Orange Prepares for 2009 Season
8/13/2009 1:57:41 PM | Women's Soccer
Preseason Practice Photo Gallery
The women's soccer squad is the first Syracuse team in action this fall, kicking off the 2009 campaign at St. Bonaventure on Saturday, Aug. 22. The team reported to campus last week to begin preparing for the upcoming season.
“It's an entirely new team with different personalities and different physical attributes,” said second-year head coach Phil Wheddon. “We have to try and merge together to work as a unit. We're physically better and technically better.”
Syracuse returns its top seven scorers from last season, including junior Megan Bellingham. Bellingham was voted to the All-BIG EAST Third Team after leading the Orange in points (17) and goals (8) last season. Senior Tessa MacDougall tied her career high with five points, while senior Chelsea Berry led the squad in assists for the second consecutive year with four.
Sophomores Taylor Chamberlain, Amanda Morris and Casey Ramirez made an immediate impact in their rookie campaigns. Each of the three played in all 18 games in 2008 and totaled six goals, including three game-winners.
On the defensive end, Eliza Bennett-Hattan returns for her senior season in goal for the Orange. She is Syracuse's career leader in shutouts (16) and ranks second on the school's all-time saves list (243). The unit hardest hit by graduation is the defense. Syracuse must replace a trio of four-year starters. Junior Marjory Elwell is the only returning defender with significant playing experience. She played in 22 games, making 11 starts, during the past two seasons.
Several newcomers will have the chance to contribute this season. Midfielder Tina Romagnuolo joins the Orange after competing on the Canadian U20 team last fall, while goalkeeper Erin Quinlan earned All-America honors as a senior at The Governors Academy in 2008. In addition, Laura Jackson, a native of London, and Patricia Lind, who hails from Stockholm, will compete for playing time on defense.
“Our players have worked extremely hard,” Wheddon said. “There is competition for every spot, which is a healthy situation. Practices have been intense. I am extremely pleased with both the returners and newcomers.”
The Orange looks to improve upon its 5-11-2 record from a year ago and qualify for the BIG EAST Championship for the first time since 2005. Syracuse was picked to finish seventh in the BIG EAST American Division in a preseason poll of the conference coaches.
“We want to change the program,” said MacDougall, who will serve as a team captain along with Bellingham. “We want to create a good base and make this year a starting point for the program to go from here.”
Syracuse plays its first nine games on the road before making its home debut against Providence on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m.
