Millersville looks to take next step following semifinal run
8/26/2026 6:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - The Millersville women's soccer program enters the 2026 season with a familiar lineup from the previous season. Head Coach Matt Procopio helped guide the Marauders back to the PSAC Tournament following a three-year drought. Procopio enters his 11th season as head coach and looks to build on last year's semifinal run.
The Marauders advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 2021, when they finished as the tournament's runner-up. Millersville opened the tournament as the No. 5 seed, taking down Bloomsburg in the final three minutes to advance to the quarterfinals. The victory forced the Marauders to head west to take on top-seeded Slippery Rock. In stunning fashion, Millersville pounced on Slippery Rock with a 4-0 victory to advance to the semifinals. The momentum came to an end as the Marauders dropped the contest to the Kutztown Golden Bears. Even with the defeat, the Marauders gained a plethora of experience that can be applied to the 2026 season.
"I think gaining experience is always key. Just because you can't replicate a postseason game, especially at the collegiate level. So I think it's, you know, a huge experience for them that they can take away. And obviously, it was a positive one," said Procopio. "And then I think it's also just the itch to get back. Once you experience it, you want to experience it again and again. So I think it'll help continue to drive their hunger throughout the season."
Procopio welcomed 11 newcomers to the team this past summer. With the graduation of four seniors and more than a handful of non-returners, the 11 newcomers will be eager to find their roles within the program and blend their styles with the returning players.
"I think, as a newcomer, there's always an adjustment period, but we do return a good core of players that have had experience. So, they'll definitely be a factor. They always are," said Procopio. "They'll continue to add to the program, but I think it'll take them some time to adapt and then we'll see how it goes. For them right now, I think it's growing, adjusting and learning."
Offensively, the Marauders return senior standout Aubrey Strohecker, who led the charge with 13 goals last season and seven assists, totaling 33 points. She finished in the top five in goals, assists and points throughout the PSAC. Her attacking partner, Isabel Coy, does not return to the fold for the Marauders following her graduation. Sophomores Ashlyn Calabria and Brook Balliet are stepping up alongside Strohecker on the offensive end and look to build chemistry as a trio. The duo combined for five goals last season and will look to contribute heavily heading into 2026.
"Aubrey is a standout player, a goal scorer and a super threat. Ashlynn and Brook have done really well with her. And even with the newcomers, they'll love to contribute as well," said Procopio. "I think it'll be built over time. Those three who have played there and have done well. And they'll continue to build that chemistry as we go."
Back-to-back All-PSAC East selection Lia Francis returns to the team entering her junior season. The midfielder posted six goals and three assists as she guided the midfield last season. Joining her will be sophomore Maria Smith, who appeared in 15 games last season as a true freshman. Other notable newcomers will get the opportunity to work alongside Francis and Smith as well, learning key aspects of guiding the middle of the field.
"Lia's done a great job adapting coming over here and is super knowledgeable," said Procopio. "She understands the game really well. A very versatile kid and can do a lot for the midfield. Maria came in and those two developed a good part of a relationship. She's a good technical player who understands the game really well."
Defensively, the Marauders return three of their four starters on their backline from the previous season in Melanie Love, Olivia Stone and Maia Iannuzzi. There is a lot of familiarity between the trio as they continue to grow in strength heading into the fall season. A gap to fill will be at outside back, with a handful of Marauders looking to step up. Junior Livia Messenger logged the most minutes in a reserve role defensively last season and contributed a goal and an assist for Millersville. She would be the most familiar with the trio on the backline.
"With those three coming back and even Livia, being back as well, they've had that experience of playing together. So we'll rely on them to understand things and read things and know what's coming so that they can be organized and help lead from them in the front," said Procopio. "As long as we can do a good job in front of goal and organizing, it makes it that much easier in goal as well. The goalkeepers have got to organize the defense, so it's back-to-front communication."
The goalkeeper position is the biggest opening entering the 2026 season. Millersville lost Sabrina Zimmerman following her graduation in the spring. Alex Miranda and Megan Taltavull are on deck for the starting role and will compete for the job. Miranda has one game of experience from last season, where she claimed a victory after making four saves. However, the sophomore will have plenty of competition from the freshman entering game one.
"It's organization at the end of the day. A lot of it comes down to that," said Procopio. "It's always an open competition for those two, and they'll continue to battle it out for that role."
The Marauders return to the pitch on Thursday, Aug. 27, at 4 p.m. as they welcome Lock Haven before beginning their conference schedule on Saturday when they travel to East Stroudsburg.
