Women's Soccer

2009 Season in Review

Panthers Return to Prominence in ’09
Reach Skyline Semis, ECACs; Trio Named All-Skyline

Purchase, NY (Nov. 17, 2009) – After being one of the more dominant teams in conference the last few years, Purchase took a step back in 2008, missing the playoffs for the first time in a long time.

This fall would surely be different under new head coach Ken Pollard. With Pollard and top assistant Tom Frambach on the sidelines, Purchase was revitalized in 2009. The Panthers soared all the back to the Skyline Conference Tournament semifinals. They also qualified for the highly competitive Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament.

The Panthers also received their share of individual honors. Defender Ashley Panepinto and rookie midfielder Abigail Katz were each named to the All-Skyline First Team, while senior defender Emilie Buse topped the All-Skyline Second Team.

Pollard’s first season at the helm was highlighted by a series of accolades and achievements for both his players and the team thanks largely to the strong contributions from top to bottom. Jessica DiFoggio, Veronica Slattery, Buse and Panepinto all enjoyed stellar seasons on the pitch. And few were more clutch than Katz, who had a breakthrough rookie campaign, scoring a team-high nine goals and 20 points.

Add a two woman rotation at goalie split between the experienced Stehphanie Janasiewicz and newcomer Shea Macagnone, and the emerging threats on offense of forward strikers Marisa Corson, Sarah Lichy and Carly Turow and no game plan was safe for the opposition in 2009.

Corson, a transfer student, finished with seven goals and a team-high five assists, earning the 100th point of her college career.

The offense improved greatly this fall, but it was the defense that carried the Panthers to their two epic duels against Bard College in the postseason. The defense was led by the uncanny combo of DiFoggio and Panepinto. Scrappy, speedy and relentless, the twosome combined for eight of the team’s 39 goals. Purchase’s defense not only prided itself on ball denial but also on getting the ball in the opposition’s goal.

The Panthers reached the league’s semis in a thrilling shootout win before falling to Bard in the Skyline Tourney. Purchase also lost to the Raptors in the ECACs after advancing to the prestigious tournament for the first time in school history.

With a young core in place, Purchase should be big players for a return trip deep into the playoffs in 2010.

-Oren Vourman