The Morrisville State College women’s soccer program is entering a new era, one that first year head coach Amanda Fancher, is confident will point the Mustangs in the right direction.
Fancher replaces men’s head coach Kyle Graves who served in an interim capacity just a year ago. Under Graves’ direction, Morrisville State put together a 5-10-1 season, finishing ninth overall in the North Eastern Athletic Conference standings.
“Although this may be a building year for the program, the squad is changing the culture of Morrisville State women’s soccer for years to come,” Fancher said.
Fancher will have the help, though, of a solid veteran class, including senior captains Angela Marriott (Peekskill) and Paula Conklin (Oswego).
Marriott returns to the net for a final season, registering a .810 save percentage across nine games while earning third team All-Conference accolades last year. The two-time All-Conference selection enters with an 18-17-1 career record, posting 12 shut outs to date across three seasons of play. Marriott ranked 16th overall in the NCAA in saves per game after last season.
Conklin is the backbone of the defensive line, and from her center back position will assist in directing the team’s transition out of the defensive box.
Morrisville State is expected to offensively be a threat in returning starters Jillian Hughes (Brookfield, N.Y.) and Kelly Brennan (Sauquoit), who combined for 11 of the teams 22 goals on the year, while adding four assists off the foot of Brennan.
The Mustangs, according to Fancher, will have a “new vibe and style as it enters 2016 behind its returning class, newcomers to the program and under direction of a new head coach.”
“Our staff is hoping to improve all players’ technical ability on the ball, vision of the field, and overcome the hump of cohesively gelling together,” she said.
Morrisville State was selected to finish ninth in the NEAC preseason poll, as voted by conference coaches. They hope to make a statement as the 2016 season gets underway Thursday, facing SUNY ESF in a non-conference match, fine tuning their style with another against SUNY Canton on Saturday, before hitting the pitch in the NEAC opener against SUNY Poly on the 10th.
For complete roster and schedule information, visit the college’s athletic web site at www.morrisvillestateathletics.com.
2016 Roster:
| No. | Name | Pos. | Cl. | Ht. | Hometown/High School |
| 0 | Brianna Sorriento | GK | So. | 5-2 | Wynantskill, N.Y. / Troy |
| 1 | Angela Marriott | GK | Sr. | 5-7 | Peekskill, N.Y. / Hendrick Hudson |
| 2 | Janet Hanehan | M | Fr. | 5-2 | Saratoga Springs, N.Y. / Schuylerville |
| 3 | Jillian Hughes | F | So. | 5-6 | Brookfield, N.Y. / Brookfield |
| 4 | Madison Shoemaker | M | Fr. | 5-1 | Caledonia, N.Y. / Caledonia Mumford |
| 5 | Mia Sullivan | F | Fr. | 5-1 | Horseheads, N.Y. / Horseheads |
| 7 | Samantha Harris | D | Fr. | 5-2 | DeRuyter, N.Y. / DeRuyter |
| 8 | Celia Abbott | M | Sr. | 5-3 | Manchester, N.Y. / Manchester-Shortsville |
| 9 | Brianna DelColle | D | Jr. | 5-5 | Huntington, N.Y. / Walt Whitman |
| 10 | Ashley Capron | F | Fr. | 5-2 | Burnt Hills, N.Y. / Burnt Hills – Ballston Lake |
| 11 | Brooke Terrier | M | Fr. | 5-3 | Hubbardsville, N.Y. / Brookfield |
| 13 | Kelly Brennan | M/F | So. | 5-7 | Sauquoit, N.Y. / Sauquoit |
| 14 | Paula Conklin | D | Sr. | 5-5 | Oswego, N.Y. / Port Jervis |
| 15 | Madeleine Medley | D | Fr. | 5-0 | North Syracuse, N.Y. / Cicero-North Syracuse |
| 17 | Johna Cusworth | D | Jr. | 5-6 | Mohawk, N.Y. / Central Valley Academy |
| 20 | Emily Laurin | D | So. | 5-7 | Munnsville, N.Y. / Stockbridge Valley |
| 21 | Savannah Hobbie | D | Fr. | 5-7 | South Kortright, N.Y. / South Kortright |
| 22 | Jocelyn Greenlee | D | Fr. | 5-3 | North Syracuse, N.Y. / Cicero-North Syracuse |
| 23 | Jessica Adam | F | Fr. | 5-9 | Avoca, N.Y. / Hoemschooled |
| 24 | Catie Lucas | D | Fr. | 5-6 | Monticello, N.Y. / Monticello |
| 25 | Kallie George | M | Jr. | 5-9 | Tully, N.Y. / Tully |
| 26 | Haley Anderson | D | Jr. | 5-4 | Lyndonville, N.Y. / L.A. Webber |