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Women's Soccer

2011 Season Preview

Heading into the 2011 season, Head Coach Lew Potter stresses that “keeping the positive momentum generated last year is our top priority.”

Last fall the Spartans recorded the program’s first winning record in their 11-year history, finishing 11-7 overall, and qualified for the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference tournament. In the AMCC tournament, the Spartans were edged in overtime in their first-round game.

“Last year we made considerable progress moving from ninth (in 2009) to fourth (in 2010).  We expect big things from this year’s team as well,” says Potter.

The roster features nine returning players, four of which were named to the All-Conference team last season. Seven newcomers join the mix in 2011.

Senior co-captain Stephanie Lozzi (Youngstown, NY/Lewiston Porter) and sophomore Danielle Gehen (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca West) look to improve the stunning offensive numbers they posted last season.  Lozzi had a career-high year in 2010 with 10 goals and 26 points and in three seasons as a Spartan midfielder Lozzi has 23 goals and 54 points, good for second on the program’s all-time scoring list.  Last season Gehen shattered the program record for goals (10) and points (26) by a freshman.

Sophomore Anna Preston (Mayville, NY/Chautauqua Lake) and senior Stephanie Wiechec (North Tonawanda, NY/North Tonawanda) are returning All-Conference midfielders. Co-captain Gabrielle Kopsas (Lewiston, NY/Lewiston Porter) along with Samantha Smith (Ilion, NY/Mohawk), Shannon Wilson (Tonawanda, NY/Holy Angels Academy), and Colleen Wiechec (North Tonawanda, NY/North Tonawanda) provide the Spartans with plenty of field experience.

Newcomers to watch will be freshman Kayla Hartnett (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park), Mallory Hijack (Hamburg, NY/West Seneca Christian), and keeper Shelby Sergeant (Albion, NY/Charles D’Amico). Junior college transfer Samantha Giebner (Sicklerville, NJ/Winslow Township) recorded 18 goals and 47 points in 34 career games at Camden County CC (NJ).

The Spartans were picked fourth in the AMCC pre-season coach’s poll. “That means we’re respected in the conference and we won’t be able to sneak up on anybody,” Potter states.

DYouville opens the season with a pair of matches in Western New York. September 2nd they face Grove City College at 4:00 p.m. at Hamburg High School and September 3rd the Spartans play King’s College at 2:00 p.m. at the Lakeview Road Recreation Area in Hamburg, NY.