4-6 in the league and finished in seventh place, three points short of a playoff berth. The 2002 squad, who was 8-13 overall, played well at the end of the season winning two of their last three games to qualify for the New York State Women’s Collegiate Athletic Association (NYSWCAA) Tournament where they were nipped by Manhattanville College, 2-1, in the quarterfinals.
This fall, interim Head Coach Jennifer Knight will guide a roster that includes 12 returning players. The only senior is defender Keegan Peck (Canastota, NY) who helped lead a defense unit that recorded six shutouts a year ago.
The Hawks return 60 percent of their offensive production from a year ago, including sophomore midfielder Matty Schwartz (Weston, CT) and junior forward Lauren Martone (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY), who finished one and two on the team in scoring. Schwartz led the way with 14 points (4-6-14) while Martone added 10 points on three goals and four assists.
Juniors Lauren Pastore (Levittown, NY) and Meredith Ventimiglia (Patchogue, NY) are versatile players who saw playing time at midfield and defense last season. Pastore displayed her offensive skills by collecting nine points (4-1-9) and led the Hawks with two game-winning goals.
Pastore, Ventimiglia, and sophomore defender Emily Martin (Keene Valley, NY) demonstrated their durability by playing in all 21 games for New Paltz last season.
Sophomore midfielders Jennifer Duffy (Medford, NY) and Amanda Picarelli (Miller Place, NY) should be much improved this season after having played a year of college soccer in the tough SUNYAC conference.
Junior forward Karalyn Kudlak (Glen Head, NY) and junior defender Courtney Muller (Lake Grove, NY) each scored a goal last year and will be called upon to give the Hawks a balanced attack both offensively and defensively.
The last line of defense will once again be under the direction of junior goalkeeper Maggie Fenton (East Meadow, NY). She recorded four consecutive shutouts early in the season and was recognized as the SUNYAC Women’s Soccer Player of the Week for her efforts.
Junior Danielle Herring (Albany, NY) will continue to make the transition from goalkeeper to a field player. Herring started two games between the posts in 2002 and recorded one shutout while also seeing time at the forward and midfield positions.
The Hawks have several talented newcomers who will provide the team with energy and depth. Freshmen Melanie Coco (Central Islip, NY) and Allison Fliegel (New Hyde Park, NY) can play both the forward and midfield positions. Junior Laura Thomas (Bay Shore, NY) will help at forward and freshman Stephanie DeRobertis (Newburgh, NY) is an adept midfielder. The defense will be bolstered by freshmen Kristin Zysk (Staten Island, NY), Megan MacKey (Troy, NY), and Rachel Shaffer (Brooklyn, NY) while sophomore Sarah Moore (Cortlandt Manor, NY) will be a reliable backup at goalkeeper. New Paltz will host six of their ten SUNYAC foes this season and they open the 2003 campaign at home against Ramapo College on Wednesday, September 3rd at 4:00 pm.
