SELINSGROVE, PA – Despite returning just five starters from last year's squad, the Susquehanna University women's soccer team brings optimism into the 2006 season, as Kathy Kroupa takes over as head coach after five seasons as an assistant during which the Crusaders made two trips to the Commonwealth Conference championship game.

Up front, senior tri-captain A.J. Chianese (Monmouth Beach, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) was named second-team All-Conference after she led the Crusaders in scoring last season with nine goals and two assists for 20 points, including three game-winning goals.

Joining her up front will be junior Erin Coffey (Clarksburg, NJ/Allentown), who scored three goals and two assists in 18 games last season, and sophomore Karen Florio (Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson Fair Haven), who appeared in 14 games off the bench and scored one goal.

Sophomore Becky Smedley (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddonfield) will play a key role off the bench after scoring four goals and an assist as a reserve last year, with additional support provided by freshman Tory Weiss (McLean, VA/Langley).

In the midfield, senior tri-captain Jenna Raffetto (Wall, NJ/Wall) is a three-year starter with five goals and nine assists in 57 career games. She will be joined by junior Lindsay Knowlton (Souderton, PA/North Penn), who scored two goals last season, and sophomore Kirsten Sands (Warminster, PA/William Tennent), who played in 13 games last season.

Also expected to contribute at midfield are sophomores Amber Welborn (Pottsville, PA/Pottsville) and Jess Eickhoff (Yardley, PA/Pennsbury) along with freshmen Megan Casey (Doylestown, PA/Central Bucks West) and Alicia Muldoon (Robesonia, PA/Conrad Weiser).

On defense, junior Laura Haldeman (Wallkill, NY/Wallkill) started all 18 games last season and is joined by two more returning starters in sophomores Katelyn Deese (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) and Kelly Davitt (Hampton, NJ/North Hunterdon), with sophomore Kate Boyle (Wantage, NJ/High Point Regional) joining the starting unit, with freshman Julie Yeagley (Spring Mills, PA/Penns Valley) seeing time off the bench.

In goal, senior tri-captain Megan Steese (Sunbury, PA/Shikellamy) made four starts last season and compiled a 2.11 goals against average with 36 saves in 427 minutes of action. Sophomore Meredith Tompeck (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) will compete for time between the pipes along with freshmen Vern Kalejta (Coal Township, PA/Lourdes Regional) and Alyssa Kemmerer (Berwick, PA/Berwick).

Other freshmen who will look to make an impact include forward Courtney MacLeod (Gorham, ME/Gorham), midfielders Caitlin Jenkins (Blakely, PA/Valley View) and Brooke Jones (Williamsport, PA/Williamsport) and defender Abby Montgomery (Hughesville, PA/Hughesville).