Women's Soccer Heads to NCAA Division III Tournament
November 10, 2007
The women's soccer team's remarkable season came to a close Saturday, November 10th with a 3-1 loss to Tufts University in the opening round of the 2007 NCAA Division III tournament.
Despite a 1-0 advantage heading into the half after a goal by freshman standout Amber Di Nucci, Emmanuel (17-3-1) was unable to topple the Jumbos, who just two seasons ago earned the title of national champions.
For the Saints, who entered the game ranked No. 7 in the New England region, the NCAA tournament berth represented the culmination of an impressive season. After claiming their second Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) title in five years with a come-from-behind win against Emerson College in the championship game, they strung together an unprecedented 16-game unbeaten streak - a timeframe that extended nearly two months without a mark in the loss column. Additionally, their 17 wins set a new program record - shattering the previous mark of 12 set by the 2003 squad - and their 12-0-1 conference record represented the first time in program history the team finished undefeated in GNAC play.
"I am extremely proud of them," said Director of Athletics and Recreation Pam Roecker. "This is truly an example of a team that from the day they reported to preseason on August 20th had a really clear vision and goal. From the first day I saw them play, I witnessed how committed they were to winning a title. I could not be happier for them."
After suffering an upset in the quarterfinal round of last year's GNAC tournament, the Saints entered the 2007 season with a strong desire to see their efforts pay off in the form of a conference crown. With captains Erin Kelly '08, Caitlin Egan '08 and Lauren Buffone '09 leading the way, plus a strong contingent of newcomers entering the fray, it didn't take long for Head Coach Wayne Currie to see just how committed his group of players were to their goal.
"They came in wanting this to be a very good year," he said. "We have had great leadership from the captains, who have worked on building a sense of togetherness with this team. They have done a really good job of that."
For Kelly and Egan, who joined the team as freshmen a year after the program's first GNAC title in 2003, the championship and subsequent tournament appearance represented goals four years in the making. As starters during their entire tenure in the Blue and White, both Kelly and Egan played vital roles in the development of the team and its accomplishments this fall.
"I told them after the GNAC Championship that this is what they have been working for," said Currie of his two seniors. "This is what they have earned. They built this program into what it is now."
"Every year we just progressed and got so much better," said Egan. "We worked really hard the last four years to get to this point."
The Saints' inaugural conference title in 2003 featured a squad quite different from this year's group of women. The 5th seed in the GNAC tournament that year, the Saints' season better fit the description of a Cinderella-type story, and the team, according to Currie, was more a "lunch pail" group of players who earned their accomplishments through their commitment to hard work.
"This year's team [was] far and away better than that 2003 team, there is no comparison," he said. "They are just a much more skilled group of players."
Offensively, this year's Saints put together a stellar collection of statistics, which included a total of 72 goals and 193 points. In all, 15 players contributed to the scoring this fall, with six of the top 10 scorers being members of the freshmen class.
Leading the charge was rookie Di Nucci, who was the top threat in all offensive categories. Her 18 goals, 11 assists and 47 points on the season placed her among the elite in the conference and she finished the season earning GNAC Rookie of the Year and tournament Most Valuable Player distinctions.
"She's awesome," said Currie. "She's very intelligent and very quick. Not too many people can slow her down. She's also a great team player. I tell her she doesn't score enough because she's always looking to get everyone involved."
Earning selections to the All-Tournament team along with Di Nucci were Stephanie Levesque '11, Hillary Mota '10 and Kate McKenna '10. Di Nucci, McKenna and Kelly also earned all-conference honors for their play during the regular season as well.
Much to the dismay of Roecker, one person who missed out on postseason accolades was the Saints' six-year head coach, who she feels was overlooked in the voting for Coach of the Year.
"I don't know what else he could have done," she said of Currie. "In our minds he is certainly the Coach of the Year."
With the record-setting 2007 season now officially in the books, Currie and crew can begin setting their sights on next year's goals. With many key players returning for another go-around next fall, another exciting season could be on its way.
"We have set the bar high for ourselves," said Buffone. "But there is no were we can go but up."