The 2022 Division III women’s soccer season gets underway on Thursday, September 1 with seven of the league’s ten teams playing non-conference games. RPI and St. Lawrence will open conference play on Saturday, September 17 followed by two league match-ups on Wednesday, September 21 (Clarkson at Skidmore, RIT at William Smith). Conference play gets into full swing on Saturday, September 24 with five games on the schedule.
The top six teams in the Liberty League standings at the end of the year qualify for the conference postseason. The 2022 tournament begins on Tuesday, November 1 with two first round games at the site of the third and fourth seeds (top-two seeds receive byes). Winners advance to the semifinals at the site of the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds on Friday, November 4. Semifinal winners then advance to the championship game on Sunday, November 6 at the highest remaining seed. The winner of the title game will be crowned Liberty League champions and earn the league’s automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament.
Team Previews (sorted by 2021 standings)
William Smith will look to continue its dominance in the Liberty League as the Herons seek their 15th straight conference title after finishing the 2021 campaign 19-2-1 overall with an unblemished mark of 9-0 against conference opponents and advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. It won’t be an easy task with the graduation of four of the team’s top-five scorers from a year ago, including 2021 Liberty League Player of the Year Julia Keogh (22G, 6A), however 12 players with starting experience are back in Geneva, which should bode well for William Smith. 2021 Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year Julia Berg highlights the returning players after headlining a defensive unit that held opponents to a league-low 15 goals against and posted a league-best 14 shutouts in 2021. Berg also recorded 10 points with four goals and two assists on the year. Berg will be joined at the backline by Ava Brazie; they both played and started all 22 games last season. Seneca Blakely-Armitage will lead the offense after ranking fourth on the team last season. She recorded 20 points on nine goals and two assists. Katrine Berg will also contribute to the team’s scoring, she registered 16 points last season, netting four goals and handing out eight assists.
Ithaca posted an overall record of 14-5 and a 7-2 mark in league play. The Bombers advanced to the Liberty League title game for the first time before falling to William Smith in overtime and they earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Ithaca will look to build upon that foundation heading into 2022 with a core group of players returning to the field. Defense should be a strength with goalkeeper Claire Reader headlining this year’s squad. Reader, who earned All-Liberty League first team accolades, posted a 0.98 goals against average and .818 save percentage to go along with a league-high eight shutouts. She was among the league’s top goalies, ranking third in goals against average and fourth in save percentage. Allison Heft (All-Liberty League second team), a starter of all 19 games last year, will help Reader defend the net after being part of a defense that held opponents to 18 goals. There will be some holes to fill for the Bombers as the team’s top-two scorers have graduated, however they will look to Megan Buttinger (All-Liberty League first team) and Delaney Rutan to step up their game after recording nine and seven points respectively last year. Buttinger was fourth on the team in scoring tallying four goals and adding an assist while Rutan notched two goals and three assists.
Union finished the 2021 season at 9-8-2 (5-3-1 Liberty League) and the Dutchwomen earned the third seed in the conference tournament. They posted their first Liberty League playoff win since 2012 and reached the semifinals. The Dutchwomen will be a young team in 2022 but five starters from a year ago should bring a veteran presence. Sam Friedman returns after a successful rookie campaign, where she played in all 19 games for Union (12 starts) and earned All-Liberty League honorable mention recognition. Friedman recorded 10 points on four goals and two assists, good for third on the team. Amanda Sgueglia will also be a key contributor; she recorded four goals for eight points last season and saw playing time in all 19 games (12 starts).
RIT (10-5-3, 4-3-2 Liberty League) earned a spot in the Liberty League postseason for the fourth straight season and the Tigers will look to continue that streak in 2022. RIT welcomes back a talented group, including a trio of All-Liberty League selections—Christine Cataldo-Smith, Jessie Gomez and Jessica Wagner. Cataldo-Smith (first team) led RIT in scoring and was third among league leaders with 28 points. She tallied 11 goals and added six assists in 16 games played. Gomez (second team) also played in 16 games and handed out an assist while being a stalwart presence at midfield. Wagner (second team) spearheaded the RIT defense, playing in all 18 games last season as the team held opponents to 0.89 goals per game (16 goals allowed), good for third in the conference. She also contributed to the offense with a goal and an assist for three points.
