Women's Soccer | 8/28/2014 2:40:00 PM

ROCHESTER, NY – The 2014 RIT women's soccer team looks to build off a highly successful 2013 season that saw the team win 12 games and advance to the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time in program history. Fifth-year head coach Liz Masterson returns eight starters from last year's roster that qualified for its second straight NCAA Tournament in 2013.
 
"Our goal this year is to qualify for the Liberty League Tournament and come home with a championship," said Masterson. "Many of the same pieces are in place from last year, but it will take a serious dedication to our team culture and system of play to have the same success as last year and continue to build on it."
 
The Tigers ended the 2013 season with 12 wins overall while going 5-2-1 in conference play, advancing to the Liberty League championship, losing to the eventual national champion, William Smith 1-0. RIT was selected to play in the program's second straight NCAA Tournament, advancing past MIT in a shoot-out.
 
"In each of the last four seasons, we have been able to build upon the success of the previous year," said Masterson. "We now have experienced players who have been to the NCAA tournament each of the last two seasons. This season will be about asking even more from ourselves and our teammates to continue our climb to the top in the nation."
 
Seniors Sierra Kiss (Sauquoit, NY/Sauquoit) and Kiana Richards (Columbia, MD/Wilde Lake) along with junior Emily Shoemaker (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) will serve as team captains in 2014. The leadership they provide ensures that the Tigers will work hard to build off of last year's success.
 
"Emily, Kiana, and Sierra are very capable captains.," said Masterson. "Their leadership will be critical to upholding the values and identity of our program."
 
Up front, Kiss returns as the Tigers leading scorer. Last season, she tallied 23 points on 11 goals and an assist. A first team All-Liberty League selection and a second team NSCAA/Continental Tire All-Region selection, Kiss enters 2014 12th all-time at RIT in scoring with 38 points on 17 goals and four assists.
 
Juniors Quincey Ornellas (Moorpark, CA/Moorpark) and Sarah Stoltzfus (West Grove, PA/Avon Grove), along with sophomores Anka Parzych (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) and Max Culhane will all see time up front this season. Ornellas tallied two assists last season, while Parzych stepped in and made an immediate impact her first year, tallying three goals and dishing out an assist. Culhane tallied five points on two goals and an assist.
 
Look for first-years Sarah Szczepanski (Rochester, NY/Gates-Chili) and Alyssa Tatti (Lake Grove, NY/Centereach) to see time at forward as well.
 
Junior #Elizabeth May (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Sutherland) and sophomores (Ardmore, PA/Haverford)Elena Wolfe (Parsippany, NJ/Parsippany)#, #Hayley Cromwell (Cave Creek, AZ/Pinnacle) and Caitlyn Daly (Glendora, CA/St. Lucy's Priory)# will anchor the midfield for RIT in 2014. May played in all 21 games last season, tallying five points on two goals and an assist. Wolfe, Cromwell, and Daly saw significant action in 2013 for RIT. Daly finished her first season with a goal and an assist. First-years Courtney Hunt (Brockport, NY/Brockport), Lauren Peace (Morgantown, WV/University) and Paige Byers (Camp Hill, PA/Cedar Cliff) will also be called upon to make an impact in the midfield.
 
One of the strengths of RIT will be the defense, led by Richards and juniors Ehlana Gray (Sewickley, PA/Avonworth), Gwen Neuhaus (Woodbridge, VA/Potomac) and Shoemaker,  the 2012 Liberty League Rookie of the Year. This group helped RIT hold opponents to 0.67 goals per game in 2013, including a school-record 12 clean sheets.
  
"We expect a lot from that core of defenders," said Masterson. "We have several defenders who contribute to our team in Jenn Kane (Coudersport, PA/Coudersport), Jessica Lesczynski, Steph Kotula, Carly Kraft (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas) and Kayleigh Grieser (Bellmore, NY/John F. Kennedy)."
 
In goal, senior Amanda Murray (Denville, NJ/Morris Knolls) returns after a very successful 2013 season. She posted an 11-5-2 record, including seven shutouts and a program-record 0.69 goals against average. She was third in the Liberty League with a .869 save percentage, and had a league-best 86 saves.
 
Senior Emma Esposito (Jamesville, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt), sophomore Sienna Fisher (Lewisburg, PA/Lewisburg Area) and freshman Kelly Rogers (Ardmore, PA/Haverford) will compete for time in goal as well.
 
Overall, Masterson is excited about the roster.
 
"We are returning most of our starters and leaders," Masterson said. "Our freshman class can contribute right away and add depth at every position."
 
The Tigers open the season hosting the Rachel Miller Tournament on Aug. 29 and 30 taking on No. 25 SUNY Oneonta and Allegheny.
 
"Both Oneonta and Allegheny are strong teams," said Masterson. "They'll be really good early season tests for us, and they will allow us to gauge where we are and what we need to do to improve."
 
The Tigers hit the road the following weekend to play Otterbein and Carnegie Mellon in the Carnegie Mellon Tournament on Sept. 6 and 7.
 
RIT will play the University of Rochester in the Hillside Community Shield at Sahlen's Stadium on Sept. 20 at 5 pm. Last year, the two sides played to a 1-1 draw in the inaugural event downtown.


"We have a strong strength of schedule," said Masterson. "But that's the way it should be. We want to play the best teams and see how we stack up."

Liberty League action begins Sept. 27 when the Tigers host Clarkson, which is the start of three straight conference home games. The Tigers face Vassar on Oct. 3 and Bard the following day. Six of RIT's final seven games are on the road, including the regular-season finale at defending national champion William Smith on Nov. 1.
"Any of the four teams that make the conference tournament can make a deep run in the NCAA's," said Masterson. "It speaks to the strength of the Liberty League."
 
With a good mix of veterans and newcomers, Masterson is looking forward to the 2014 season.
 
"If we can stay focused on the fine details this year, like being great teammates and disciplined athletes, we can do good things."