2008 season preview

August 27, 2008

NORTON, MA- The Wheaton College women's soccer program enters the 2008 season in a familiar place, fresh off an NCAA Tournament appearance and New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) regular season and tournament championships. And although falling short in the NCAA Tournament was disappointing for the Lyons, 12th-year head coach Luis Reis makes it very clear to never summarize the season based on one game.

"We're very careful to make sure the players understand that we don't put it all on one game," said Reis, who became the second-fastest Division III women's soccer coach to reach the 200-win mark last fall. "We never look at a season as a disappointment or failure because it then devalues all the work and effort put into it. That's how we view last year, the year before and the year before that. It was another great year, another great run, and everyone should be very proud of what was accomplished."

Tough to argue, as Wheaton has experienced tremendous success during Reis' tenure, including last season's 23-game unbeaten stretch that carried into the NCAAs. Going 22-1-1 overall and a perfect 9-0 in the NEWMAC, the Lyons advanced to their eighth straight NCAA Tournament while capturing their ninth consecutive regular season conference title and seventh league tournament crown since 2000.

Ranked 12th in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) preseason poll, Wheaton begins the fall riding a 34-game regular season unbeaten streak, but where the Lyons truly distinguish themselves is within the conference. In particularly exclusive company, the Blue and White is one of two soccer programs in NCAA history to boast a conference unbeaten streak of 88 games, which is the nation's longest active stretch. Gunning for the coveted century mark this season, if successful, the Lyons would be one game shy of Oneonta State College's all-time best 101-game run that ended last fall.

Reis, who is joined by third-year assistant and goalkeeper coach Scott Dolan and first-year assistant and former all-region player Jenna Rabesa '08, makes a point to downplay streaks while keeping things in perspective. "We keep a low profile and don't really discuss it," said the 2007 NEWMAC Coach of the Year. "It's not something we focus on because sometimes when you focus on one thing it kind of escapes you. There are bigger things we are striving for, and we don't want to devalue what we're trying to accomplish. Our goal is to go as far into the season as possible."

With the loss of eight prominent seniors to graduation a year ago, Reis enters this season with a lot of confidence in the returning corps and first-year class. "Most of the work has already been done," added Reis. "I was very pleased with the spring season and the team's trip to Portugal in March. We made so much progress with regards to leadership that I honestly believe, even though we only have three seniors, that we have tremendous leadership. I believe we're in very good shape from that standpoint."

Of Wheaton's 24 players, 18 hail from the freshman and sophomore classes, including the Lyons' starting forward line, which consists of three explosive sophomores in Melida Alvarez (Saugus, MA/Buckingham Browne & Nichols), Emily Hough (Norwich, VT/Hanover) and Barrie Lindsay (Ipswich, MA/Waring School). The trio played a major role in the team scoring 98 goals last year.

A 2007 All-New England player and NEWMAC Rookie of the Year, Alvarez set the school's freshman goals record while notching the fourth-most markers in program history with 23. Boasting 50 points and nine game-winners, she is already among the career goals leaders. Hough, who was named to all-region and all-league teams as a freshman, had an impressive season with 14 goals, 12 assists and four game-winners. Also an all-region and all-conference player, Lindsay finished last fall with 17 points.

Expected to see considerable time up front are senior Jessica Bramucci (Ludlow, MA/Wilbraham & Monson Academy) and freshmen Bailey Bowling (Littleton, CO/Littleton) and Kaitlyn Mawicke (Trumbull, CT/Notre Dame Catholic). In three years, Bramucci has recorded 12 goals, 14 assists and three game-winners in 62 games. Senior Bailey Edwards (Austin, TX/Saint Stephen's Episcopal School) is positioned to play either forward or back, while first-year Laurel MacPherson (Belmont, NH/Belmont) is slotted at the forward position.

Junior Rosie Levy (Torrance, CA/Chadwick School) leads a young but talented midfield corps. An all-region player a year ago and co-captain this fall, Levy contributed seven assists in 2007. She will be joined by sophomores Christina Bertrand (Agawam, MA/Cathedral) and Amanda Resendes (Swansea, MA/Joseph Case), and freshmen Jessica Gray (Carver, MA/Sacred Heart), Jessica Stuart (Weymouth, MA/Weymouth) and Emily Vincunas (Granville, MA/Wilbraham & Monson Academy). Bertrand, Gray, Stuart and Vincunas are vying for starting spots. Freshman Kristin Lang (Glenshaw, PA/Shaler Area) is also in the mix as a reserve midfielder.

Returning in the back from a 2007 defense that helped the team post a 0.37 goals against average with 16 shutouts are junior co-captain Lyndsey McManus (Marshfield, MA/Marshfield) and sophomore Alessia Viscomi (Newton, MA/Newton North). Reis described the tandem as the backbone of the defense. McManus posted six goals, 14 points and two game-winners in 18 starts last fall, while Viscomi tallied seven points during a team-high 22 starts.

Sophomore Colleen Liffers (Merrimac, MA/Pentucket Regional), who Reis noted was the spring's most improved player, will get the nod at left back, while junior Kathleen Carroll (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz Central) and sophomore Lauren Caney (West Springfield, MA/West Springfield) are the leading candidates at right back. Senior Jessie Landau (Pound Ridge, NY/Fox Lane) and freshman Lindsey Cobb (Shrewsbury, MA/Saint Peter-Marian) will provide depth across the back.

The most untested area of the field will be in goal, as Reis brought in a pair of talented freshmen in Kasey Frasier (Bennington, VT/Mount Anthony Union) and Lindsay Leddy (Warwick, RI/Wheeler School). Reis and Dolan have been pleased with what they've seen thus far and expect the pair to share time over the course of the season.

Playing a full complement of 20 regular season games for the first time in program history, Wheaton's schedule once again features several top-level teams, including hosting fourth-ranked Western Connecticut State University on September 6 and traveling to 21st-ranked Worcester State College three days prior to that. Western advanced to the national semifinal round a year ago. The Lyons also host Tufts University, which is receiving votes in the preseason poll, on September 24.

The Blue and White opens play with a non-league road game at Roger Williams University on Friday. Wheaton returns home on Sunday to take on Saint Joseph's College of Maine. A home match against Mount Holyoke College on September 27 kicks off the NEWMAC slate, while the league tournament is set to begin on November 1.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 8/27/08.
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