Photo by: Mark Palczewski
Season Outlook: Women's soccer set to begin 2022 campaign
8/26/2022 5:02:00 PM | Women's Soccer
MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – Head coach Matt Procopio and the Millersville women's soccer team are back for another season following the program's first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Title appearance since 2003. The 2021 Marauders finished their regular season off with a 5-2 record, clinched the final spot in the PSAC postseason tournament and knocked off No. 3 ranked Kutztown on their way to the conference title game. Millersville's season ended in the final minutes of the title game to Bloomsburg, the now reigning PSAC Champion.
Procopio enters his eighth season at the helm of the program and has plenty of recent success. The former PSAC Coach of the Year has brought 'Ville to the PSAC Tournament the last three seasons and qualified for the NCAA Tournament in two of the last three.
Joining Procopio's staff are assistant coaches, Samantha Wolfe and Darian McCauley, and volunteer assistant, Chaning Wimer. Wolfe was a two-year starter for the Marauders from 2013-17, starting 18 games and totaling 101 saves in her career. Wimer returns for her seventh season as a key assistant on Procopio's staff, aiding the Marauders' postseason success in recent years. She is a former player at PSAC West member, California (Pa.), and helped the Vulcans to two NCAA Atlantic Region Championships. McCauley, a 2019 graduate of Millersville, was recently hired as a full-time assistant for both the men's and women's soccer programs and will split his duties between each. He is a former All-PSAC East First Team goalkeeper at Millersville and started 75 games for the Marauders over a four-year span, recording a program-high 24 shutouts and the second most wins in program history with 42.
RETURNERS
Despite losing key players Lauren Downey, Paige Mancini, Alexis Spencer and Cassie Blyth, the Marauders returned 16 players from the 2021 roster.
Of the 16 returners, Emma Elwell, Savannah Rennix and Morgan Winchock stand out on the offensive end of the pitch. Elwell returns for her second season in the black and gold after being named All-PSAC Second Team in 2021. The forward ranked third on the team in points (10), goals (3) and shots on goal (12), while sending out four assists. Rennix was named All-PSAC East First Team last season, finishing the year with 12 points off four goals and four assists, and sending in 13 shots on goal. The forward scored or assisted on five game-winning or game-tying goals. Winchock returns after leading the Marauders in virtually every offensive category last season. The midfielder was named All-PSAC East First Team and recorded a team-high 16 points off seven goals and two assists, while firing 28 shots on goal.
On the opposite end of the pitch, Procopio returns former All-PSAC East Second Team goalkeeper, Reagan Kolinski. She has the third most wins in program history after just two seasons as a Marauder and is only five victories away from becoming the winningest keeper in program history. Kolinski started all 20 matches in 2021, posted a 1.092 goals against average and recorded five shutouts. She will be playing behind a different set of defenders than she's used to, as former All-PSAC East First Team defenders, Downey and Mancini graduated; However, Kolinski is confident in this group.
"Lots of energy," said Kolinski. "The newcomers have been great in pushing the returners to do better in practice and games. It's a competitive environment and has been fun coming together as a team over preseason."Â
Â
With the loss of key senior leadership, Kolinski is now one of the few upperclassman players on the defensive side of the ball and will look to use her experience over the past three years in the program to lead the defense.
Â
"It definitely has built over the last three years," said Kolinski. "I think a lot of it has to do with experience, we have some younger players in the backline this year, so just trying to communicate with them as much as possible."
Â
Kolinski and her teammates are hoping to make it back to the PSAC Title later this fall after coming so close in 2021.
Â
"We know what we can accomplish and playing in a PSAC Championship is a feeling that everyone wants," said Kolinski. "It was a hard loss last year and I think that makes us hungrier this year."
Â
The Marauders also return starting midfielders Paulina Jordan and Kylie Sullivan. Jordan started all but one match in 2021 and finished the season with five points, while Sullivan started all 20 matches and recorded four points.
Â
Also returning for 'Ville, forwards Juliana Carrara, Baily Hunt and Aalivia Wainwright. Midfielders Maddie Zielke, Rachel Leisher, Kyleigh Straub, Taylor Pogachar, and Kiley Marandola. Lastly, defenders Hannah Blackman and Skylar Little look to take a step as key members of Procopio's backline.
