Women's Soccer looking for scoring punch as they open play tomorrow at Regis
North Adams, MA- The MCLA Women's Soccer program struggled putting the ball in the net last season tallying just 12 goals on their way to a 5-12-1 campaign. The Trailblazers will look to resurrect their offense when they open the curtain on the 2015 season tomorrow at Regis College. MCLA will play a 16 game slate including eight home dates.
Head coach Deb Raber enters her 15th season at the helm of the Trailblazers. She enters this season looking for her 100th win as the coach of the Trailblazers as she currently has tallied 95 victories. While Raber's team struggled to score a year ago, they do return five of their top six scorers from a year ago.
Junior midfielder Jackie Dwyer was the team's leading goal scorer a year ago posting four markers. She will once again look to control the play and dish off to her teammates. Fellow junior Natalie Caney is back and should be a formidable front runner for MCLA. While only scoring a pair of goals last season, she did tally 17 as a freshman, on her way to becoming the MASCAC rookie of the year. Brittany Whitford should also see increased playing time this season as the sophomore netted a goal and an assist in limited action as a first year player.
On defense, the Trailblazers should be in good shape as they return Katy Daly in goal while Alexi Anderson and Courtney Hayer should anchor the back line. MCLA struggled defensively a year ago in conference play yielding 24 goals against MASCAC foes. Daly started 17 games in goal a year ago and will once again carry the load. She made 98 saves in those starts and pitched four shutouts. Anderson will transition to the back line after playing much of 2015 as a forward. Hayer saw valuable time as a freshman and will continue her growth at the position.
Newcomers Marisa Sprague, Chelsey Simmons, and Lauren Mangiardi should add some depth to the back line in 2015.
The schedule sets up well for the Trailblazers as they open tomorrow on the road at Regis before the home opener Friday afternoon against Skidmore. MCLA will then play three non-league games prior to opening MASCAC play on Saturday, September 19th at Bridgewater State. MCLA will play MASCAC foes Salem State, Worcester, and MMA at Shewcraft Field before concluding the MASCAC slate on Halloween when they host Framingham State on Senior Day.