2006 Women’s Soccer Preview

Veteran Women’s Soccer Team Expect to Continue Last Season’s Success

MANSFIELD – The Mansfield University women’s soccer team will become the first Mountaineer fall sports team to open their season when they travel to West Chester this Friday, Aug. 25.

They will then travel to Georgian Court in New Jersey for a Saturday afternoon game before their home opener against Shippensburg University of Aug. 30.

One thing is sure about the upcoming 2006 Mansfield University women’s soccer season – the Mountaineers will not be taken lightly by anyone on the schedule after finishing 8-7-3 last season.

Last year was a milestone for the program, which stunned the PSAC by producing a winning season in just its fourth year of existence. The challenge for the 2006 squad will be to continue and even improve on last year’s success.

The Mountaineers return a key core of veterans including the top eight scorers from last season’s club as well as the program’s first ever All-PSAC East performer in Desiree Boris (Wilkes-Barre/Coughlin) on defense.

The challenge will be in conditioning with a roster of just sixteen players including five incoming freshmen.

Head coach Tim Dempsey, who founded the program five years ago, hasn’t let the short roster dim expectations for 2006.

Although the numbers are down, Dempsey and the players feel that this group is ready for another great season. “We might only have 16, but these 16 are showing the best determination and effort I’ve ever seen in preseason,” affirms Dempsey. “They got a taste of winning last year and I think they are hungry for more this year.”

That may be an understatement. Senior co-captains Desiree Boris and Vanessa Wengen (Hunlock Creek/Lake Lehman) are more than hungry. “The girls are looking really good so far this year,” said Boris. “Everyone is in better shape than in previous years and there is a desire to win amongst all the players.”

That desire is surely felt strongest by the seniors who have watched the program develop in its short history. “We’ve come a long way over the last three years,” said Wengen. “We want to keep improving this season and we have all the tools to accomplish our goals.”

The tools Vanessa speaks of are the strength of the returning team and the quickness that the newcomers are catching on to the system. The Mountaineers return eight starters this season including three All-PSAC East selections from last year.

Desiree Boris became the first athlete in Mountaineer soccer history to earn consecutive selections after getting the nod in 2004 and again last season. She was joined on the team by the top two leading scorers in Mountaineer soccer history, Lyndi Keiser (Mechanicsburg/Mechanicsburg) and Colleen Corcoran (Allentown/Central Catholic). The speedy Keiser set the school record for goals in a season as a freshman with nine and added four assists during the 2005 campaign.

Corcoran finished the 2005 season with eight goals, the second most in school history and moved into the top spot in career goals with 11. Junior Caroline Furmato (Pt. Pleasant,NJ/Pt. Pleasant) came into camp in the best shape of her career and will see plenty of playing time at forward along with Keiser and Corcoran.

The sure-footed and experienced midline features returning starters in juniors Kim Pachuta (Nazareth/Pen Argyl) and Anita Valerio (Manalapan,NJ/Manalapan) along with Amy Dominick (Lancaster/Manheim) who can also play forward. Freshman Danielle Dolan (Randolph,NJ/Randolph) will vie for the other starting spot along with fellow newcomers Meredith Bennett (Schnecksville/Parkland) and Megan Weber (Elmira,NY/Notre Dame).

Mansfield has fielded a tough defense in each of its first four seasons and 2006 promises the same. Two-time All-PSAC East selection Desiree Boris will be a four-year starter on the backline while fellow senior Venessa Wengen has started every game over the past two years.

Junior co-captain Robyn Travisano (Hellertown/Saucon Valley) has started every game during her Mountaineer career where she has proven herself to be a tough, physical defender. Freshmen Brittany Lauck (New Cumberland/Cedar Cliff) and Katie Parsnik  (Wilkes-Barre/Coughlin) will see playing time at the other spot along with transfer Stephanie Lane (Corning,NY/CCC).

Sophomore Justine Seager (Wilkes-Barre/Coughlin), who gained valuable experience as a backup in goal as a freshman last season, will start between the pipes this year.

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