Gettysburg shoots for Centennial Conference Crown
Gettysburg lost in the semi-finals to the eventual Champion Haveford college by a score of 1-0. With four returning All-Centennial performers, Gettysburg will be a top contender to win it all this year. (Courtesy of David Sinclair, via GCC&M)
Courtesy of GCC&M
The Gettysburg College women’s soccer team has come agonizingly close to winning a conference title and reaching the national tournament in the past several seasons. This fall, the Bullets firmly believe they have the experience and talent to overcome all obstacles and finally break through the glass ceiling.
Gettysburg has ranked as one of the Mid-Atlantic Region’s top teams and has won a dozen matches in each of the last three seasons. The team finished runner-up in the Centennial Conference in 2011 and reached the conference tournament semifinals last fall. In both cases, the Bullets fell just shy of a berth in the NCAA playoffs.
“We took a lot of pride that we didn’t go backwards and achieved a lot in the conference,” said Head Coach Matt Garrett, who enters his seventh season at the helm with a career record of 58- 43-9. “We were disappointed about not winning the conference and not getting into the national tournament, but we’ve definitely lifted the program over the last few years.”
Garrett will have no shortage of talent heading into 2013. Twenty-three letterwinners return to the fold, including seven seniors. Out of those returners, 15 started at least one match in 2012.
“It is the first year we’re coming into preseason pretty calm and relaxed,” said Garrett. “We have a lot of experienced players and everyone has huge hopes and expectations.”
Gone are all-conference performers Lindsey Lyons ‘13 and Casey Attanasio ‘13, but the squad returns four additional All-Centennial Conference performers. Senior midfielder Rachel West was tabbed All-Mid-Atlantic Region Third Team and All- CC Second Team last fall and leads all returning players with 34 career points.
Additional all-conference performers include Senior midfielder Tobi Goss, Junior back Meg Castranova, and Sophomore goalkeeper Eliza Gray. Goss was an honorable mention pick out of the midfield, while Castranova was a second-teamer in the backfield. Gray emerged as the top newcomer in the conference, earning All-CC Second Team and Rookie of the Year accolades after setting school records for goals against average and save percentage.
One of the biggest obstacles for the Bullets last fall was fielding a healthy lineup. The team rarely put its top squad on the field at one time with a number of players missing significant minutes, including Castranova and Junior Molly Phillips, a second-team all-conference pick in 2011 who missed eight contests in 2012. Junior Brigid Behan, who was the team’s third-leading scorer with four goals, and Senior Mallory Sheer, a three-year starter in the backfield, also missed significant time a year ago.
“If we can be injury free for a substantial part of the season, we could be really good,” said Garrett. “Keeping our players healthy will make a massive impact for us. This year’s key will be putting a great team out there consistently.”
Joining Sheer and Castranova in the backfield will be Senior Becca Kent and Junior Mary Kamovitch. Both players started every contest last fall. Sophomore Cailin DiGiacomo appeared in all but one match last season as a first-year, including four starts, while senior Colleen Looney is aiming to return to the lineup after missing last fall due to injury.
Fourteen different players recorded a goal in 2012 and all but two are slated to return. West and Goss lead all returning players in career assists and the duo will aim to set the stage for the offense out of the center-mid position. After netting six goals as a First-year, Phillips was held out of the net as a sophomore, but she will aim to return to her scoring form.
Sophomore midfielder Lauren Schapiro and Senior forward Tara Crowley tied for the team lead with five goals and a dozen points in 2012. Behan and Sophomore Melissa Seidner each tallied eight points a year ago. Senior Ashley Miller is another proven scorer looking to rebound from an injury-plagued campaign.
“We have a lot of players that really understand what we are trying to do and this team has a unique opportunity this year to be successful,” said Garrett.
The Bullets will play seven non-conference contests in preparation for the 10-match Centennial Conference slate. The toughest nonconference test may come in the season opener when Presidents’ Athletic Conference champion and NCAA qualifier Grove City College comes to town on Aug. 30. Gettysburg tackles Centennial champion Haverford College at Clark Field on Sept. 28 as part of Homecoming Weekend. Gettysburg enters the upcoming season looking for its first conference title and national playoff appearance since 2004. “I think it is going to be about maintaining the belief that we can take that next step as a team,” said Garrett. “It is about coming together as a real team and having a belief and trust in each other that we can achieve whatever we set out to do.”
