This Week: The Albertus Magnus College women's soccer team is set to begin the 2016 campaign with a pair of non-conference road games this week. The Falcons open the fall at Wentworth on Thursday evening before heading back to the Bay State to square off with Nichols on Saturday morning.
Key Returners: Offensively, Albertus Magnus returns its top scorer from last fall in senior striker Danielle Polvan. Polvan led the squad in goals with eight and tied Angelina Piccirillo for the team lead with four assists. She earned All-GNAC honors for the third season in a row and had two multi-goal games, netting two markers against Saint Joseph's (Maine) and CCNY. Piccirillo is the second leading scorer returning from last season, potting two tallies to go along with four assists as a sophomore. In net, sophomore Lexie Fenn and senior Ryan Clark will look to fill the shoes of the graduated Maria Case.
Preseason Poll: The Falcons were picked to finish sixth in the 2016 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Preseason Poll. The poll, which was released last week, was voted on by the league's 12 head coaches. Albertus Magnus earned 83 points to finish 14 point behind fifth-place, in-state rival St. Joseph (Conn.).
Last Year: The women's soccer team is coming off a 9-8-3 campaign a year that saw the squad qualify for the GNAC Tournament as the No. 6 seed thanks to a 6-5 mark in league play. AMC saw four players earn all-conference accolades following the year and for the third consecutive season the squad earned the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Academic Award.
This Week's Games
Match-up:
Albertus Magnus (0-0) at Wentworth (0-0)
Thursday, September 1, 2016 at 7:00 PM
Boston, Mass.
Sweeney Field
Live Video: Click here (All links will become active at the start of the contest)
Live Stats: Click here
Last Fall Against the Leopards: Albertus Magnus and Wentworth played to a scoreless draw in New Haven last September. Both teams had their scoring chances throughout regulation and overtime, but the goalkeepers and back lines held their ground. Wentworth held a 24-10 advantage in shots and the Leopards took seven corners compared to two for the Falcons.
Match-up:
Albertus Magnus at Nichols
Saturday, September 3, 2016 at 11:00 am
Dudley, Mass.
Nichols Soccer Field
Live Stats: Click here
Last Season Versus The Bison: Albertus Magnus scored a 3-1 triumph at home versus Nichols in 2015. The hosts held a commanding 28-5 advantage in shots, while controlling both the tempo and possession throughout the contest. Three different Falcons found the back of the net in victory.
NOTES:
- Albertus Magnus returns three All-GNAC players from last year's team. Polvan, Alexis Mack and Taylor Rotella.
- Head Coach Nick Wajnowski enters the season with a 92-62-19 record, including a 59-35-11 mark in conference play. He is the winningest coach in program history.
- The Falcons have made seven straight appearances in the GNAC Tournament.
- AMC is in search of its first season-opening since 2012. Albertus Magnus began that year with a 3-0 blanking of in-state foe Coast Guard at home. Last fall, the team played to a 1-1 tie with Eastern Connecticut State in the first game of the year.
