2008 Woodie Awards
Good future for soccer
Kate Ambrose
Issue date: 12/4/04 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 2 next >
On Sunday, November 14, 2004, the AC Women's Soccer team took on Franklin Pierce College in the N.C.A.A. Division II New England Regional Final. The game took place at the facilities of the opponent in Rindge, New Hampshire.
Franklin Pierce was seeded number one and ranked fourth in the region, as they took on the Hounds, ranked 21st in the region. Franklin Pierce's team is made up of women not only from the USA; they also have a strong force coming from Ireland. The force of Franklin Pierce managed to overpower the Hounds that day as the Hounds lost 5-2 in a match that Franklin Pierce dominated.
"The last game was hard on our team because we knew we didn't play our absolute best - which is what it would have taken to beat Franklin Pierce," said Senior Mary Wood. "However, we knew we couldn't let one game define our season and that when we looked at it all together, we were a successful program."
The success of the program showed in the games leading up to the November 14th match. The team had 15 wins overall for the season with 13 of those wins coming from shutouts. And for the three seniors, the success of the program has been building since they were just freshmen.
"When Kali, Ali, and I were freshmen, Neil said to us that he would make something out of the program he has," said Wood. "Every year we have performed better and better, and this last year of mine is likely just a taste of the success the team will surely have."
Although the team did not prove victorious in their last game, the team did receive recognition for all they did throughout the year. Besides making it to the Sweet 16 for the first time ever in the history of women's soccer at Assumption, the team also received three out of the five awards given within their conference. Neil Stafford received Coach of the Year, Senior Captain Ali Reyell was awarded Defender of the Year, and Freshman Lauren Matysiak received Goalkeeper of the Year.
In addition to the three awards received, the team had three players named to first team all conference, one to the second team all conference, and two to the third team conference.
Franklin Pierce was seeded number one and ranked fourth in the region, as they took on the Hounds, ranked 21st in the region. Franklin Pierce's team is made up of women not only from the USA; they also have a strong force coming from Ireland. The force of Franklin Pierce managed to overpower the Hounds that day as the Hounds lost 5-2 in a match that Franklin Pierce dominated.
"The last game was hard on our team because we knew we didn't play our absolute best - which is what it would have taken to beat Franklin Pierce," said Senior Mary Wood. "However, we knew we couldn't let one game define our season and that when we looked at it all together, we were a successful program."
The success of the program showed in the games leading up to the November 14th match. The team had 15 wins overall for the season with 13 of those wins coming from shutouts. And for the three seniors, the success of the program has been building since they were just freshmen.
"When Kali, Ali, and I were freshmen, Neil said to us that he would make something out of the program he has," said Wood. "Every year we have performed better and better, and this last year of mine is likely just a taste of the success the team will surely have."
Although the team did not prove victorious in their last game, the team did receive recognition for all they did throughout the year. Besides making it to the Sweet 16 for the first time ever in the history of women's soccer at Assumption, the team also received three out of the five awards given within their conference. Neil Stafford received Coach of the Year, Senior Captain Ali Reyell was awarded Defender of the Year, and Freshman Lauren Matysiak received Goalkeeper of the Year.
In addition to the three awards received, the team had three players named to first team all conference, one to the second team all conference, and two to the third team conference.