Soccer season is near as the Knights look to improve on their 4-8-5 record last season.
In 2013, the team finished with a 11-5-1 record that included a semi-final appearance in the East Coast Conference. After that season, the seniors on the team were replaced with new players, including five freshmen.
Carl Christian enters his eighth season as head coach for the women’s team. He understood the difficulty players felt in adjusting to the team’s chemistry last season.
“They had to learn and gain experience as they went without the luxury of their gradual integration into a more senior group of players,” Christian said.
Despite the rough start, the Knights finished off strong by tying against Assumption and Mercy College, two of the top regionally-ranked teams in the ECC.
During the offseason, the team added players who look to help the Knights start off strong for a new season. For example, junior Megan Deak and sophomore Kimberly Chacko, transferring from Bloomsburg University and Brooklyn College, respectively, competed for the goalkeeper position. Former goalkeeper Mersina Onesto is also in the mix, but is waiting to rejoin the team because of a pending NCAA extension.
Additionally, sophomore Megan DeRosa, who previously led Mount Saint Vincent in scoring, and freshmen Adriana Mendrinos joined the team as forwards.
The team began with four games on the road followed by four games at home. In spite more away games than home this season, Christian believed it is not a problem for the team.
“If you plan on having a successful season you need to be able to get results wherever you play,” Christian said.
The season began with a 3-0 loss to Pace University. The team then bounced back with a 2-0 victory over Wilmington. Senior Bridget Gleason and sophomore Erin Vernillo each scored a goal in the match. Afterward, the team lost 1-0 to Philadelphia University.
Yet Christian believes the team does not need to panic yet as the season is just beginning.
“As long as we can stay relatively healthy and continue to develop, as we have done over the past 12 months, we should be fine and will return to winning ways,” Christian said.
The Knights next game is on Sept. 17 against Nyack followed by their first home opener against Molloy College on Sept. 19.
