Mansfield University

2007 Women’s Soccer Outlook

Mounties Hope for Program’s First-Ever Playoff Berth Lies with Strong Core of Veterans and Talented Freshman Class

Mansfield University head women’s soccer coach Tim Dempsey hopes his 2007 team will start off the season in the same manner last year’s team ended the 2006 campaign.

What he hopes to avoid was last season’s 0-6 start and instead find the same winning formula that saw the Mountaineers go 5-5-2 over the final 12 games of the year.

Dempsey has good reason to be optimistic for the upcoming season, returning eight starters including the top four scorers from 2006.

He also welcomes a strong core of reserves from last year and a talented class of newcomers that should allow him more options than he’s had at any point during his first five seasons at Mansfield.

Still, Dempsey will need everyone on the roster to play up to their potential as the team faces the toughest schedule in school history with every game on this year’s 18-game schedule against PSAC foes.

The biggest key for a playoff bid in 2007 could be as simple as scoring more goals.

After setting a school record with 33 goals and finishing as one of the top five scoring team in the conference in 2005, the Mountaineers were able to record only 23 goals last season including just two over the first five games of the year.

Mansfield  does have an explosive duo up front in junior Lyndi Keiser (Mechanicsburg/Mechanicsburg) and senior Colleen Corcoran (Allentown/Central Catholic) who rank first and second respectively on the school’s all-time scoring list.

Keiser is an All-PSAC East selection in each of her first two seasons where she ranked among the PSAC’s top scorers. She led the team with eight goals last season. Corcoran has started every game at forward during her Mansfield career and earned All-PSAC East honors as a sophomore in 2005. She ranked second on the team in scoring last season with five goals and 12 points.

Senior Caroline Furmato (Pt. Pleasant,NJ/Pt. Pleasant) gives the team an additional offensive threat and will see plenty of playing time after finishing fourth on the team in scoring last season with three goals and eight points. The front line will get additional help from newcomer Gretchen Meyers (Scranton/West Scranton.)  Cristina Byrne (Bernville/ACS Bolivia)  suffered a season ending injury and will be redshirting this season.

The Mountaineers ability to score more often will be dictated by a veteran midfield which returns three starters from last season. Seniors Kim Pachuta (Nazareth/Pen Argyl) and Anita Valerio (Manalapan,NJ/Manalapan) are rock-steady performers who have started for the past three years. Valerio is also a scoring threat after finishing third on the team in goals and points last year.

A two-year starter, Kaytlen Robinson (New Cumberland/Cedar Cliff) came of age as a sophomore last season starting every game at midfield. Pushing for a starting spot will be freshman Jackie Karlovich (Marlboro,NY/Marlboro), who has looked impressive at times in preseason camp and could also push for a starting spot at defender.  Karli Nester (Bally/Boyertown) is another talented freshman who is expected to see action at the mid-line.

The defense will be challenged to replace four-year starters Desiree Boris and Vanessa Wengen, but does return senior captain Robyn Travisano (Hellertown/Saucon Valley) who has started every game during her career.

Katie Parsnik (Wilkes-Barre/Coughlin) is coming off a quality freshman season and will vie for a starting spot along with Brittany Lauck (New Cumberland/Cedar Cliff) who saw plenty of minutes as a starter and reserve as a freshman last year.

Freshman Kelsey Gelina (Williamson,NY/Williamson) has been impressive in camp displaying excellent speed and endurance. Fellow freshmen Mary Conden (Candor,NY/Candor), Jackie Ferguson (Muncy/Muncy) and Kelsey O’Konski (Candor,NY/Candor) will provide plenty of depth.

Junior goalie Justine Seagear (Wilkes-Barre/Coughlin) was the team’s Most Improved Player last season after playing every minute of every game at goalie. After a slow start, Seagear caught fire recording a school record five shutouts on the year.

Seagear will be pushed this season by freshmen Kaitlyn Antolic (Burlington,NJ/Florence Township) and Samantha DeLiere (Mechanicsburg/Cumberland Valley).

The Mountaineers open the 2007 campaign hosting Edinboro University on Saturday, August 25.