BENNINGTON, Vt. – With double session preseason training complete, the Southern Vermont College women's soccer team is putting its final touches on preparation for the 2014 regular season which is set to begin this weekend.
Fourth-year head coach Michael Zauzig looks to continue his streak of making an appearance in the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) postseason after qualifying for the playoffs each of the last three years. The 2013 Mountaineers finished the regular season with a 6-9-1 overall record including a 5-4 mark in league play. They were knocked out of the conference playoffs in the first round at Regis College by a 2-1 margin after making it in as the fifth seed.
"I'm excited to see what the team can do this year," commented Zauzig. "As a program that continues to build, we have to battle the bumps and bruises that come our way. I trust that the ladies will continue to work hard, push through adversity, and strive to find success. When we are fully healthy, I believe that we will be a dangerous team."
Zauzig's 2014 roster is split between returns and new members of the squad, bringing back seven Mountaineers and welcoming an additional seven to the team. Among those coming back is senior captain and defender Michelle Flores (Pico Rivera, Calif.) who was a 2013 All-NECC Second Team selection; she was an integral part to the SVC defense that allowed just 1.17 goals against per game in league play, fourth-best in the conference, while adding three goals and an assist from the backfield.
Additional returners include junior defender Katelyn Raymond (Bristol, Conn.) who will move back to the defensive unit after playing a majority of the 2013 season in goal. Seniors Lixsa Arlet Sandoval (Stockton, Calif.) and Abigail Rosas (Manteca, Calif.) also return to Coach Zauzig's team, bringing back leadership and experience to the SVC squad; Sandoval had two goals last year while Rosas recorded one goal and four assists. Sophomore Melodie Orrell (Gloucester, Mass.), a one-time NECC Rookie of the Week last season, looks to improve on her six goals and one assist from 2013 in the SVC offense.
The Mountaineers open up the 2014 season this weekend when they play in the 2nd Annual Norwich Cadet Kick-off Classic hosted by Norwich University; SVC plays against Johnson State College on Saturday at 7 p.m. and then against Lyndon State College on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. SVC returns for its home opener next Wednesday, September 3rd with a 4 p.m. match against Elmira College up on Everett Field, and the Mountaineers then open New England Collegiate Conference play during SVC's Homecoming Weekend on September 27th with a 1 p.m. kickoff against Lesley University.
As of Friday, the NECC had not yet released the results of its preseason coaches poll.