Preseason Video Interviews

ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College women's soccer program is set to embark on the 2018 campaign on Friday, August 31, when the Soaring Eagles heads to Alfred, New York, to battle Alfred State in the season opener.

In her fourth season at the helm of EC women's soccer, head coach Kaitlyn Mallernee will field a hungry, but relatively untested squad, as the program returns five upperclassmen from 2017. After graduating seven players, including its top-two goal scorers from a year ago in Jordyn Rousselle '18 and Sara Kazerouni '18, Mallernee has brought in the program's largest recruiting class since the Class of 2018 with eight freshmen looking to make their mark.

"I believe that the large crop of incoming freshmen has already affected the team through their energy on and off of the field," Mallernee said. "Not only do they buy into the program, but also their upperclassmen, and everything we are trying to accomplish."

Following an up-and-down campaign in 2017, the Purple and Gold are aiming for a bounce-back season by fully embracing the youthfulness of the roster. The development of Elmira's newcomers will be critical to the team's success as they will look to utilize their pace in attack and high energy mindset to frustrate the opposition this season.

"My expectations are always to see postseason," Mallernee said. "Aside from that, making sure that the ladies are showing up every day ready to compete and make each other stronger, along with fine-tuning the little things we are asking them to perfect. Compete, compete, compete, that's the goal for the year."

"I am tremendously proud at how hard our players are working, along with becoming such a tight-knit family," she added. "We harp a lot on finding your role, finding your 10, or what your key strength is, and most importantly, team above self. That is what I have seen, commitment to each other."

Forwards
EC saw 82-percent of its goal scoring graduate this past spring, leaving a wide-open opportunity for the Soaring Eagles' returners to seize scoring opportunities. Second-year standout Taylor Hanson '21 returns as a prime candidate for a breakout scoring season. The fleet-footed sophomore from Chatham, New York, contributed from day one as a freshman, playing in 15 games with 11 starts and flashing talent as an attacking midfielder with a goal against Ramapo. Her 1,072 minutes were the second-most among players returning to the Purple and Gold this season.

"Taylor brings such a high volume of passion," Mallernee said. "It's who she is. Taylor is also a coachable individual that retains everything we throw at her. Now that she's had one year under her belt, I look forward to her expanding that knowledge and dominating as a starting forward."

Fellow sophomore Zoya Katta '21 adds further versatility to the Soaring Eagles' goal-scoring efforts. She was poised for a strong freshman year, too, but an injury in the opener sidelined her for the remainder of the season. A healthy Katta could be a difference maker for Elmira on the offensive side of the pitch in 2018, but her role in the locker room will be just as important; she was chosen as one of two team captains alongside senior midfielder Allie LoPresti '19.

"I'm very proud with our captains, Allie LoPresti and Zoya Katta, and their continuous effort commitment to help lead," Mallernee stated. "I pride on leadership, and they are perfect role models for that position, to not only lead vocally but to exemplify our values and determination through action."

Nicole Hanselman '20, who appeared in 15 games as a freshman in 2016, and newcomers Ellie Younger '22 and Megan Bacon '22 will provide further depth to the forward group.

"I'm really excited about Megan's power with her shots, and as for Ellie, she can run for days," said Mallernee of EC's first-year strikers.

Midfielders
The Soaring Eagles' midfield will be a source of strength and experience for the Purple and Gold this season with four returners from a year ago. Leading the way for the Elmira will be LoPresti and junior Jennifer Flynn '20. Both players were in a part of the rotation in 2017, as they made six and seven starts, respectively, but will see a significant increase in minutes as full-time starters this fall. The upperclassman duo will look to lead by example with a string of consistent performances.

Joining LoPresti and Flynn is second-year midfielder Hailey Boris '21. Boris appeared in eight games in her first year as a Soaring Eagle and logged 277 minutes of action. She netted her first collegiate goal in the second period of a 3-2 overtime victory against Wells on Campus Field in September.

Also angling for playing time will be freshman Marissa Maier '22. A former three-sport student-athlete at Laurens Central High School in Laurens, New York, Maier brings considerable size to the midfield with an athletic 5-foot-9-inch frame.

Defense
The Soaring Eagles will rely on their incoming crop of freshmen on the backline in 2018, as they only return two starting defenders from a year ago. Junior Tatiana Ivery '20 and sophomore Megan Diem '21 comprise the core of EC's defense. Ivery returns after making 10 appearances in 2017 and will look to fill a starting role on a revamped defensive unit. Diem enters her second collegiate season after starting in 14 games as a freshman, racking up 1,325 minutes on the backline.

Lily Kronick '21 displayed versatility during her first season, seeing time on both ends of the field and recording an assist in an Empire 8 match versus St. John Fisher, but will focus her efforts on the back end of the field this year.

Three new backs – Marygrace Nichols '22, Adrianna Cornell '22, and Taylor Wilms '22 – will also be pushing for starter's minutes this fall. Cornell has been the recipient of some early praises from the coaching staff. A highly-decorated player at Schoharie High School in Schoharie, New York, Cornell helped her team reach three consecutive state tournaments and garnered back-to-back Western Athletic Conference Defensive MVP Awards as a junior and senior.

Goalkeepers
Between the posts, EC will feature a position battle between senior Meghan Ray '19 and freshman Cassidy Buchman '22. Ray made three appearances last season, including the first two starts of her career against St. John Fisher and Nazareth in late October. The senior from Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, recorded a career-high 15 saves in 161 minutes of action.

Buchman joins the Purple and Gold from Lowville Academy in Lowville, New York. As a senior, she helped the Red Raiders advance to the Section III Class B title game with a shutout victory in the semifinals.

"The goalkeeping battle throughout the preseason has been just that, it's a battle," Mallernee said. "They train hard and make each other stronger."

Season Opener
The Soaring Eagles are set to battle Alfred State on the road in their season opener on August 31. It will be a stiff test to open the year for the Purple and Gold, as the Pioneers went 12-4-0 overall and won the American Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) championship a year ago. On its home field, Alfred State was strong, dropping just one of the eight games it hosted. A road victory to start the year would be a statement win for the Purple and Gold, as they aim to come out flying under the lights at Pioneer Stadium.