MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - The Penn State Harrisburg women's soccer team definitely has something to prove this season. In 2011, the girls had to struggle through frequent and sometimes serious injuries that plagued the team throughout the year. Despite the tribulations, one goal was the only thing that kept the Lions from reaching their goal of playing in their third-straight North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) championship game.
Helping the girls make sure that they do what is necessary not only to reach the conference championship, but to win it and head to the NCAA tournament is newly appointed Head Coach Adam Clay. Clay comes with plenty of coaching experience, although mostly at the Club level with the Hershey Soccer Club, where he also works as the Director of Coaching. "Moving from my U15 girls to the young women at the college level is going to be an exciting change. Even after a short pre-season, I can tell that I am fortunate to have such a great group of girls."
There are more than a few standouts returning this year from the 2011 team that finished 10-4-0 and gave up just 12 goals to its opposition. NEAC first-team all-conference selection Lindsey Haldeman (Grantville, PA/Hershey Christian) comes back as a mature sophomore to play a more central role than she did at left back during her rookie campaign. Junior Kara Hoy (Camp Hill, PA/Camp Hill) has been rallying the troops in the offseason and will add some firepower to the midfield. She will be joined by hardworking sophomore Nikki Francis (Pottstown, PA/Owen J. Roberts), the blue and white's leading-scorer and a third-team all-conference honoree last season as a freshman. The lightning-quick forward will see time on the outside midfield as well as up top.
Jordyn Cooper (Pittsfield, MA/Wahconah) is the team's only returning senior and she will see time at both the outside mid and back positions. Sophomore Lauren Ertl (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) brings all her character back for another year of keeping the group in good spirits while setting the tone come gameday with her hard tackles and smart play. Returning defenders include sophomores Ashley Pittman (Redmond, WA/Bear Creek), who has worked hard to fight back from an ACL tear last season and Tabitha Pranke (Seven Valleys, PA/Spring Grove) who has shown very well this pre-season and will also be playing in the back. Holding down the back line will be the squad's returning goalkeeper in sophomore Jannelle Hammond (New Cumberland, PA/Cedar Cliff).
Due to the influx of new players, Penn State Harrisburg is starting stronger then they have in years past. One of the biggest additions is Lindsey Naughton (Reading, PA/Reading Central Catholic), another NEAC first-team all-conference player who joins the team as a junior transfer from Penn State Berks. She will be doing most of her work in the offensive end where she scored ten goals last season. Rachel Shetler (Peqliea, PA/Penn Manor) looks poised to be a diaper dandy; what her primary position will be is still in the air but she is definitely going to be a vital part of the success the Lions enjoy this season. The Gates twins, Morgan and Mackenzie (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin), are also transfer additions that will provide an impact to the team. Mackenzie will be fighting alongside Hammond for the starting goalkeeper spot.
Freshman Fay Ansary (Hummelstown, PA/Hershey) is going to be fighting for a starting spot and playing time at both the outside midfield as well as forward position. Chelsea Demmig (Elizabethtown, PA/Elizabethtown), Mae-Lynn Gonzalez (Blakeslee, PA/Pocono Mountain West), Tina Martino (Essington, PA/Interboro), Fatoumata Camara (Riverdale, MD/Northwestern) and Michelle Millici (Mount Joy, PA/Elizabethtown) round out the solid roster that makes up the 2012 squad.
The Penn State Harrisburg women kick off their season against a solid Dickinson team on Saturday Sep. 1. They follow it up with the College of Wooster the next day. Playing a weekend tournament should give the team an opportunity to make adjustments for Sunday's game as they work to figure out formation and line up with the new mix of girls.
Hometown fans can circle the date - Saturday, Sep. 8. That afternoon they can see the Penn State Harrisburg ladies in their home opener when they host Mt. Aloysius at noon.
Other tough opponents this season will likely include a soon-to-be Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) rival in York, as well as NEAC foes in Keuka, SUNYIT and last year's conference champion and finalist Lancaster Bible and Penn State Abington.
Assistant Coach Jen Cornetto feels this is the year the team can raise the bar by winning a conference championship and making it to the NCAA tourney for the first time ever. Coach Cornetto has been a huge asset to the team and brings along her knowledge of the conference which rookie head coach Clay is grateful to rely on.
"I think as long as we stay focused on playing simple 1-2 touch soccer and putting the team's needs above our own, it is going to be a successful and enjoyable first season for me," said Clay. "In my experience, even when teams have the best players, it is very rare to win championships if most of the players are not having fun and enjoying being a part of the team."