Elmira College Athletics Hall of Fame
The 1997 season saw Elmira College's most successful women's soccer team in program history. After going 13-3 in the regular season, the Elmira women reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament, beating Ithaca College in penalty kicks. This marked the first time a women's team qualified for the NCAA Tournament in Elmira College history.
On the year, the Elmira women's soccer team scored 60 goals to just 14 conceded and produced a program-best .778 winning percentage. During the season, the Soaring Eagles ranked as high as tenth in the NCAA national rankings. The team recorded nine shutouts on the season, with five coming in its last five games of the regular season. Goalkeeper Susan Mikulec's '99 seven shutouts on the season are tied for most in program history. Four players, Suzanne Weller '01, Kristin Weller '99, Vanessa Alderman '99, and Mikulec '99, were selected to the NYSWCAA All-State First Team while also earning All-Region Academic Second Team honors. Alderman '99 was named to the All-Region Second Team and Alison Conte '99 was named to the NYSWCAA All-Region Academic Third Team. Elmira was awarded the NSCAA Team Gold Ethics Award having gone the entire season without receiving a yellow or red card.
The 1997 Elmira College Women's Soccer team was coached by Tim Barerra, who was assisted by Janet Urban.
