SELINSGROVE, (Pa.) — New head coach Jim Findlay doesn’t like putting pressure on himself during his rookie season at the helm of the Susquehanna University women’s soccer team. But Findlay believes the good mix of experienced veterans and talented freshmen gives his team a shot a contending for one of the top spots in the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth League.
The Crusaders return seven starters and 10 letterwinners from last season’s team, which went 7-8 overall, 3-4 and in fifth in the league — falling just shy of back-to-back winning seasons. Joining the returnees is a group of 10 talented freshmen who “have great attitudes and skills,” according to Findlay.
Susquehanna will open the 1999 season vs. Case Western Reserve Saturday in the 1 p.m. game of a classic at Oberlin College in Ohio.
“It is just a matter of time before the freshmen start to mix in with the veteran players and develop some chemistry,” said Findlay, who is also in his second-year as head coach of the Crusader men’s soccer team. “Realistically, if this group gels together, it has the a talent to finish in one of the top two spots in the league and earn a playoff berth. They’re a good group as a whole and have a great attitude.”
THE DEFENSE
All three tri-captains will lead the defense in seniors Christine Catalfamo (Johnstown/Bishop McCort H.S.) and Nicole Forino (Reading/Reading Holy Name H.S.), and junior Kristen Gilbert (Troy, N.Y./Tamarac H.S.).
Gilbert will anchor the defense and has started 25 games during her Crusader career, including 11 last year. She was sidelined for four games with a knee injury a year ago. Gilbert has moved to defender this season after scoring six goals and adding an assist as a midfielder in her first two seasons.
A three-year letterwinner, Catalfamo also is moving to the defensive side of the field after playing in 42 career games — primarily on offense where she scored five goals and an assist for 11 points.
Forino is the team’s sweeper and is also a three-year letterwinner who has played all 29 of her career games on defense.
Yet another senior, Deb Cline (Mechanicsburg/Mechanicsburg Area H.S.) will occupy the other starting spot at defender. A two-time member of the MAC All-Academic Women’s Soccer Team, Cline started 13 games last season, playing in all 15, and has appeared in 42 career contests at Susquehanna.
A pair of sophomores also provide depth on defense in Jill Gwiazdowski (York/York Central H.S.), who is in her first year on the team this season, and Jennifer Weirich (Middletown/Middletown H.S.), who lettered last year as she played in every game.
The goalkeeper will be freshman Dorn McMahon (West Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell H.S.). McMahon inherited the position with the withdrawal from school of last year’s starter Janee’ Shaner (Hughesville/Hughesville H.S.), who also was the school’s first women’s national champion when she won the 1998 Division III javelin title. McMahon has impressed Findlay thus far and is the lone keeper on the team.
THE MIDFIELDERS
A senior will also anchor the midfielders in Melissa Ruozzi (Braintree, Mass./Braintree H.S.), who played in all 15 games last season — starting 14 — and finished third on the team in scoring with three goals, and an assist for seven points. Ruozzi has been a starter over the bulk of her career, playing in 36 career games and scoring eight goals with four assists for 20 points.
Joining Ruozzi in the midfield will be returning junior letterwinner Lindsay Hayes (Troy, N.Y./Tamarac H.S.), as well as sophomore newcomer Michelle Badorf (Lancaster/Penn Manor H.S.) and freshman Julie Augustin (North Versailles/East Allegheny H.S.).
Hayes played in all but one game last season and started 13, scoring a goal with an assist. She has appeared in 29 career games.
Badorf was a star on the Crusader swimming team as a freshman — breaking two individual school records — and has brought her athletic skills to the soccer field. She scored a goal in the team’s recent scrimmage with Lycoming.
Augustin is the younger sister of former Crusader men’s soccer starter and 1998 graduate Donnie Augustin.
Other freshmen expected to see time as midfielders this season include Kristin Abernathy (Wescosville/Emmaus H.S.), Kat Geiger (New Hope/The Hun School), and Courtney Capaldo (Dillsburg/Trinity H.S.).
THE FORWARDS
The Crusaders may have two of the league’s best forwards, although neither junior Lauren Brown (Glenelg, Md./Glenelg H.S.) or sophomore Kim Anderson (Ore-field/Parkland H.S.) has been an All-Star.
Brown is the young program’s career record holder for assists (8) and has finished second on the team in scoring in each of her first two years — scoring five goals and four assists for 14 points (0.93 ppg) a year ago.
Anderson had a phenonmenal rookie season, breaking the school’s season goals and scoring records with 12 goals and three assists for 27 points. She also had one of the team’s goals in it recent scrimmage with Lycoming.
A pair of freshmen are also expected to add some additional offensive punch up front in Erin Costello (Hagerstown, Md./St. Maria Goretti H.S.) and Kat Geiger (New Hope/The Hun School).
Findlay is the fourth new head coach in the past four years for this program, which is now in its sixth varsity season.
| The James W. Garrett Sports Complex, Publications, and Sports Information |
| Hours: 8:15 - 4:30 M-F (Academic year) 8:00 - 4:00 (Summer) | |
| Phone: 570-372-4119 Fax: 570-372-4048 E-mail: supubrel@susqu.edu |