2007 season preview

August 30, 2007

NORTON, MA- The Wheaton College women's soccer program has seen much national and league success during 11th-year head coach Luis Reis' tenure, but even the most prominent of teams sometimes sets the focus each fall on taking one step at a time.

"We divide the season into five segments," said Reis. "Our first focus was preseason camp, to start developing our team chemistry and do well in our scrimmages. Next we focus on our non-conference games. Then we start the conference regular season, then the conference tournament. And if we're fortunate enough to go to the NCAA Tournament, there's the fifth."

Divvying up the season has worked for the Lyons under Reis, whose teams have reached seven consecutive NCAA Tournaments, won eight straight New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) regular season titles and captured six league tournament crowns, including last year's. Wheaton recorded a 21-2-1 overall mark in 2006 while going 9-0 in NEWMAC play. The Lyons bowed out in the second round of the NCAA Tournament but extended their undefeated streak against league foes to 76 contests, the second longest in NCAA soccer history regardless of division or gender.

"Last year was the success of last year's team," said Reis. "There was graduation, and new players came in. Last year's success doesn't guarantee us anything this year." Eight players departed from the final 2006 roster, but nine newcomers have been added. Each of Wheaton's top eight scorers returns, as does the starting backfield and all three goalkeepers. The Blue and White drew the 19th spot in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's (NSCAA) preseason poll and was ranked 13th by D3Kicks.com.

Reis, who is four wins shy of 200 career victories, is joined by a pair of first-year assistant coaches. Byron Brown most recently assisted the Eastern Connecticut State University men's team, while Brad Knighton finished up a four-year career at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington last fall and is currently a member of the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer (MLS).

"It's understood that our goal every year is to compete in the NEWMAC and win the NEWMAC and let everything else fall into place," said Reis, whose .856 winning percentage is the fifth best in NCAA women's soccer history for all divisions. "We don't talk about the long-term goals, we don't talk about postseason. We try to stay in the here and now."

Looking to complete their careers with a flourish are eight seniors, the program's largest senior class since 1989. Erin Davis (Easton, CT/Joel Barlow), Stacey Kronenberg (Belchertown, MA/Belchertown) and Jenna Stiegler (Madison, WI/Middleton) have been named captains, but Reis expects all eight to lead. "We make it clear to everyone on the team that even if you don't wear the captain's arm band, you're a senior and you've arrived at this point," said Reis. "I trust they will lead by example. That's been a staple of our program, how our seniors accept their role and show the freshmen what's expected and how we do things here."

Davis and Stiegler form a veteran duo in the backfield. Davis has appeared in all 75 possible games during her career, missing only two starting assignments, while Stiegler has played all but one game. Davis earned NSCAA All-America honors last fall while also drawing All-New England accolades from three organizations and her first all-conference nod. Stiegler was a New England Women's Intercollegiate Soccer Association (NEWISA) all-region selection and received an all-conference citation for the second straight season.

Kronenberg, who is first at Wheaton in career shutouts (27) and third in wins (45), is part of a three-player goalkeeping battle that includes classmate Elana Cockburn (Chestnut Hill, MA/Brookline). Reis will rotate between not only the two but also sophomore Abby Isaac (Larchmont, NY/Proctor Academy), who is prepping to become the outright starter next fall. Cockburn was a perfect 10-0 last fall in her first season after transferring from Division I University of Vermont, while Kronenberg went 9-2-1.

Katelyn Brack (Lake Oswego, OR/Oregon Episcopal School), Ashley Furr (Chicopee, MA/Cathedral), Lauren Konopka (Medford, NJ/Holy Cross) and Jenna Rabesa (Teaticket, MA/Falmouth) complete the senior class. Brack and Furr, a two-time all-conference player, are midfielders, while Konopka remains one of Wheaton's most reliable forwards. She is in the top seven in program history for each career goals, assists and points, having reached the 100-point plateau last year while leading the squad with 33 points and 11 assists. Konopka earned three All-New England citations last fall and her second all-conference nod. Rabesa has developed into a player capable of seeing time in all three portions of the field and totaled 26 points in 2006. Entering her senior year, Rabesa is among the top nine in program history in each career goals, assists and points.

Four juniors return, with Angelamaria Viscomi (Newton, MA/Newton North) the most decorated among them. Last year's leading goal scorer (12) tallied 31 points and drew a trio of All-New England honors and her first all-conference nod, and she will appear as a forward or midfielder. Jessica Bramucci (Ludlow, MA/Wilbraham and Monson Academy) is a forward, Bailey Edwards (Austin, TX/Saint Stephen's Episcopal School) has moved to the backfield, and Jessie Landau (Pound Ridge, NY/Fox Lane) will be a midfielder and back.

Isaac proved to be versatile as a freshman, posting two wins in the net while notching a goal and two assists as a field player. This season, her duties lie solely as a backstop, as she will see playing time in preparation for being the only returning keeper in 2008. Sophomores Rosie Levy (Torrance, CA/Chadwick School) and Lyndsey McManus (Marshfield, MA/Marshfield) each started at least 20 games last season, as Levy will play out of the midfield this season while McManus appears in the backfield. Kathleen Carroll (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz Central) is a forward and midfielder, while Katie Watson (Langley, WA/South Whidbey) was the team's most improved player during the spring and will appear as a forward.

Nine freshmen join the team, a number of which are expected to make an immediate impact. Melida Alvarez (Saugus, MA/Loomis Chaffee School) is a forward, Christina Bertrand (Agawam, MA/Cathedral) could see action in the midfield or backfield, and Lauren Caney (West Springfield, MA/West Springfield) will play on defense. Gwen Crafts (Gilford, NH/Gilford) will appear as a forward and in the midfield, Emily Hough (Norwich, VT/Hanover) is a forward, and Colleen Liffers (Merrimac, MA/Pentucket Regional) is expected to play in the midfield or backfield. Barrie Lindsay's (Ipswich, MA/Waring School) versatility has her competing for jobs in all three portions of the field, Amanda Resendes (Swansea, MA/Joseph Case) is aiming for time in the midfield, and Alessia Viscomi (Newton, MA/Newton North) is a defender, joining her older sister on the roster.

"One of the exciting things about this team is we could conceivably have 22 starters," said Reis. "The depth is exciting to the coaching staff. The key is getting them playing time, and that's going to be a challenge for us, but we're going to find a way."

Wheaton's 19-game regular season schedule begins on Friday, August 31, when the Lyons host Simmons College in a non-conference match. A September 22 trip to Smith College is the Blue and White's first look at NEWMAC competition, and the league tournament starts on October 27. Along the way, Wheaton is slated to face a trio of teams ranked in preseason national polls, beginning with a September 5 contest against Endicott College. The Lyons travel to Western Connecticut State University three days later before a September 26 visit to Amherst College, which ended Wheaton's season in 2006.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 8/31/07.
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