Head Women’s Soccer Coach Whitney Frary (left) speaks to Zoe Rice (right) during a stoppage of play at home vs. RPI Sept. 9.
By Mikai Bruce
The Plattsburgh Cardinals women’s soccer team is on the path toward success this season, and there are high expectations across the team. After an 11-6-2 record last season, and a loss in the first round of the SUNYAC tournament, they are looking to build upon that even further.
This year features a mixture of young and veteran talent. It has already started the season on a positive note with a 2-1-1. It beat the VSU-Castleton Spartans (1-3) 6-0 on Sept 1. and the Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers (2-2) 3-1, Sept. 3.
Its one loss came at the hands of the Middlebury Panthers (2-0-1) Sept. 6 by a score of 9-0, and it tied with the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Engineers (1-0-2) 2-2 on Sept. 9.
“We are excited about the season to come with a lot of young talent on our roster combined with veterans. It’s a great mix,” Head Coach Whitney Frary wrote in a text. “The SUNYAC is always a competitive conference so taking each game as they come is important to us and focus on the season in that way has been a theme for us this year.”
Some of that young talent includes plenty of first-years. New players include goalkeepers Lily Bailey and Brook DaSilva, defenders Lia Parker and Maria Maurom and forward Macie Bolton. The team will also welcome junior defender Mackenzie Lawless from Monroe Community College.
The captains on the team this year are senior forward Nora Fitzgerald, senior defender Casey Granger, junior goalkeeper Lauren Haley and senior forward Avery Durgan.
Haley was named SUNYAC Defensive Athlete of the Week Sept. 5.
Rounding out the roster are defenders Kayla Myers, Katie Stevenson, Zoe Rice, Alexis Patrick and Jessica Landman; forwards Clare Bottjer, Sally Gliganic, Tara Bendsak, Allison Brown and Ella Santomassimo; and midfielders Catrina Maltes, Jessica Mare, Sophia Hatziyianis, Hannah Meyers, Jillian Bezio, Amanda Cohen, Samantha Rachon and Kathy Peterson-Ross.
New to the staff are two full-time assistant coaches: Sarah Erno, ‘19 Potsdam alumna, and Anna McDuffie, who played for the team last season. First-year Ellie Graney will serve as team manager and Geoff Spear will return to his role as goalkeeping coach.
This team has plenty of depth at multiple positions. The youthful energy mixed with its veteran leadership and experience will contribute to its success.
“My expectations for this season are to come into every game with high intensity and to give it my all out on the field,” Brown wrote in a text.
It’s clear that the team is making sure that they are focused, even more than last season and expect to compete this season.
The SUNYAC is a tough, unforgiving conference. The Cardinals start conference play Sept. 20, when it faces the Potsdam Bears (2-2-0) in Potsdam. Plattsburgh plays last season’s No. 1 SUNYAC team in the Cortland Red Dragons (3-1-1) in Cortland Oct. 11 and the defending conference champion Geneseo Knights (3-1-0) in Geneseo Oct. 21.
