Senior Kate Matroni will lead the Owls into the 2016 season. (Courtesy of Westfield State Sports)
Westfield – The Westfield State Owls have been selected by the eight coaches from around the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference to win the 2016 MASCAC Women’s Soccer Championship.
The Owls, reigning MASCAC Tournament Champs, claimed four of the seven first place votes for 46 points. They finished last season 5-1-1 in the MASCAC on their way to the tournament title. Returning for the Owls is 2015 All-Conference honoree Kate Matroni who led the team with 13 points on five goals and three assists last season while also netting a game-winning goal.
Among the Owls’ arsenal of returnees is senior midfielder Nicole Gay (1-5-7) and sophomore midfielder Nicole Chretien (3-4-10) and sophomore goalkeeper Natalia Falcone, who posted a 1.29 GAA last season.
2015 MASCAC regular season champion Worcester State is next in second with three first place votes for 42 points. The Lancers earned the regular season title with a 6-0-1 record during MASCAC play. Tsara LeBlanc, the 2015 MASCAC Rookie of the Year, is back on the pitch after tallying the second most goals (9) with four of the being game-winners, the most in the conference.
In third receiving the final first place vote for 36 points is Bridgewater State. The Bears were 5-2 during conference play last season. Returning for Bridgewater State between the pipes is Lauren DeSousa. The 2015 Second Team All-Conference honoree was second in the league in wins (10) and shutouts (7) while also tallying the third best goals against average (1.11) and save percentage (.828).
Coming in fourth with 32 points is Framingham State. The Rams finished with the conference season with a 4-1-2 record. All-Conference honoree Angela Pallotta is back for Framingham State after netting two goals and four assists for eight points during the 2015 season.
Up next in fifth and sixth are Salem State and MCLA with 29 and 17 points, respectively. The Vikings tallied three wins during their MASCAC regular season campaign. Ashley Leboeuf returns for Salem State after leading the Vikings with 15 points on seven goals and one assist. The Trailblazers closed out the 2015 league schedule with a win. Natalie Caney, 2015 Second Team All-Conference honoree, led the team with two goals and two assists for six points while also netting a game-winning goal.
Rounding out the 2015 MASCAC Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll are Fitchburg State and Massachusetts Maritime in seventh and eighth with 15 and 7 points, respectively. The Falcons earned one win last season during conference play. Goalie Morgan Steele returns for Fitchburg State after topping the MASCAC in saves (133) and fifth in the save percentage (.796). Aoife Callinan is back for the Buccaneers. During the 2015, she tallied five goals and three assists for 13 points.
The 2016 MASCAC women’s soccer season will begin the week of August 29 with non-conference play.
The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, the nation’s oldest Division III men’s and women’s playing conference, has a rich and storied tradition of competitive success while celebrating excellence in the classroom. MASCAC member schools include Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, MCLA, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Salem State University, Westfield State University and Worcester State University. Two other institutions, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Plymouth State University, are affiliate members of the conference in the sports of football and men’s ice hockey, while Western Connecticut State University joined the conference as an affiliate member in football beginning in 2013. – Courtesy of Westfield State Sports
