2014 LIU Brooklyn Women's Soccer Video Preview
BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn women's soccer team will usher in a new era of Blackbird soccer in 2014, as first-year head coach Jim Robbins takes over at the helm. Robbins, who has a decade of coaching experience at the collegiate level, inherits a team that has advanced to the NCAA Tournament twice in the last three seasons, and boasts nine returning starters and 20 returning letterwinners from last year's team that fell just one game short of another trip to the big dance.
POSITIONAL BREAKDOWN: FORWARD
Sophomore Jenn Peters became just the second player in program history to be named Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year in 2013, after leading LIU Brooklyn with seven goals and 17 points. A two-sport star, Peters also became the first player in NEC history to be named Rookie of the Year in two sports after taking home the award in women's lacrosse. The 5-4 striker will once again be a main threat up top for the Blackbirds in 2014.
Joining Peters are: senior Taylor Berardicurti, who brings experience to the unit; redshirt sophomore Erin Fish, who will look to return from injury; two sophomores, Mia Chiatto and Tori Shinkowitz, who played primarily in the midfield last season; and freshmen Kerri Burns and Bailey Pace, who each offer pace and goal-scoring ability to the position.
POSITIONAL BREAKDOWN: MIDFIELD
First Team All-NEC performer Shino Kunisawa graduated this past spring, but a slew of talented returners and newcomers will look to replace Kunisawa's production in the midfield. Two of the most experienced members of the squad, redshirt seniors Caroline Kaplan and Jen Spicer, will figure prominently into the mix. Kaplan started all 20 matches a season ago and has one of the top work rates on the team, while Spicer returned from a redshirt year to score a goal and an assist in 20 appearances, including 19 starts, in 2013.
Sophomore Madison Gomez begins her second season with the Blackbirds after earning a spot on the NEC's All-Rookie Team as a freshman. Gomez tied for the team lead in assists with Kunisawa and will once again serve in a playmaking role. Senior Sydney Ciufo will shift up a level on the pitch after starting all 20 matches last year as an outside defender. Ciufo played midfield in each of her first two seasons at LIU, and was picked by the league's coaches as an All-Rookie performer following her freshman season.
Also in the midfield this season are redshirt junior Allison King and sophomore Brooke Logel, who both played at the forward spot last year. Sophomore Chloe Amaradio is a tough defender who will vie for time in the center of the pitch, as will redshirt freshman Asia Suarez, who missed all of last season due to injury.
POSITIONAL BREAKDOWN: DEFENSE
Three starters return from last season's defense, including all-conference performer Shannon O'Connor. O'Connor, who has battled injuries throughout her LIU career, started 19 matches a season ago and was one of the top defenders in the NEC.
Junior Lucy Gunton-Jones has been a stalwart in the lineup since her first season with the Blackbirds, and recorded her first career point with an assist against Sacred Heart. Her tenacity and experience will help solidify the unit.
Along with O'Connor and Gunton-Jones, sophomore Asha Mohiddin is expected to help firm up LIU's backline. Mohiddin is one of the top athletes on the squad and was named to the NEC's All-Rookie Team after making 20 starts last season.
Senior Alex Farley provides an experienced option for Robbins to go with defensively, and along with Mohiddin provides top-tier athleticism. Junior Mariana Ruas will make the transition to defense after spending her first two seasons as a forward for the Blackbirds, while freshmen Brittany Galske and Natalie Henderson will also provide depth and talent to the squad.
POSITIONAL BREAKDOWN: GOALKEEPER
A pair of players will look to fill the void left by Jessica Sexton, a former NEC Goalkeeper of the Year and NEC Tournament MVP who exhausted her eligibility at the close of the 2013 season. A pair of goalkeepers - junior Jessica Montrose and freshman Erin Harbison - will serve as the anchors of LIU's defense this season.
Montrose battled through injuries and played sparingly a season ago, but as a freshman at the University of Connecticut saw action in seven matches including six starts. The Lancashire, England product compiled 26 saves two season ago, including 10 in a 1-1 tie against No. 20 Marquette.
Harbison comes to LIU Brooklyn after registering 29 shutouts over her final two high school seasons Veterans HS in Georgia. She led the Warhawks to the state title match as a senior and for her efforts was named the 2014 Houston County Player of the Year.