Women’s Soccer Set for 2011 NECC Title Run

The 2011 Elms College women's soccer team is anxiously awaiting the start of the season with one goal in mind: win the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) championship.

Third-year head coach Kevin Meek has directed the Blazers to back-to-back nine win seasons and two straight appearances in the conference postseason tournament.

Elms returns 13 players from its 2010 squad including NECC Goalkeeper of the Year and First Team All-NECC selection senior Kelly Callahan (Monson, Mass.), as well as senior forward Jennifer Killion (Cambridge, Mass.) who scored a Blazers' single-season high 17 goals and earned first team all-conference honors.

Senior midfielder Brianna Valente (Springfield, Mass.) was named Second Team All-NECC last season, while fellow midfielder Erica Griffo (Syracuse, N.Y.) and forward Amanda Alvarado (Springfield, Mass.) round out the team's five seniors.

Here is a glance at the 2011 Blazers:

Forwards

Ignited by Killion's quick scoring ability, Elms will sport an aggressive attack that features a balance of returners and newcomers. Led by Killion's 17 goals in 2010, the Blazers will also turn to sophomore Christina Goodchild (East Longmeadow, Mass.) who scored six times and added seven assists last fall.

Elms will continue to rely on its experienced scoring attack as sophomore Chelsea Carroll (Meriden, Conn.), who contributed a pair of goals last season, and Alvarado who netted one, will help anchor a very potent unit.

Freshmen Cheryl Moore (Springfield, Mass.), Tamisha Cutler (Greenfield, Mass.), Renee Morais (Pawtucket, R.I.) and Colleen Flaherty (Stoughton, Mass.) will provide depth to this stellar group.

Midfielders

The Blazers' midfield will continue to provide smooth transition from the defensive third of the field to the attacking portion, led by Valente and Griffo who combined for three goals and eight assists in 2010.

Joined by 2010 Honorable Mention All-NECC selection sophomore Gianna Gorneault (Springfield, Mass.) who also recorded five goals and an assist, and sophomore Victoria Cebula (Granby, Mass.) who carded two assists and a goal, Elms' midfield will be the tempo setters for the season.

Newcomers Sevonnah LaRochelle (Chicopee, Mass.), Katherine Hunt (Enfield, Conn.) and Kelley Haggerty (Wynantskill, N.Y.) will gain valuable knowledge and experience this season.

Defenders

Sophomore Allyson Witaszek (Feeding Hills, Mass.) – a Second Team All-NECC selection in 2010 – junior Leah Spring (South Hadley, Mass.) and sophomore Ashley Venancio (Ludlow, Mass.) direct a corps of young but talented defenders.

Witaszek and Venancio each found the back of the net twice, while Spring added a goal last season to help make every corner of the field a potential scoring threat for Elms.

Their experience will pave the way for freshmen Jennifer Bouvier (Mashpee, Mass.) and Delina deVillier (Springfield, Mass.).

Goalkeepers

Led by Callahan, who collected 107 saves in 2010, the Blazers' last line of defense is experienced to say the least. After replacing Callahan for the final two games of the regular season because of injury, sophomore Hayley Zisk (Baldwinville, Mass.) performed admirably, helping Elms to a pair of victories and capping its regular season on a six-game winning streak.

Freshman Ashley LaFountain (Springfield, Mass.) will provide depth and added ability to this already stellar goalkeeping unit.  

Schedule

Elms traditionally plays a competitive slate that includes local rivals Westfield State University and Western New England University (WNEU) in addition to its conference contests which will now include new member Regis College.

The Blazers will play its first four games on the road in 2011 and will play five of their eight home games during the month of October.

Wrap-Up

Anchored by a group of 13 returners that includes five seniors, Elms is poised to make its fourth straight appearance in the postseason tournament and capture its second NECC championship in four seasons.