Â
Defender Daniela McCurdy and goalkeeper Bella Fiorenza were both members of the 2019 team and return after taking the 2021 season off from soccer.
Â
NEWCOMERS
Marauder fans will see 11 new faces this season, nine incoming freshman and two transfers.
Â
The freshman class includes three forwards: Annice Booker (Lower Merion, Pa.), Isabel Coy (York, Pa.) and Kylyn Mcintire (Red Lion, Pa.).
Â
Three defenders: Carlee Barrick (Mcalisterville, Pa.), Reagan Saboy (Abingdon, Md.) and Olivia Stone (Forest Hill, Md.).
Â
Two midfielders: Karsyn Kondracki (Smithtown, N.Y.) and Brooke Vanschoorisse (Perry Hall, Md.).
Â
Lastly, one goalkeeper: Sabrina Zimmerman (Johnstown, Pa.).
Â
Procopio also brings in Taylor Whitmer, a forward / midfield graduate transfer from the University of Maryland and Olivia Vivirito, a senior midfielder from Kutztown University.
Â
SCHEDULE
The Marauder's 2022 schedule consist of 17 games, one non-conference and 16 in-conference. 'Ville begins their season with its lone non-conference contest against Jefferson, the three-time defending Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) champions. The Rams were picked as unanimous favorites to win the CACC again in 2022. Millersville will travel to Philadelphia, Pa. on Saturday, Aug. 27 at 12 p.m. for the season opener.
Â
In conference play, the Marauders will face each PSAC East opponent twice, splitting a home and away. Both Kutztown (No. 13) and West Chester (No. 16) earned a spot in the United Soccer Coaches National Preseason Poll, while Bloomsburg received votes. 'Ville opens PSAC East competition on Wednesday, Aug. 31 at home against Lock Haven.
Â
OVERTIME RULE CHANGES
The 2022 season will be the first year using the 2022 / 2023 NCAA Soccer Rules Book. One of the most recognizable rule changes has to do with overtime periods. Overtime has been eliminated during all regular-season contests. If a regular-season contest is tied at the end of regulation (90 minutes), the game will be deemed complete and recorded as a tie.
Overtime will still be a factor in postseason contests, including conference tournament and NCAA tournament contests. If a postseason contest is tied at the end of regulation, two complete 10-minute periods will be played before advancing to penalty kicks if necessary.
Â
Procopio enters his eighth season at the helm of the program and has plenty of recent success. The former PSAC Coach of the Year has brought 'Ville to the PSAC Tournament the last three seasons and qualified for the NCAA Tournament in two of the last three.
Joining Procopio's staff are assistant coaches, Samantha Wolfe and Darian McCauley, and volunteer assistant, Chaning Wimer. Wolfe was a two-year starter for the Marauders from 2013-17, starting 18 games and totaling 101 saves in her career. Wimer returns for her seventh season as a key assistant on Procopio's staff, aiding the Marauders' postseason success in recent years. She is a former player at PSAC West member, California (Pa.), and helped the Vulcans to two NCAA Atlantic Region Championships. McCauley, a 2019 graduate of Millersville, was recently hired as a full-time assistant for both the men's and women's soccer programs and will split his duties between each. He is a former All-PSAC East First Team goalkeeper at Millersville and started 75 games for the Marauders over a four-year span, recording a program-high 24 shutouts and the second most wins in program history with 42.
RETURNERS
Despite losing key players Lauren Downey, Paige Mancini, Alexis Spencer and Cassie Blyth, the Marauders returned 16 players from the 2021 roster.
Of the 16 returners, Emma Elwell, Savannah Rennix and Morgan Winchock stand out on the offensive end of the pitch. Elwell returns for her second season in the black and gold after being named All-PSAC Second Team in 2021. The forward ranked third on the team in points (10), goals (3) and shots on goal (12), while sending out four assists. Rennix was named All-PSAC East First Team last season, finishing the year with 12 points off four goals and four assists, and sending in 13 shots on goal. The forward scored or assisted on five game-winning or game-tying goals. Winchock returns after leading the Marauders in virtually every offensive category last season. The midfielder was named All-PSAC East First Team and recorded a team-high 16 points off seven goals and two assists, while firing 28 shots on goal.