Skidmore returned to the conference tournament for the first time since 2018 last season and the Thoroughbreds finished the year with an overall record of 8-7-1 (4-4-1 Liberty League). Ella Stone is back in Saratoga and will be tasked with piloting the offense. Stone was third on the team in scoring with three goals and an assist for seven points in 14 games. Kyra Russman-Araya also returns as a sophomore after making an immediate impact as a rookie. She played in all 16 games, making 13 starts and recorded a pair of goals and added an assist for three points. Kirstyn Kilmeade is the team’s top returning defender, she played and started in all 16 games last season.
Vassar snagged the final spot of the 2021 Liberty League tournament as the sixth seed and finished the year at 9-7-1 and a 4-4-1 record in conference play. The Brewers open the 2022 campaign with nine starters from a year ago and the future looks bright in Poughkeepsie. Jess Young highlights the defensive returnees after playing in all 17 games last season. She was named to the All-Liberty League first team and had a hand in the offense with a goal and two assists for four points. Goalkeeper Teresa Zimmer returns after making three starts last season. She will step into a more significant role this upcoming year after compiling a 2-1 ledger to go along with a 1.18 goals against average and .700 save percentage in 2021. A pair of All-Liberty League second team honorees are also back in Violet Munnelly and Sydney MacDonald. The duo played in all 17 games last season, Munnelly was third on the team with six points on two goals and two assists while MacDonald chipped in a goal.
St. Lawrence closed out last season with an overall mark of 7-6-2 and the Saints will look to make some noise in the standings this season. They welcome back an experienced group, that includes All-Liberty League honorable mention selection Tyler Potter. Potter will fuel the team’s offense after tying for a team-best five goals last season. She was also third on the team in points with 10. Goalkeeper Keely Snode returns between the pipes for the Saints after starting all 15 games in 2021. She went 5-6-2 while posting a .848 save percentage and a 1.11 goals against average. Snode will be joined in the backfield by defender Jenna Durkin. Durkin played in all 15 games and dished out two assists. Midfield Lyv Ronning is also a key returnee after seeing playing time in all 15 games last season.
RPI will look to improve upon a 5-6-4 overall record heading into the 2022 campaign. The Engineers welcome back six starters from last season, including two of the team’s top-three offensive threats. Erin Barnes and Gwen Barnes finished the year ranked second and third on the team in points. Erin tallied four goals and two assists for 10 points while Gwen recorded a goal and dished out a team-high three assists for five points. Bry Swinson also returns after playing in 14 games last year. She recorded two goals and an assist for five points.
With the graduation of only four,
Clarkson is poised to make strides this season. The Golden Knights’ offense will be sparked by the return of Chloe Hodge, who recorded a team-best 11 points on four goals and three assists last year. Sarah Kohls is also back after scoring three goals for six points. Emily DiCaprio anchors the defense after starting in net for 15 of Clarkson’s 16 games last season. She finished the year with a 1.45 goals against average and .758 save percentage. Emily Davis (16 games) and Arin Bates (15 games) are also back and will help DiCaprio protect the backfield.
Bard will be a seasoned team for the 2022 season with the return of 17 players from last year’s roster. Felicia Flores highlights the returning players after earning the second All-Liberty League honors of her career. Flores played all but eight minutes last season. Emma Kuntz (13 games) and Abby Frazier (11 games) also return after seeing significant playing time in 2021.
2022 Liberty League Women’s Soccer Standings
Team (Overall Record, Liberty League Record)
William Smith (19-2-1, 9-0) – 2021 Liberty League Champions
Ithaca (14-5, 7-2)
Union (9-8-2, 5-3-1)
RIT (10-5-3, 4-3-2)
Skidmore (8-7-1, 4-4-1)
Vassar (9-7-1, 4-4-1)
St. Lawrence (7-6-2, 3-5-1)
RPI (5-6-4, 2-5-2)
Clarkson (5-9-2, 2-5-2)
Bard (1-13, 0-9)