Sports
Strong returning defense key for women's soccer
By Grecia Santos '20
September 1, 2016
Tags sports
The Hamilton College women’s soccer team returns eight starters from last year’s squad, which advanced to the quarterfinals of the NESCAC playoffs. Last season, Hamilton’s overall record was 7-6-3, highlighted by a stretch run in which the team allowed just four goals in the last nine regular season games. Hamilton led the conference in both goals and shots per game while placing third in both total goals scored and total assists.
The Continentals will miss the presence of graduates Becca Rees ’16 and Victoria Freeman ’16, both of whom made the all-conference team last fall. Fortunately, the Continentals return a strong core of contributors. Katie Kreider ’18 posted a team-high 17 points, and is back to lead the Continentals. Tied for top goal scorer with six goals, in 2015 Kreider finished in sixth place for assists per game and tied for seventh place in points per game in the NESCAC. Another key returner is Ali Clarke ’17, who posted 15 points and scored six goals in 2015. Clarke also ranked eighth in points in the NESCAC. Darby Philbrick ’18 started just one match in 2015 but still scored six goals and tied for sixth place in goals scored per game in NESCAC. Amanda Becker ’18 and Katja Dunlap ’18 scored six goals each last season and Katie Tenefracia ’19 scored two goals while Bea Blackwell ’17 assisted on two goals. Jessie Murray ’19, K.C. Kelly ’17 and Kate Whiston ’18 are expected to provide a strong support system in the offense. On the defensive side of the pitch, the Continentals will look to build on their success from 2015. Hamilton’s defense significantly improved last season and some defenders scored as well. Morgan Fletcher ’17, Katie McKillop ’19 and Cassie Hayward ’19 were starters in every match they played in. Olivia Simone ’19 started six matches. Hayward scored a goal, while McKillop and Fletcher registered four and three points respectively. Joining the team are several first years: defender Kristin Hughes, midfielder Kayleigh Harris, defender Liz Mathis, defender/middie Olivia Munnelly, midfielder Hannah Kelsey, midfielder Alex Fontana, midfielder Fionn Fortune, midfielder/forward Taylor Fletcher, and forward/midfielder Maddie Dale (all ’20). The first years are eager to join the team and make an impact as soon as they can.
The team will play eight games at home on Love Field where the Continentals held a 5-1-2 record last fall. The season opener is at home against Williams College on Sept. 4, at 4:30 p.m. Hamilton’s NESCAC home contests include: Williams (Sept. 4), Trinity (Sept. 17), Connecticut College (Sept. 24), Middlebury (Sept. 25) and Bowdoin (Oct. 15). The team looks to start quickly, as five of the first seven games are at home, four of which are against conference opponents. Five of the final eight games are road contests for the Continentals, a crucial stretch from which the Continentals hope to create momentum to take into the NESCAC playoffs, which begin with the quarterfinals Oct. 29, and finish with the semifinals the weekend of Nov. 5 and 6. With hard work and persistence, the Continentals might just make it that far!