CCSU Tops NEC Women's Poll

Blue Devils Will Attempt to Repeat as Champs

August 25, 2009

Central Connecticut State has been voted the 2009 Northeast Conference (NEC) women’s soccer favorite, according to a preseason poll of the league’s head coaches.

Receiving eight of the 11 possible first-place votes, the Blue Devils will look to capture their second straight title and sixth in eight years. Long Island, the 2008 NEC regular season champion, landed the runner-up spot and received two first-place nods. Monmouth was picked third and claimed the final first-place vote.

Saint Francis (PA) was tabbed fourth, followed by Quinnipiac, Fairleigh Dickinson and Robert Morris at fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively. Tied for eighth place was Bryant, a newcomer in the standings this season, and Sacred Heart. Wagner followed in the tenth position and Mount St. Mary’s rounded out the list at No. 11.

After falling short in 2007, Central Connecticut State (12-7-4, 7-2 NEC) bounced back last season to capture its seventh championship crown. Head coach Mick D’Arcy will enter his 10th season at the helm of a Blue Devil squad that loses only four letter-winners and adds seven new contributors.

CCSU may be hardest hit by the graduation of NEC Tournament MVP and first team All-NEC selection Erin Herd. Herd anchored a defense that tallied a league-best 12 shutouts and ranked second in the conference with a 0.72 goals against average. Her replacement, rising senior Caity Casey (Guilford, Conn.), started eight games for CCSU in 2008 and recorded a 1.29 GAA and a pair of shutouts.

Heading the midfield in 2009 will be senior Leah Blayney, a 2007 All-NEC and All-New England first team pick. She recorded the second most shots (90) in the league, tallied seven goals and dished five assists, the fifth best mark in the league. Clio Tregear joins Blayney as a leader in the midfield and one of the Blue Devil captains. The 5-foot-10 junior earned herself a spot on the All-NEC first team in 2008, an improvement from her second team selection in ‘07.

Senior defender Karise Hilt (Leominster, Mass.) will provide support for Casey. She was one of four first team NEC all-stars for CCSU a year ago.

Quinnipiac (7-7-2, 3-4-2 NEC) managed to hold opponents to a league low 15 goals in 2008 as the Bobcats finished with a .500 or better mark for the third consecutive year. Entering his 11th year, head coach Dave Clarke welcomes back to the squad a solid core of talent including Jillian Kelley (Simsbury, Conn.), who was part of the team’s stellar defensive effort. The sophomore netminder started 15-of-16 games played and ended the year tied for third in the NEC in goals against average (0.93) and shutouts (four).

The Bobcats also return Furtuna Velaj (Stamford, Conn.), one of the league’s most exciting freshman players a year ago. She ended the year as the NEC leader in goals (15), points (31) and game-winners (seven) to earn All-NEC first team honors, NSCAA All-Northeast second team accolades and a spot on the NEWISA All-New England second team.

Bryant (5-9-3) completed its first Division I season a year ago, and 2009 marks the Bulldogs’ first year of competition in the NEC with Chris Flint at the helm. Though Flint is new to the league, he is no stranger to the Bryant squad as he enters his 10th season. He will have to replace nine performers who spearheaded their first Division I efforts, including Danielle Malta, who graduated as the school record holder for most minutes played (6,317) and was Defensive Player of the Year in the Northeast-10 in 2007. She now hopes to carry that success on the sidelines after joining the Bulldog coaching staff.

Senior Alex DiPippo (Shelton, Conn.) will aim to fill Malta’s void on the backline as a captain and staple in the starting lineup. She finished ’08 with two goals and four points. Sophomore Kaitlyn Hinck (Bow, NH) also returns up front after leading the team in goals (six) and points (13) as a rookie.

After qualifying for seven straight NEC Tournaments, the 2008 season marked Sacred Heart’s (2-14-4, 1-6-2 NEC) first time since 2000 that they did not receive a bid for postseason action. Kim Banner, now in her fourth year, will embark on a 2009 season with a group of 20 returnees and a large freshman class of eleven.

Junior captain Leigh Dogmantis led the team with 14 points and tied for eighth in the league with seven goals last season. Classmate Meghan Reichelt placed third in the league last season with 5.45 saves per game and will anchor the defensive side. Reichelt will be without the help of Janice Rodriguez, who graduated after being a consistent starter and anchor in the backfield.

Return from CCSU Tops NEC Women's Poll to College Soccer

ADD TO YOUR SOCIAL BOOKMARKS: