William Smith College soccer finished the 2018 season in the same fashion as the last 12 years with a Liberty League title and a trip to the NCAA tournament via the league’s automatic bid. The Herons posted an overall record of 17-3-1 and an 8-1-0 mark in league play. After winning the league tournament with back-to-back shutouts, William Smith advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals. They led the league in goals scored (40) and goals allowed (9).
With eight starters returning, including three of the team’s top-five scorers from last season, the Herons are poised to continue their dominance within the league in 2019. They open the season ranked fifth in the 2019 United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll. The trio of Mailalen Martinez, Elizabeth Moore and Emilie Sauvayre are all back to help anchor the defense after being part of one of the best defensive units in the country in 2018, ranking 13th in goals against average (0.42) nationally. Martinez (1G, 1A) and Sauvayre (3G, 1A) also contributed to the offense with a combined 10 points. Julia Keogh and Merilyn Hinrichs return to pilot the offense after ranking second and fourth on the team in scoring last season. Keogh scored eight goals and handed out a team-high six assists for 22 points. Hinrichs netted three goals and added four assists for 10 points. Goalkeeper Amanda Kesler (4-2-0) returns between the pipes for the Herons after playing in 10 games last season (six starts). She posted a goals against average of 0.77 and a save percentage of .667 in over 580 minutes of play.
In its second year with the Liberty League,
Ithaca College was a much improved team in 2018 as the Bombers finished with a 14-2-4 overall record (7-2-0 Liberty League), doubling the number of wins recorded in 2017. They earned the second seed in the league tournament, where they advanced to the semifinals and received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, reaching the second round. Heading into this season, Ithaca is receiving votes in the 2019 United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll. 2018 Liberty League Player of the Year Alex Epifani and All-Liberty League second team selection Gabby Mihale highlight the returning players for the Bombers this season. Epifani paced the team and league in scoring with nine goals, seven assists and 25 points. She was also tops in the league with five game-winning goals. Mihale was second on the team with 12 points on five goals and two assists. Kate Kohler headlines the defense after making 20 starts for the Bombers last season.
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) had a strong campaign last season finishing the year at 11-6-4 and moved on to the league tournament for the seventh time in eight seasons. The Tigers reached the league championship game and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, where they advanced to the second round. They will look to build on the success of 2018 this season and RIT also opens 2019 receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll. The Tigers welcome back All-Liberty League first team goalkeeper Alyssa Salls. Salls went 7-2-3 in goal with a 0.68 goals against average and a .873 save percentage, good for fourth among league leaders in both categories. She will be joined by Morgan Montieth, who made 20 starts for RIT at defense last season. Mia White (4G, 3A), an All-Liberty League second team pick, spearheads the offense after recording 11 points last season.
St. Lawrence University is coming off a season where it reached the league tournament for the second consecutive year. The Saints finished 2018 at 10-3-4 overall and 4-2-3 in league play. With the return of eight starters from a year ago and the graduation of only five, they are in good shape to extend their postseason streak. Julia Mulhern will be the sparkplug to get the offense ignited after leading the team with six goals and 12 points. Katie Clemmer (5G, 1A) is also back, last season she compiled 11 points on five goals and an assist. Goalkeeper Samantha Allen returns for her senior season, in 2018, she was in net for all 17 games for the Saints last season. She finished the year ranked third among league leaders in goals against average (.660) and save percentage (.891). Allen also tied for the league lead in shutouts with eight.
Skidmore College was a young squad in 2018 with 10 incoming players and a year of experience should translate well for the Thoroughbreds. Despite their youth, they earned a spot in the league tournament as the fifth seed returning to the postseason for the first time 2013. The return of Yasmine Boukari, an All-Liberty League first team selection, will be key for Skidmore after pacing the team in points (15) and goals (six) last season. She totaled 67 shots on the year and was tops among league leaders in shots per game with 4.47. Goalkeeper Ava Keller and defender Seraya Makle will anchor the defensive corps. Keller (7-6-0) made 13 starts and saw action in all 15 matches for the Thoroughbreds. She produced a 0.81 goals against average and a 0.811 save percentage. Makle started all 15 games last season.
Vassar College wrapped up the 2019 campaign with an overall record of 9-8-1, a fourth consecutive trip to the Liberty League postseason and the program’s first-ever appearance in the NCAA tournament via an at-large bid. With six starters from last season’s squad returning to Poughkeepsie, the Brewers are poised to take a jump up the standings in 2019. Goalkeeper Fiona Walsh highlights the team’s returning players this season after starting 16 of 18 games in net in 2018. She closed out her sophomore season with a .795 save percentage and a 1.42 goals against average. Offensively, three of the team’s top scorers from a year ago are back in Emma Tanner, Ashley Ferry and Jordan Moss. Tanner paced the team with six goals and 12 points while Ferry handed out a team-high four assists to go with three goals for 10 points. Moss (2G, 1A) recorded five points and will help bolster the defense.
Union College will look to improve upon a 6-8-2 overall record heading into 2019 and with eight starters from last season, the Dutchwomen will be a seasoned team. The defensive duo of Emma Marlow-Benedick and Georgia Mraz are both back. Marlow-Benedick started all 16 games while Mraz appeared in 15, starting nine. Lindsey Giles (7 points) will lead the offense after ranking third on the team last season with three goals and one assist. Goalkeepeing could be a question mark with the graduation of Kelsey Hartsoe (6-8-2), however, Alison Sorkenn, Katie Piechnik and Camryn Ragland all saw some playing time last season.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) opened last season as a young squad and the Engineers will be seeking a return to the postseason after one-year hiatus. 2018 Liberty League Rookie of the Year Whitney Wisnom highlights the team’s returning players. Wisnom (1G, 3A) was second on the team in scoring last season with five points and she paced the league in shot attempts with 71. Her lone goal was a game-winner. Emily Kaplan also returns after leading the team with six points on three goals. The defense is in good hands with goalkeeper Joey Lyons back for her senior campaign. In 16 starts, she compiled a .772 save percentage and a 1.09 goals against average.
With the graduation of only four and the return of eight starters from 2018,
Clarkson University will have plenty of experience on the field for the 2019 season. The Golden Knights welcome a new head coach, Zac Shaw and he is no stranger to the college soccer scene with experience at Division III and Division I. On offense, Clarkson will be fully loaded with the return of All-Liberty League second team selection Giulia Mahoney and Camryn Careccia, both of whom were tops on the team in scoring. Mahoney led the team in goals (5), assists (5) and points (15). Careccia netted three goals and added an assists for seven points. Defender Emma Harrigan (17 starts) and goalkeeper Elyse Green (16 starts) will also be key to the lineup for the Golden Knights. Green finished the year with a .833 save percentage and a 1.04 goals against average.
Bard College will kick off the 2019 season as a young team with an incoming class of 12. The Raptors do have 17 players returning and the squad will be a good mix of newcomers and veterans. Goalkeeper Abigail Stanley is back after making all 16 starts for Bard in 2018 with a .712 save percentage and 1.88 goals against average. Mikaela Martios and Felicia Flores both return to lead the offense after combining for 10 points last season. They each had five points apiece on two goals and an assist. Sarah George, Susan Andreas and Giuliana Scanni are also key returnees.
The 2019 season begins on Friday, August 30th with all 10 league teams playing in non-conference games. Six (Bard, Clarkson, RPI, Skidmore, St. Lawrence and Union) are schedule to host home matches and the remaining four teams are on the road (RIT, Ithaca, Vassar and William Smith).
2018 Liberty League Women’s Soccer Standings
Team (Overall Record, Liberty League Record)
William Smith (19-2-0, 9-0-0) – 2018 Liberty League Champions
Ithaca (14-2-4, 7-2-0)
RIT (11-6-4, 7-2-0)
St. Lawrence (10-3-4, 4-2-3)
Skidmore (8-7-0, 5-4-0)
Vassar (9-8-1, 5-4-0)
Union (6-8-2, 3-5-1)
RPI (5-9-3, 2-5-2)
Clarkson (5-9-3, 1-6-2)
Bard (4-11-1, 0-9-0)
* please note team previews are listed in order of the 2018 standings