Women's Soccer

Women's Soccer 2009 Season Outlook

As the 2009 Wilmington University Women’s Soccer season begins, the squad looks to bring with it many new faces, along with a few familiar ones. After a long and injury filled 2008 campaign, this year’s team looks to build off of the youth brought in last year, and turn a year of “hard knocks” into a year of experience.

Second year Head Coach Josh Ruggiero has added new members both on the field, and on the sideline, with the welcomed return of former head coach Dave Bugda and the addition of former men’s team standout Nana Nyantekyi. Coach Ruggiero looks to use the talents of both assistant coaches to help create a new “Wildcat Pride” and continue the growth of an already talented squad.

Although 2009 will bring with it many new challenges, the first will be replacing the heart and soul of the program in last year’s graduates, Caitlin Robinson and Kelsey LaPlume. “Their passion and heart will be missed, but they have left behind a long legacy for this program to build off of”, stated Coach Ruggiero. Looking to help build off of that legacy right away will be the ‘Cats’ lone senior, captain Nicole Meis (Glassboro HS/Glassboro, NJ). Entering her final year she looks to take her team further than ever before. Joining Meis as a captain this year will be a pair of juniors, defender Danielle Niccoli (Kenwood HS/Sparrows Point, MD) and midfielder Amanda Davis (St. Mark’s HS/Middletown, DE). “We have the pieces in place, along with the leadership to get us there. Now we have to put those pieces together, and we are going to rely heavily on our captains this year to grow as a team”.

Looking to bounce back from their 5-11-2 record in 2008, the Wildcats will look to use the experiences of their returning players. Returning players include juniors: forward/midfielder Ashli Gerlach (Red Lion HS/Red Lion, PA), goalkeeper Kendra Ness (Red Lion HS/Red Lion, PA), defender/midfielder Samantha Simpson (Middletown HS/Middletown DE), forward Kirsten Stallone (Bohemia Manor HS/Elkton, MD), and midfielder Megan Whalen (Middletown HS/Middletown, DE).

The sophomore class includes forward Klaudia Furman (Catholic HS/Baltimore, MD), midfield/forward Amanda Pearl (Newark HS/Newark, DE), midfielder/defender Angelica Appold (C. Milton Wright HS/Bel Air, MD), defender Alli Williams (William Penn HS/Newark, DE), defender Kory Webster (Bel Air HS/Bel Air, MD), and forward Taryn Sanchez (Aberdeen HS/Havre de Grace, MD).

The incoming freshmen looking to make an impact right away are goalkeepers Brooke Eveler (Red Lion HS/Felton, PA) and Amanda Walters (Eastern Tech HS/Baltimore, MD), and forward Brittany Rhodes (Eastern Tech HS/Baltimore, MD). Getting their first look at the pitch as they are coming off of redshirt years are defender Erica Poore (William Penn HS/Bear, DE), midfielder Molly Taylor (Fallston HS/Forest Hill, MD), midfielder/forward Anna Perrino (Woodstown HS/Woodstown, NJ) and midfielder Elizabeth Case (Mercy HS/Perry Hall, MD).

“This is a year for these players and this team to make an impact. They know what is being asked of them and they are ready. We have a lot to prove after last season. A few things we know of right now are that we’ve got great kids, a passion that runs deep through this program, coaches who are here for the right reasons, and a unified group willing to work for success. Putting the pieces together will get us where we need to be and will only help the program. Future recruits, alumni, and parents can see just by looking at this team, that we work hard and will be proud of the end result this season.”