Jerry ZurekThe Cabrini women’s soccer team is looking to score big this upcoming season in the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference.
The soccer team is said to have a better chemistry this year and “our ability to put the ball in the net has vastly approved,” Prothero said. “They are all getting along and play well together.”
This preseason, Prothero said it has been strong; however, nagging injuries are slowing the team down. “With our small roster, we can’t afford to lose players.”
Although there are only five players returning to the roster from last season, 11 freshmen are rounding out the roster. “Our current roster is 16 and the players have spoken about our squad as ‘The Sweet 16,'” Ken Prothero, the head coach of the women’s soccer team, said.
Prothero said that the coaching staff was disappointed in the decision not to return made by a few key players, but that they are excited about the players who are back and their large freshman class. Prothero expects that every player will get a lot of playing time and will gain valuable experience play-ing in “one of the most competitive schedules we have ever had,” Prothero said.
The team already suffered a 5-1 loss to Muhelberg, a team that finished atop of its confer-ence four out of the last five years. Brittany Shields scored off assists by Collette Walsh and Christine Regan. Lea Conti started in goal for the injured Melissa Williams.
Prothero said their biggest rivals are the defending champions Miseri-cordia and Eastern, who is always a rival for Cabrini teams. He said, “Women’s Soccer in the PAC has gotten more competitive every year and all con-ference matches will be very important.” The Lady Cavs will have to finish in the top of six out of 11 teams to make the playoffs. “Once you make post-season, anything can happen,” he said.
The women’s soccer team came into existence in 1993.
They one the PAC in 1994 and 1995 and earned bids to the Cam-pionship game in 1998 and 1999. In 2003, the team won the PAC in a nail-biting round of penalty kicks. They received their first-ever NCAA Tournament bid in the process. “This season reminds me of my first one with the program,” Prothero said, “Most of our team was freshman with a few strong upperclassmen leaders. The following year we filled in thegaps with another strong freshman class, won the PACs and went on to the NCAAs.”
When compared to other PAC teams, Prothero said that all the Cabrini teams he has seen over the years have more heart. “Even when any Cabrini team is having an off year, they are never looked at as an ‘easy’ opponent for any-one,” he said.
Prothero encourages that students come out and support the Women’s Soccer team. “We have a strong nucleus of players and excellent leadership in senior captains Nicole Niedermeier and Christine Kedra.” Students will have their first opportunity to catch the girls in action tomor-row, against Marywood at home.
