Posted on Nov 12, 2003

Head Coach Brian Speck

119-32-12 in nine seasons –
4 UCAA Titles –
5 NCAA Berths –
2 NYSWCAA Crowns

The Union women's soccer team, the No. 1-ranked team in the Region and the winner of the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association's postseason tournament championship, will host the four-team NCAA Regional on Saturday and Sunday, November 15 and 16 on Garis Field. This will be the Dutchwomen's Union-College record fifth consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament. Prior to this year the men's soccer team of the mid 1980s and the football team of the late 1980s were tied with the Dutchwomen with four-straight national tournament appearances each.

The 18-1-1 Dutchwomen, who earned the UCAA's automatic bid by defeating William Smith, 3-0, in the championship game of last week's conference's championship tournament, will play Stevens Tech and 14-6-1 on Saturday at 11 a.m. on Garis Field.

Oneonta, which is the New York Region's second-ranked team by virtue of its 17-1-2 overall record and its fifth consecutive SUNYAC championship, will meet 10-5-5 Ithaca College Saturday at 1:30 on Garis Field. The championship will be played on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. on Garis.

Stevens Tech, located in Hoboken, New Jersey, earned its bid by winning its fourth-straight Skyline Conference championship. The Ducks advanced to this weekend's regional by blanking Chestnut Hill, 5-0, in Wednesday's first-round game. Chestnut Hill went into the first-round showdown with a 16-1-1 record.

Ithaca, meanwhile, earned its 14th NCAA berth by capturing the Empire Eight Championship with a pair of shootout victories over No. 2 Elmira (4-2 after a 1-1 tie) and top-ranked Nazareth (4-3 after a 0-0 deadlock). The Bombers defeated Grove City, 2-0, to advance to the Regional with their 10-5-5 overall record.

“We are very proud to be just one of three New York State teams to be invited to the NCAA tournament,” said Union head coach Brian Speck. “Our players have worked extremely hard to achieve the lofty goals they set for themselves and for the team this year.

“This is the closest knit group that I have ever coach,” continued Speck, who has guided the Dutchwomen to a nine-year record of 119-32-12, four UCAA championships, two New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association crowns, and five consecutive berths in the NCAA Tournament. “It is always nice to play at home and it is a deserving reward for the accomplishments our team,” Speck continued.

While it certainly is a nice reward for the players and their fans, there is another bigger aspect to the Dutchwomen being home this weekend…they haven't lost on Garis Field in over two years and are 21-2-1 since the start of the 2001 season.

Union brings a solid game into Saturday's regional semi-final as the Dutchwomen outscored its 21 opponents by a 72-9 margin. Junior Brittany Cressman, who had three goals and three assists in last weekend's UCAA Championship Tournament wins over St. Lawrence (4-1) and William Smith, leads the team with 14 goals, a team-record 17 assists and 45 points. Sophomore Erika Eisenhut is next with 42 points on 18 goals and six assists while sophomore Cassanddra Mariani (12-5-29), senior Corinne Hennessy (7-5-19), senior Stephanie Mole' (4-4-12) and sophomore Marissa VanWoeart (3-4-10) are Union's other double digit scorer.

Sophomore goaltender Julie Gawronski has started all 20 games for the Dutchwomen and enters the weekend with a goals against average of 0.51 and a save percentage of .836. She has a lot of help in front of her as Union's defense has allowed just 64 shots on goal forcing Gawronski to make an average of just over three saves a game. Union's defense registered a program-record 12 shutouts this season.

Starters, seniors Lindsay Kroell, Katie Ryan and Erin Holmes have teamed with junior Brianna Bailey and sophomore Linsey Capecelatro have teamed with Gawronski to produce a program-record shutouts this season.

“This has been a total team effort throughout the the entire season,” said ninth-year head coach Brian Speck, who has led the Dutchwomen to an overall record of 119-22-12 and four UCAA championships, two New York State tournament championships and all five NCAA berths. “People look at all the goals we've scored and are impressed with that total. For me, I look at the fact that we've given up just nine goals all season long and I am proud of how hard all of the players have worked, not only throughout the season, but during the off-season as well.”

The Dutchwomen played their only home NCAA game against Western Connecticut in 2000, losing 1-0 in four overtimes despite enjoying a 14-1 shot on goal advantage. The 1999 Dutchwomen were invited to the program's first national tournament. Down 3-0, Union rallied to defeat homestanding Ithaca, 4-3, in three overtimes in the opening round only to lose at William Smith, 4-1, in the second round. The 2001 team held a 1-0 lead at William Smith in the NCAAs only to have the Herons tie the game with 49 seconds remaining in regulation. , William Smith won the game, 4-3, on penalty kicks at the completion of four scoreless overtimes. Last year the Dutchwomen rallied from a 2-0 deficit at the hands of NYU (the game was played at William Smith) to tie the game before losing in a shootout, 4-1.

Juniors Kim Mirra and Valerie Barnhart scored two goals each to lead Stevens Institute of Technology to its a 5-0 win over Chestnut Hill. The victory not only propelled the Ducks into the regional, it extended their unbeaten streak to nine games (8-0-1). Stevens won its NCAA opener for the second straight season as it earned a 1-0 win over Johns Hopkins at home last year. The Duckswho held a 28-4 advantage in shots. Freshman goaltenders Rommy Guevara and Erica Midttveit each played a half and combined for three saves.

Barnhart leads the team in scoring with her 21 goals and 50 points. Dean Heather (7-10-24) and Mirra (6-20-22) are among the six players in double digits. Stevens comes into the weekend having outscored its opponents 59-23 with a shot on goal advantage of 218 to 107. Guevara and Midttveit have combined for goals against average of 1.08 and a save percentage of .785 with five shutouts.

Junior Rachel Thau scored a pair of goals in the game's first 11 minutes and the Bomber defense, spearheaded by sophomore goalkeeper Kurstin Meehann eeded, who needed to make just two saves, made those tallies stand up. It was Meehann's seventh shutout of the year and the team's ninth of the season.

Ithaca, which has outscored the opposition by a 31-15 margin, are led by Rebecca Berry (10-1-27), Christine Dorney (5-1-11) and Dawn Rathbone (3-5-11). Meehan own a goals against average of 0.83 and a save percentage of .850.

Oneonta, whose only loss of the season was a 2-1 decision at the hands of visiting Ithaca on October 25, has outscored its opponents, 54-6. Brooke Davis (8-6) and Sanada Mujanovic (7-8) are among the Bombers' six double digit scorers and lead the team with 22 points.

On the other side of the field, sophomore Laura Morcone has posted eight shutouts and sports an 0.34 goals against average.

“We are very proud to be just one of three New York State teams to be invited to the NCAA tournament,” said Speck. “Our players have worked extremely hard to achieve the lofty goals they set for themselves and for the team this year.”

Union hasn't lost on Garis Field in over two years and are 21-2-1 since the start of the 2001 season.

Click HERE for NCAA Brackets in PDF

This Weekend's Schedule


Saturday, November 15

UNION vs. Stevens Tech, 11:00 a.m.
Oneonta vs. Ithaca, 1:30 p.m.


Sunday, November 16

CHAMPIONSHIP 1:00 p.m.

All Games on Garis Field