On the opposite end of the pitch, Procopio returns former All-PSAC East Second Team goalkeeper, Reagan Kolinski. She has the third most wins in program history after just two seasons as a Marauder and is only five victories away from becoming the winningest keeper in program history. Kolinski started all 20 matches in 2021, posted a 1.092 goals against average and recorded five shutouts. She will be playing behind a different set of defenders than she's used to, as former All-PSAC East First Team defenders, Downey and Mancini graduated; However, Kolinski is confident in this group.
"Lots of energy," said Kolinski. "The newcomers have been great in pushing the returners to do better in practice and games. It's a competitive environment and has been fun coming together as a team over preseason."Â
Â
With the loss of key senior leadership, Kolinski is now one of the few upperclassman players on the defensive side of the ball and will look to use her experience over the past three years in the program to lead the defense.
Â
"It definitely has built over the last three years," said Kolinski. "I think a lot of it has to do with experience, we have some younger players in the backline this year, so just trying to communicate with them as much as possible."
Â
Kolinski and her teammates are hoping to make it back to the PSAC Title later this fall after coming so close in 2021.
Â
"We know what we can accomplish and playing in a PSAC Championship is a feeling that everyone wants," said Kolinski. "It was a hard loss last year and I think that makes us hungrier this year."
Â
The Marauders also return starting midfielders Paulina Jordan and Kylie Sullivan. Jordan started all but one match in 2021 and finished the season with five points, while Sullivan started all 20 matches and recorded four points.
Â
Also returning for 'Ville, forwards Juliana Carrara, Baily Hunt and Aalivia Wainwright. Midfielders Maddie Zielke, Rachel Leisher, Kyleigh Straub, Taylor Pogachar, and Kiley Marandola. Lastly, defenders Hannah Blackman and Skylar Little look to take a step as key members of Procopio's backline.
Â
Defender Daniela McCurdy and goalkeeper Bella Fiorenza were both members of the 2019 team and return after taking the 2021 season off from soccer.
Â
NEWCOMERS
Marauder fans will see 11 new faces this season, nine incoming freshman and two transfers.
Â
The freshman class includes three forwards: Annice Booker (Lower Merion, Pa.), Isabel Coy (York, Pa.) and Kylyn Mcintire (Red Lion, Pa.).
Â
Three defenders: Carlee Barrick (Mcalisterville, Pa.), Reagan Saboy (Abingdon, Md.) and Olivia Stone (Forest Hill, Md.).
Â
Two midfielders: Karsyn Kondracki (Smithtown, N.Y.) and Brooke Vanschoorisse (Perry Hall, Md.).
Â
Lastly, one goalkeeper: Sabrina Zimmerman (Johnstown, Pa.).
Â
Procopio also brings in Taylor Whitmer, a forward / midfield graduate transfer from the University of Maryland and Olivia Vivirito, a senior midfielder from Kutztown University.
Â
SCHEDULE
The Marauder's 2022 schedule consist of 17 games, one non-conference and 16 in-conference. 'Ville begins their season with its lone non-conference contest against Jefferson, the three-time defending Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) champions. The Rams were picked as unanimous favorites to win the CACC again in 2022. Millersville will travel to Philadelphia, Pa. on Saturday, Aug. 27 at 12 p.m. for the season opener.
Â
In conference play, the Marauders will face each PSAC East opponent twice, splitting a home and away. Both Kutztown (No. 13) and West Chester (No. 16) earned a spot in the United Soccer Coaches National Preseason Poll, while Bloomsburg received votes. 'Ville opens PSAC East competition on Wednesday, Aug. 31 at home against Lock Haven.
Â
OVERTIME RULE CHANGES
The 2022 season will be the first year using the 2022 / 2023 NCAA Soccer Rules Book. One of the most recognizable rule changes has to do with overtime periods. Overtime has been eliminated during all regular-season contests. If a regular-season contest is tied at the end of regulation (90 minutes), the game will be deemed complete and recorded as a tie.
Overtime will still be a factor in postseason contests, including conference tournament and NCAA tournament contests. If a postseason contest is tied at the end of regulation, two complete 10-minute periods will be played before advancing to penalty kicks if necessary.
Â
Players Mentioned
D
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
F/M
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's SoccerThursday, September 10
Thursday, September 03
Friday, August 28
Friday, October 31
