Boston, MA. – The Fisher Falcons women's soccer team is coming off a record breaking season in 2017. The team finished 13-4, the best ever finish for the women's team. First year Head Coach Julian Crowder and assistant coach Kristen Abreu (3rd season) have high hopes to have another winning season with some familiar faces and several new ones. Crowder and the Falcons graduated four seniors in 2017 and will certainly rely heavily on the freshmen class of 2018. "We have a good core of upper classmen that will help lead the young talent that we have brought in as well. Practices are going great so far. The women have really been working hard and have shown a lot of intensity throughout preseason. There is a lot of excitement and we are eager to get the season underway," said Coach Crowder of his team.
The Falcons were selected 4th in the Association of Independent Institutions (AII) Pre-Season poll, so the expectations are high for the young squad. But Coach Crowder says that will help inspire his team to rise to the occasion.
Fisher will be led between the pipes by incoming freshman, Alexandra Colvin (Longmont, CO). Colvin has had to miss all of preseason due to her Army training, but Coach Crowder has high hopes for his net minder despite her missed time. Leading the way for the Fisher back line will be senior captains Darien Lavino (Tewksbury, MA) and Chelsea Browne (Milford, MA). Lavino and Browne, both returning starters, will look to add a veteran leadership presence in the back for freshmen defenders Josie Mejia (Malden, MA) and Jillian DeLorey (Tampa, FL). Junior Reilly Demers (Wilbraham, MA) round out the Falcons defense in front of Colvin, and also serves as Colvin's backup.
In the midfield, the Falcons will be led by senior captain and standout Delaney McNulty (Northbridge, CA). McNulty earned NIAC Newcomer of the Year and First Team All-Conference Honors in 2017, scoring 11 goals and 7 assists in her first year as a Falcon, and has been monumental on the pitch both as a scorer and a defender. She will look to anchor the Falcon offense in her senior year campaign. Joining McNulty in the midfield will be fellow seniors Rhealynn Ochoa (San Francisco, CA), a small but mighty outside middie, and Sarah Backholm (Sutton, MA), a transfer from Regis College looking to have another great season to finish off her career. Sophomore Grace Roach (Hutchinson, MN), will also be a midfield contributor and will be scoring threat for the Falcons. Also looking to battle for midfield time will be freshman Carla DaSilva (Somerville, MA), who will use her speed and strong ball skills to earn a spot on the field.
The Falcons front line will be led by Junior Ali Mosdale (Marlborough, CT), a transfer from Becker College, who was voted NECC Player of the Year in 2015 when she scored 20 goals and dished out 11 assists. After having taken some time off, Coach Crowder is excited to see what she can do for the Falcons scoring game. She will be accompanied upfront by Sophomore Will Memeus (Everett, MA), who also finished her 2017 campaign strong with 6 goals and 11 assists. Freshman Melissa Shoniker (Rochester, NY) rounds out the forwards for Coach Crowder.
Crowder and Abreu are very optimistic with this year's team and are hoping that even though they graduated four seniors in 2017, that they will see a lot of the same results in 2018 and get to where they want to be at the end of the year, the bid to the AII Tournament.
"We are looking forward to a healthy, competitive schedule. Strength of schedule will be important in helping us getting the bid to Georgia," says Crowder.
The Lady Falcons will open the 2018 season on the turf of Hormel Stadium on Friday, August 31st against Eastern Nazarene College with game time slated for 5:30pm.