Coming into the 2010 season, the Cabrini women’s soccer team is looking to defend their reign as the CSAC champions.
Having lost some key players to graduation, the team is looking to become one again and pursue the conference championship for the second year in a row.
“We definitely want to win CSACs again,” Brianna Conner, senior back, said. “We lost a few strong players from last year because of graduation, and one person transferred to another school so we lost some of our defense.”
Last season, the team finished up with a record of 14-6-1, all the while making the team’s first appearance in the NCAA tournament. The last time Cabrini’s teams made it that far was in the 2003 season.
In a recent poll conducted by CSAC, the team was voted to come out the No. 2 seed in the conference. The poll was a result of head coaches’ votes throughout the league.
The team received four first-place votes, out of 11 possible.
Despite losing its lead scorer from last season, Sabina DiGisi, the team looks forward to the upcoming freshman class and incorporating them into the roster.
“The freshman class came in; it’s pretty strong, and the players are looking good,” Conner said.
The coaches are pleased with how the team has been practicing and it appears that the team will have a fairly strong starting line-up.
Returning players who will be important contributors to the team are senior Annmarie Kolla, who scored the game winning goal last season; senior Brianna Conner, who is the only returning defensive starter; senior midfielder Dana Nardello, and senior goalkeeper Gianna Poretta.
Other key players this season will be juniors Kara Hinkelmon and Sammy Thompson.
The team will be under the guidance of nine year head coach, Ken Prothero.
Conner believes that the team’s midfield will be strongest while the defense will need some work, but overall, the team is well prepared for the season.
The team is contender for being recrowned the CSAC title. However, strong teams such as Marywood, Gwynedd Mercy and Immaculata will be competition for Cabrini.
The team’s next game will be held on Sept. 4 at Bryn Mawr College.
