Women's Soccer | 11/30/2011 3:55:00 PM

The RIT women's soccer team enjoyed a competitive 2011 season, ending the year with eight wins, finishing their first season in the Liberty League with a 5-3 conference record and a trip to the conference semifinals.  RIT played one of the toughest schedules in the nation, with five games against teams that advanced to the 2011 NCAA Tournament.
 
The Tigers got off to a slow start, winning just two of their first seven contests.  They turned things around with a 3-1 win over cross-town rival St. John Fisher in late September and went on to win six of their next eight.  A 3-2 win against St. Lawrence late in the season secured the third seed in the Liberty League playoffs, where they eventually fell to Skidmore in the semifinals.
 
Four Tigers earned All-Liberty League accolades, led by sophomore Rachael Bromson (Suffield, CT/Suffield) who was a first team selection.  Alexa Martinez (Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel) garnered second team accolades, and Jamie Martinez (Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel) and Jackie Jacobson (Westlake, CA/Westlake) were honorable mention selections.
 
Bromson was a tremendous addition to an offense that scored just eight goals in conference play the season before.  She hit the back of the net five times in eight Liberty League games, tied for the most in the conference.  During the Tigers' four-game winning streak to close out conference play, she scored four goals and had nine points.  She was named the Liberty League Athlete of the Week twice and was named the RIT Female Athlete of the Week following a two goal, five point performance against Vassar.
 
Alexa Martinez (Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel) was strong in the midfield for the Tigers, starting all 18 games.  She tallied six points on three goals and was named the RIT Female Athlete of the Week following a stellar showing against William Smith and Clarkson.
 
Both Jamie Martinez (Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel) and Jackie Jacobson (Westlake, CA/Westlake) were stellar members of the RIT defense.  Jamie Martinez (Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel) played in every minute for the Tigers and tallied one assist.  Jacobson started every game and recorded one goal and five assists including a three-point showing in a win over Allegheny.
 
Senior Kasey Dobrodziej (Utica, NY/Thomas R. Proctor) and sophomore Shelby Vakiener (Fairport, NY/Fairport) were crucial pieces to a Tiger defense that allowed just 1.44 goals per game.  Both appeared in every game for RIT.
 
Junior Katlyn Gregg (Williamson, NY/Williamson) provided a spark off the bench for the Tigers, appearing in 12 contests.  Freshman Katie Schindler (Rochester, NY/Irondequoit) contributed from day one, starting all 18 games.
 
Senior goalie Ashley Valenti (Honeoye Falls, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima) put together another strong season for the Tigers.  She finished the year with seven wins, a .690 save percentage and a 1.50 goals against average.  Her 25 career wins are the third most at RIT and her career goals against average of 1.13 is the lowest in the history of the program.  Goaltender Alyssa Henkel (Newark, NY/Newark) appeared in four games, allowing just four goals and making 10 saves.
 
Freshmen Sierra Kiss (Sauquoit, NY/Sauquoit) and Jaimia Lewandowski made an instant impact on the Tigers this season.  Kiss was second on the team in scoring with four goals and one assist while Lewandowski was third with two goals and three assists.
 
Junior Ashlene Potter (Rotterdam, NY/Schalmont) and Senior Kimi Sisti (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) both contributed on the offensive end.  Potter recorded five points on two goals and one assist while Sisti had five points of her own, on one goal and three assists.
 
The freshman class of Ashley Carrrington, Kiana Richards (Columbia, MD/Wilde Lake) and Kayleigh Grieser (Bellmore, NY/John F. Kennedy) all contributed significant minutes and will be expected to step up in 2012.