ROCHESTER, NY - The RIT women’s soccer team wrapped up their 2009 campaign finishing 7-7-3 overall, including a dramatic 2-1 victory over #10 Rochester. The Tigers finished 3-5-0 in the Empire 8, with wins over Stevens, Utica, and Alfred.
Six different members of the women’s soccer team garnered Empire 8 all-conference honors. Junior
Sarah Frisicano (Rochester, NY/Greece Olympia) was named a first-team selection. Goalkeeper
Ashley Valenti (Honeoye Falls, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima) and senior
Kristen Denninger (Rochester, NY/Nazareth Academy) were named to the second team, while defensive stand-out
Shireen Irani (Calgary, Alberta/National Sports Academy),
Kendra Shelters (Lyons, NY/Lyons), and
Allyson Pisher (Holley, NY/Holley) each were honorable mention selections.
Frisicano, an All-Empire 8 honorable mention selection in 2008, has started every game since her freshman year in 2007. She was named to the 2009 NSCAA Division III All-East Region third team.This season, she helped lead the Tigers defense to a 1.24 goals per game average, which was the third lowest in the Empire 8. In addition, Frisicano also proved to be an offensive threat, assisting on two goals and firing four shots.
Denninger, a senior captain, finished tied for third in scoring for the Tigers this season, with four goals and eight points. She started in all 17 games this season, finishing the year with 19 shots, and a .684 shot on goal percentage. She also tied for first on the team with game winning goals, against Alfred and SUNY Oswego. During her career, Denninger appeared in 73 games, scoring six goals and assisting on six others.
Irani, in only her second season with the women’s soccer team, proved to be a great asset to the Tigers. Her athleticism and on field awareness helped her become a threat both on the offensive and defensive ends of the field. She scored her first collegiate goal against Stevens, to give the Tigers their first Empire 8 win of the season. In addition, Irani was named RIT Female Athlete of the Week during the week of October 5th.
Pisher, who started in 15 games this year, proved to be an offensive threat throughout the season. She finished first on the team in scoring, with four goals and three assists. She also finished with fourteen shots, and a .286 shot percentage. Pisher also had two game winning goals, against Utica and #10 Rochester.
Shelters, who battled injuries throughout the majority of the season, still managed to finish tied for third in scoring this season. When healthy, she was a dominant force on the offensive end, scoring four goals in the Tigers first six games of the season. She finished the season with 21 shots, 11 of them being on goal.
Valenti, who started in 16 games this season for the Tigers, ended the season with a 7-7-3 overall record. She finished the season with a 1.19 goals against average, which was third in the Empire 8. The sophomore goalkeeper earned two shutouts, and had a .814 save percentage. She was named RIT Female Athlete of the Week during the week of September 21st.
Seniors
Ashley Pezze (Schenectady, NY/Guilderland) and
Stephanie Servetas (Dover, NH/Dover) also made strong contributions throughout the 2009 season. Servetas, a senior captain, was an outstanding defensive player for the Tigers. She helped limit opponents to a 1.24 goals per game average. Pezze, a senior midfielder for the Tigers, finished second on the team in scoring with three goals and three assists. She finished the season tied with
Chelsea Shoemaker (Rochester, NY/Aquinas) with 14 shots on goal.
Juniors
Monica Cook (Webster, NY/Webster Schroder) and
Danielle Painter (Mililani, HI/Mililani) were solid members during the year. Cook contributed a goal and an assist, while Painter added four shots.
The sophomore class maintained solid play throughout the season. Backs
Kasey Dobrodziej (Utica, NY/Thomas R. Proctor),
Kim Hunt (Brockport, NY/Brockport) and
Jennifer Wilkens (Rochester, NY/Greece Odyssey) each contributed on the defensive side of the ball, as well as the offensive side. Dobrodziej and Wilkens each scored a goal and Hunt added an assist. Forwards
Kim Sisti (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) and
Emily Young (Goffstown, NH/Goffstown) showed signs of brilliance throughout the season. Young scored a goal, and Sisti assisted on another.
The freshmen class was outstanding throughout the season.
Ashlene Potter (Rotterdam, NY/Schalmont) finished the season with a goal and two assists, and
Chelsea Shoemaker (Rochester, NY/Aquinas) assisted on five goals for the Tigers. Kaitlyn Gregg,
Jackie Jacobson (Westlake, CA/Westlake),
Kristin Zavodjancik (Naugatuck, CT/Nonnewaug), and
Mary Orth (Owego, NY/Newark Valley) contributed off the bench.
With the loss of many of the veteran leaders and head coach
Tom Natalie, the Tigers will look to young members to step up in 2010 to fill spots in the lineup.