PRESEASON PREPS SAINTS FOR EXCITING 2008 SEASON

Aug. 25:  As the St. Lawrence University women’s soccer team nears the end of preseason and sees the beginning of the 2008 campaign on the horizon, both the players and coaches can’t help but emanate the excitement they all have as they prepare to play in the 29th season of the program’s history.

The Saints completed their 2007 season with a 7-9-1 overall record and a 2-5-0 mark in the Liberty League.  After losing only one senior, Julie Giller ’08, to graduation, the Scarlet and Brown will be looking for the leadership and experience of their upperclassmen to help guide the incoming class through a successful 2008 campaign. “We have a blend of younger talented and open minded players coupled with experienced and hard working veterans.  As a result, this dynamic leads to a lot of teaching. In the same breadth the team has been very understanding of their roles and responsibilities,” Head Coach Franco Bari says.

Bari, a 1998 graduate of St. Lawrence who was an All-American for the Saints men’s soccer program, is entering his inaugural season with the women’s team and is eager to get everything underway.

“I’m extremely excited to be coaching these student-athletes this fall,” he says.  “They are passionate, have a lot of heart, and are very coachable.  The team has good chemistry and that has really helped us focus on our goal of team unity this season, and so far, we have accomplished that goal.  I’ve been impressed with how well they are working together. They are very hard working and committed to each other.”

The Saints, who have 16 returning players, have found themselves two North Country powerhouses in senior Lauren Sischo and sophomore Kaitlyn Fahsel, both from Watertown, NY, with both leading the way for St. Lawrence’s offense.  Bari says the strength of the team lies in the midfield, which will be lead by Sischo, who was the Saints’ leading scorer the past three seasons.  In 2007, Sischo led the team in goal scoring (6), in points (12), and had two game winners for the season.  Other contenders for starting positions include juniors Becca Townsend and Stanzi McGlynn, sophomore Lizzie Bogosian, and newcomers Marcelle Justison and Elizabeth Lucas.

Up front, the Saints will turn to sophomore Kaitlyn Fahsel, who had an outstanding rookie year, scoring two goals and three assists, leading her class in total points with seven.  Junior Meg Howard, who has tallied 16 points in her first two seasons, and rookie Kristina Peso will also be key players in the position.

The backs will be anchored by sophomores Katie Oram and Nicky Hynes, as well as junior Rochelle Doucette.  Oram had six points in 2007 as she found herself playing in both the midfield and the back, while Hynes’ defensive experience from her first year will undoubtedly be a huge asset on the defensive side of the ball for the Saints.

The squad has three newcomers who will be vying for the starting spot between the posts. “We are excited about a fresh and hard-working goalkeeping corps,” says Assistant Coach Winnie Corrigan, another new addition to the Saints coaching staff.  “The starting position is wide open heading into the beginning of our matches and will be challenged for by each of our first-years, Amanda Chase, Kelsey Smith and Abby van Geldern.  They have been pushing each other in training since the start of preseason, showing great promise in athleticism, work ethic, and desire to learn.  Despite their youth, the learning curve of this group will be steep as they adjust to the demands of the college game.”

The Saints will face another tough season in conference play, as three of the eight teams in the Liberty League earned a spot in the 2007 NCAA Tournament, with Hamilton making it as far as the NCAA Quarterfinals.  St. Lawrence’s non-conference schedule also poses its challenges, and will help prepare the Saints for their Liberty League games.  Bari has already seen improvement throughout the first week of preseason and is excited to see what’s in store for the upcoming year.

“This season will be a good opportunity for us to set the foundation and evaluate what our strengths, as well as our challenges, are in preparing for a successful future.”

The Scarlet and Brown will be opening the season at home, as they will be hosting the 2008 Lotto Tournament Saturday, August 30 and Sunday, August 31 on Sandy MacAllaster Field.  St. Lawrence’s first contest will be against Fredonia, with the start scheduled for 1:00pm.

CORRIGAN NAMED WOMEN’S SOCCER ASSISTANT COACH

Aug. 5: With preseason only days away, the St. Lawrence women’s soccer team announced that Winnie Corrigan, a former Davidson College standout, will be the Saints assistant coach for the upcoming 2008 season.

Corrigan, who graduated from Davidson in 2001, has extensive coaching experience that she will be bringing to Sandy MacAllaster Field, as she coached at her alma mater since 2004.  She helped guide Davidson to the program’s most successful four-year record of 51-26-6, while the team was also ranked regionally numerous times.  She recruited several gifted athletes to the program, including two SoCon Freshmen of the Year, two High School Scholar All-Americas, and numerous SoCon All-Academic Team honorees.  In addition to her work at Davidson, Corrigan also served as the Staff Coach and Age Group Coordinator at the North Meck Soccer Club, and also worked with the Olympic Development Program twice since graduating.  Prior to coaching at Davidson, Corrigan was the assistant women’s soccer coach at the University of Albany.

"We are thrilled to add Winnie to our staff,” Head Coach Franco Bari said. “She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge both on the field and in the goalkeeping position. Her coaching philosophy is very similar to that of our program and I truly believe she will help us as we continue to reach new heights."

As a Wildcat herself, Corrigan was the team’s most valuable player and was a First Team All-Conference in 1999.  She served as captain during her senior campaign, where she was named to the SoCon All-Tournament team.    

FRANCO BARI APPOINTED HEAD

WOMEN’S SOCCER COACH  

Apr. 1: St. Lawrence University Athletic Director Margie Strait announced on Tuesday morning that Franco Bari, a 1998 graduate of St. Lawrence University and a National All-American for the men’s soccer team, has been named the new women’s soccer head coach, beginning in the fall of 2008.  

“St. Lawrence is proud to welcome back a prestigious alumnus to lead the women's soccer team. Franco's distinguished career as a player is defined by his All-American status. His career that followed has defined him as a successful coach,” said Strait.  

Bari comes from Greensboro College , where he was head coach of the Pride since December 2006 and accumulated a 22-13-3 overall record.  

Before coaching at Greensboro, Bari was at the helm of the women’s soccer program at Elmira College, where he coached from 2001 through 2005 and was named Empire 8 Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2002. He also served as the assistant women’s soccer coach at Arizona State University from 1999 to 2001. Bari was also the Director of Coaching at Guilford United Soccer Club and has professional playing experience.  

His long list of administrative experience includes service as the CHAMPS/Life Skills and Compliance Coordinator at Greensboro College, as well as College Administrator and Director of Community Outreach and Athlete Support Services at Elmira College.  

“We are excited to add Franco’s leadership to our women’s soccer team and our department, as he brings experience in the sport and new ideas for the athletic program,” Strait added.   In addition to his All-America status, Bari was a four-time First Team All-Conference selection at St. Lawrence and was named UCAA Player of the Year in 1997.  

“I am extremely honored for the opportunity to give back to the institution that gave so much to me. St. Lawrence University has a rich academic as well as athletic tradition which I am looking forward to once again being a part of,” said Bari.

He added, “There is no doubt in my mind that the women’s soccer program has the potential and resources to not only attract and develop quality student-athletes, but also the support to compete for a Liberty League Championship and beyond.”