Orange Wrap First Week of Preseason, Prep for Albany

First-year head coach Nicky Adams and the Orange are off and running in the preseason.

Orange Wrap First Week of Preseason, Prep for Albany

8/9/2019 5:15:00 PM | Women's Soccer

SYRACUSE - Syracuse women's soccer is through week one of training after arriving on campus on Monday. The Orange, looking for a fresh start under first-year head coach Nicky Adams, are looking strong through five days of training and fitness testing, and are quickly gearing up for this Sunday's 6 p.m. exhibition against Albany at the SU Soccer Stadium.

Working hard and having fun in the sun ☀️Preseason in the 'Cuse is going well. 🍊⚽️ pic.twitter.com/B2IXI6ULBZ
— Syracuse Women's Soccer (@cusewsoc) August 9, 2019

The week saw players undergo physicals, meet with compliance and support staff members, and review the preseason schedule. The Orange opened the week by lacing up their boots Tuesday morning and going through a multi-stage fitness test in the morning before hitting the pitch in the afternoon.

There's a noticeable excitement in the air this year for SU women's soccer, as for the first time in a decade, the Orange will begin the season with a new coach at the helm. The 'Cuse will look to two-time C-USA Coach of the Year Adams to lead them to success. Adams joins the Orange after a 15-year career at Rice University where she started as an assistant coach before advancing up the ranks to ultimately end her tenure as the head coach, a position she held from 2010-18. Adams coached Rice to an 87-55-23 overall record and a 57-25-11 mark in Conference USA contests and will look to continue her career success at SU.

Scouting the Competition
The Great Danes went 14-7-2 last season under head coach Nick Bochette. The side averaged 2.13 goals per game, and were led by Mariah Williams (17 goals, four assists) and Meghan Cavanaugh (eight goals, five assists). Cavanaugh returns this year as a redshirt junior.

Breaking down the Orange
The 2019 Syracuse women's soccer squad is composed of 26 players, led by upperclassmen returners forwards Kate Hostage and Sydney Brackett, and midfielder Georgia Allen. Six freshmen join the program this season, along with graduate student and 'Cuse volleyball standout Santita Ebangwese.

Graduate student: Santita Ebangwese*
Seniors: Brackett, Bennett, Allen, Victoria Hill
Juniors: Kate Donovan, Molly Nethercott, Kate Hostage, Shannon Aviza, Mackenzie Vlachos, Lysianne Proulx, Clarke Brown
Redshirt Sophomores: Kailee Coonan, Laurel Ness, Stephanie deLaforcade
Sophomores: Ally Wakeman, Abby Jonathan, Jenna Tivnan, Meghan Root
Redshirt freshman: Marisa Fischetti
Freshmen: Michaela Walsh, Alexandra Panaggio, Gianna Villoresi, Kailey Brenner, Teri Jackson, Alex Steigelfest

* denotes newcomer

Syracuse opens the 2019 regular season against Colgate at 7 p.m., Aug. 25 at the SU Soccer Stadium. As always, admission to all Syracuse women's soccer matches is free.

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