An impressive mix of youth and experience have come together under third year head coach Craig Newman to for the 2010 Old Westbury women’s soccer team. As the Panthers look to return to the Skyline Conference Championship Tournament for the first time since 2008, they will rely on a solid core of returning players and incorporate nine standout newcomers into the mix.
The Panthers return six players, including five starters, from a squad that gained the school’s first berth in to the ECAC Metro Region Championship Tournament. Newman will look to those eix returnees to lead a talent filled group of 10 newcomers. Newman and Assistant Coach Mark George used the first two years as a learning experience and are excited for the upcoming season as they continue to build their program.
Highlighting the returnees are junior captains
Cassandra Esposito and
Jennifer Kupfer along with senior captain
Tiffany Lester. Sophomores
Allison Pirone,
Jarelis Torres and junior
Keshia Carter round out the returnees.
NEWCOMERS
Coach Newman and his staff have compiled a talent-laden recruiting class of 11 newcomers with an assorted mix of eight freshman and three battle-tested transfers. The recruiting class is the strongest under the direction of Newman and will lay the foundation for years to come. Along with the talent and skill they posses, the recruits are ready to work.
GOALKEEPERS
Chynna Pitlock, a junior transfer from Tompkins Community College arrives as the starting goalkeeper for the Panthers. She posted a goals against average of 1.8 in 26 games the past two seasons and has the potential to be a great shot stopper. Junior
Jennifer Kupfer is proven between the pipes and will be available if needed.
BACKS
Also helping to stifle opposing offenses in front of Pitlock is senior
Tiffany Lester and junior Jennifer Kupfer, who will anchor the Panthers defense. The defense will be the strength of this Panthers team. In addition to starting 18 games as a lockdown defender, Lester notched a pair of goals. Junior
Jennifer Kupfer anchored the defense between the pipes last season and will slide forward to the defensive unity. Kupfer, who led the conference in minutes, was a consistent and reliable defender for Newman’s squad, putting together five shutouts and 1.49 goals against average.
The Panthers add depth and talent to the defense in the shape of incoming sophomore transfer
Stephanie Vidal and freshmen
Cristina Kettell and
Stephanie Falzarano. The trio will look to contribute early.
MIDFIELD
With the loss of Jennifer Campisi, Newman will look to her youth and the experience of sophomore
Jarelis Torres, to turn a potential weakness into a position of strength for his young team. Torres played 18 games while starting 15 games in 2009. Torres is a good all around player and has displayed improved athleticism and is a reliable defender. With a cast of four newcomers, Torres will be challenged.
Joining Torres are a number of accomplished newcomers. The group includes freshmen
Kelsey Durkot,
Samantha Clancy,
Melissa Diggins and
Gina Albano, who are eager to get on the field. Junior transfer
Kimberly Villatoro provides the group with depth.
FORWARDS
Cassandra Esposito is an All-Skyline First Teamer, will look to build on a stellar sophomore campaign after netting 16 goals to share the conference lead in scoring. Over her 36 match career so far in two seasons, Esposito is a target for the opposition, putting home 33 goals.
Sophomore
Allison Pirone entered preseason in great shape and has high expectations from Newman after being hampered with injuries as a freshman. Pirone appeared in 13 games, making 12 starts, tallying one assist. She will need to rebound from last year with the influx of talent at the position. Also returning is junior
Keshia Carter, who will add depth to the attack and will be vying for playing time. Carter registered two goals in 10 games as a sophomore after playing in 16 games (13 starts) as a freshman.
The Panthers welcome a group of highly accomplished freshman to the forward position. Freshmen
Joanna Kettell and
Victoria Stewart make up a class focused on offense and will be expected to produce early and often. They take will take a lot of pressure off Esposito and provide OW with an added scoring punch at the position.
SCHEDULE
Coach Newman’s team opens the season on September 1 with a road matchup with Centenary. The Panthers will remain on the road after that, going to the St. John Fisher (Sept. 4-5) and New Jersey City (Sept. 10-11) Tournaments. Old Westbury will travel to non-conference opponent Staten Island (Oct. 27) and will host King’s (Sept. 19), CCNY (Oct. 9) and Rutgers-Newark (Oct. 10).
The Panthers open Skyline Conference play at home against the Mount Saint Mary Knights (Sept. 18). NYU-Poly (Sept. 26), Maritime (Oct. 5), Yeshiva (Oct. 14) and Purchase (Oct. 23) will all make visits to Panther Park. OW will travel to Mount Saint Vincent (Sept. 23), St. Joseph’s-L.I. (Sept. 25), Sage (Oct. 2), Bard (Oct. 16) and Farmingdale State (Oct. 21) for conference matches.