Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Soccer Shoots for High Goals
8/28/2002 8:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 28, 2002
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Last season, Bucknell's women soccer team advanced their program to another level after excelling on the field during the regular season. While ranked fourth in the preseason poll in 2001, Bucknell captured the Patriot League championship tournament for the first time in school history and tied the program record for single-season victories. This season the passion is still strong and head coach Chrissy Findlay and the rest of her squad are prepared to face the upcoming campaign. After a group of league head coaches and sports information directors ranked Bucknell second on the 2002 preseason ballot, the Bison plan to increase the intensity to take on the challenge to carry out another championship trophy. The Orange and Blue kick off the 2002 season with a home opener against non-league foe Howard at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31.
"We would like to be Patriot League regular season champions and host the tournament," says Findlay. "But to do that we need to carry over the important factors - talent, work ethic, depth and chemistry - that led us to success last season."
Fortunately for the Bison, 15 letterwinners and seven starters return from last season's record-setting squad. Bucknell should be exceptionally strong on the defensive end of the field, where the Bison return their starting goalkeeper and a pair of starting defenders that helped the Bison limit their opponents to less than three goals in 17 of 19 matches last season.
"We return a lot of very talented and experienced players," Findlay notes. "Our senior class, along with our lone junior Abbey Seaboyer, is a strong group of determined and focused women who also want to graduate as Patriot League champions."
On the offensive side of the ball, Findlay will look to senior tri-captain Tara Utchel (Heidelberg, Pa./Sewickley) and sophomore Ashley Dincher (Windfield, Pa./Seinsgrove) to move up from their midfielder positions and anchor the Bison at forward this season. Utchel, the Patriot League Rookie of the Year in 1999 and an All-Patriot League Second Team selection last season, has proven herself as an offensive threat, as she scored nine goals and notched 10 assists over her first two collegiate seasons. Dincher enjoyed an outstanding freshman season last year, and was honored as the Patriot League Co-Rookie of the Year.
Providing additional depth to the Herd's front line will be sophomore Meghann Chipko (Lexington, Ky./Paul Laurence Dubar) and freshmen Rachel Prowler (Philadelphia, Pa./William Penn Charter) and Suzanne Arata (La Plata, Md./Saint Mary's Ryken). Chipko emerged as a goal-scoring threat in the off-season and will likely move from her reserve position to more of a "go-to" player.
At outside midfielder, expect senior Emily Keber (Morristown, N.J./West Morris Mendham) and sophomores Michelle Santonacita (Glen Rock, N.J./Immaculate Heart Academy) and Alison Cooper (Upper Saddle River, N.J./Northern Highlands Regional) to battle for starting positions with freshmen Kerry Fitz-Patrick(Washington, D.C./Stone Ridge County Day) and Caitlin Lanctot (Alameda, Calif./Bishop Odowd) providing additional options. Keber has shown the ability to score in the clutch, notching a pair of game-winning goals last season that resulted in two of the most important wins in the history of the program. Santonacita and Cooper saw plenty time as reserves last season and will be eager to make even more of an impact in 2002.
Junior tri-captain Lauren Schwarz (Northport, N.Y./St. Anthony's) and sophomore Megan Farrell (Weston, Fla./St. Thomas Acquinas) should guard the middle of the field as center midfielders. Schwarz, who scored the game-winning goal on a penalty kick during last season's Patriot League Championship match, spent much of the off-season working on her offensive game, and will look to shoot the ball more in 2002. Farrell registered a solid rookie season last year, as she potted three goals and one assist to finish as the team's third-leading scorer. Freshman Lexi Shore (South Orange, N.J./Columbia) will add to the strong core of midfielders who will control the pace of the game.
Defensively, junior tri-captain Abbey Seaboyer (Clifton Park, N.Y./ Shenendohowa) will continue to hold together the Bison on the back row. The team's starting sweeper in each of the past two seasons, Seaboyer's blazing speed and outstanding decision-making skills provide Bucknell with one of the top defensive players in the Patriot League.
Senior Melissa Lawson (New Hudson, Mich./South Lyon) and sophomore Jill Smith (Kunkletown, Pa./Notre Dame) will compete for outside defender positions, while Isabel Diaz (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep) and Annie Greenspun (Ardmore, Pa./Haverford) will provide exceptional depth at the position. At center defender, freshmen Courtney Hill (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) and Elizabeth Darby (Congers, N.Y./Clarkstown) will pressure senior Kate Cramer (Manasquan, N.J./Wall) for playing time. Freshman Jacquelyn Vanaman (Wallingford, Pa./Strath Haven) will see time in the backfield as a defender.
For the first time in school history, Bucknell will have three goalkeepers on its roster in 2002. Senior Kelly Kannen (Suffield, Conn./Suffield) gained confidence and experience during the spring season which will give her plenty of opportunities for game time, while freshman Samantha Hecht (Pompano Beach, Fla./Marjory Stoneman Douglas) will add an additional option in net.
The race for the Patriot League title was an exciting one last year, as the regular season champion was not decided until the final day of the league schedule. In addition, one goal was the difference in all three Patriot League tournament games in 2001. Findlay expects the competition to be no different this season.
"I really believe the parity within the conference will continue this season," says Findlay. "Last year, it seemed as if anybody could win any game at any time. The competitiveness it took to advance to the Patriot League tournament was exciting, and is a constant reminder of the strength of the league."
The Bison start off their season with seven non-league competitions, which includes playing Sacred Heart and Albany during the Albany Tournament on Sept. 14-15. The team's Patriot League schedule kicks off on Sept. 21 with an away match against Colgate. Bucknell is slated to play their Patriot League home opener against Lafayette on Sept. 28. The Herd will finish the regular season hosting Navy on Nov. 2 before the championship tournament begins. The Patriot League tournament will be held on Nov. 8-10 at the site of the league's highest seed.
