The 2012 Southern Vermont College women’s soccer season proved to be another step in the right direction for the program, having its first winning season since 1999 and the most wins in SVC women’s soccer history with the 11-5-2 record.
Second-year head coach Michael Zauzig (14-16-2) saw his team make the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) playoffs in as many years, falling to a strong Becker team 3-2 in the first round. “We continued to take strides forward, and that's the main objective,” said Zauzig. “I really like the direction of the program, but there is still a ton of work to do.”
The team started the season off strong, winning five of its first six games with the only loss coming to a sharp and high-powered Juniata squad. Conference play began with a 2-1 heart-breaking defeat at the hands of Lesley University, the eventual NECC Champions.
However, the team remained focused and fought through injury and illness to finish the conference season 5-3-1, the best for SVC in the five-year existence of the NECC; that was good enough to be fifth in the standings and grab the No. 5 seed for the conference tournament.
The Mountaineers played tough throughout and were able to bolster a strong defense which relinquished no more than two goals to a conference opponent during the regular season. The loss to Juniata (4-0) was the only regular-season match in which they conceded more than two goals to any team.
Seven of the team’s wins were the first against the respective program in the school’s history, including wins over conference foes Mitchell College, Newbury College and Wheelock College.
Four players received NECC season accolades, three of whom doing so in their first year with the team. Among them was the NECC Rookie of the Year Kaitlyn Forant (Hardwick, Vt.) who set a school record with 20 goals, surpassing the previous mark of 15. Nine of those tallies came against conference opponents, and all four of her season’s assists came in NECC matches. Three times during the season, Forant was also named as the NECC Rookie of the Week.
Junior transfer Jocelyn Ortega (Chula Vista, Calif.) scored eight goals and added nine assists from the midfield en route to an All-NECC Second Team honor; she was also named the NECC Player of the Week on September 17th. Junior transfer Erin Student (Clifton Park, N.Y.) received an All-NECC honorable mention, along with returning sophomore defender Sam Hastings (Kingston, N.Y.).
The Mountaineers will graduate only one player, senior captain Shawnee Webster (Hoosick, N.Y.) who scored five times and added an assist after missing the first four games with an injury.
“There are so many players who improved and had a positive impact on our team,” Zauzig. “Those same players who had big years have the potential to do that again in the future; however, hard work in the offseason will determine that.”
Other contributors included, but were not limited to, the likes of freshman Bridget Kelly (Lebanon, Conn.) who had three goals (including one game winner) and three assists and freshman Katie Raymond (Bristol, Conn.) who had a significant impact on the tenacious defense, scored a goal, and even stepped in as goalkeeper for two matches.
The net-minding for the majority was left in the hands of junior Catrina Cecchini (Montville, Conn.) who in 11 games recorded a 1.23 goals against average with 50 saves. In her absence, freshman Liz Simonowicz (Chester, Mass.) brought much of the same, bolstering a 1.10 GAA in six games played (five started).
Zauzig knows that his squad has received attention as more opponents are starting to take notice of their achievements, saying, “The team needs to understand that we aren't hiding anymore.” While this season may be a stepping stone to future successes, he knows that nothing will be given to them next year. “We must be willing to put the work between now and next fall to prepare for 2013. Although it may be cliché, champions are made in the offseason.”