Women picked third in preseason coaches' poll

Just received the women's soccer preseason UAA press release which previews the upcoming season.

As voted upon by the eight UAA head women's soccer coaches, UR was picked to finish in third place. Check out the complete poll below:

At 12-5-3 overall, the UR women had a very good season last year. They finished 2010 ranked 26th in the nation according to d3soccer.com, while earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The Jackets managed to win their opening round NCAA Tournament game against Western Connecticut State, 1-0, before falling to SUNY Oneonta, 2-0.

Despite losing a couple top players from last season due to graduation (Second Team All-Region striker Bridgette Varin, Second Team All-Region defender Meaghan Magee and midfielder Kirsten Ross), there is still a ton of reason for optimism.

For the first time in her collegiate career, Ellen Coleman (above)
will be without her fellow striker Bridgette Varin, who graduated
in the spring. Look for senior Jessica Smith to fill in for Varin.

Reigning UAA MVP and two-time All-American forward Ellen Coleman returns for her senior campaign. Last year, Coleman was nothing short of miraculous as she led the team in goals (15), points (34) and shots on goal (45).

But, much of Coleman's success in 2010 was in large part due to the rapport she had with Varin, her fellow forward. The duo worked wonders on the field, and with Varin now gone, someone will need to step up.

According to the UAA press release, that someone could be senior Jessica Smith, who did not play last season due to injuries but in 2009 ranked second on the team with five goals scored.

The Yellow Jackets' midfield should be solid with the return of seniors Danielle Crean (3 assists) and Beth Martens (4 points), while the always-strong UR defense returns All-UAA Honorable Mention senior midfielder/defender Kathryn Rowe, junior defender Alaina Wayland, and of course, the heart-and-soul of the defense, All-UAA Honorable Mention junior goalkeeper Bridget Lang (1.08 GAA).

The 2011 season will be the start of a new era for UR soccer, as longtime head coach Terry Gurnett retired following the Jackets' 2010 campaign. Taking over for Gurnett, who spent 34 seasons as UR's head coach, is Tom Dardaganis (pronounced darr-dah-GAH-niss).

Dardaganis, a 1992 UR alumnus, is more than qualified to take over the realm from Gurnett. Before taking over as head coach, Dardaganis spent 14 years as assistant coach of the women's soccer team.

Dardaganis' countless experiences as assistant coach for UR should help make the transition of head coaches a very smooth one. Expect the Jackets to play as if Gurnett never left when the season begins.

Expect a smooth transition when new head coach, Tom Dardaganis (above),
takes over for recently-retired head coach Terry Gurnett. Dardaganis
previously spent 14 years as the Yellow Jacket's main assistant coach.

The women open up the 2011 season on Friday, Sept. 2 at 4pm in Fauver Stadium as part of the Flower City Tournament that UR annually hosts. They'll be taking on Medaille College, the same college that ended the men's soccer team's season last year in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

And just a note- I should be calling the game live from the press box at Fauver stadium. More to come about that in the coming weeks.

We'll see if the women can get some revenge for their male counterparts by beating Medaille in game one, since the UR men are not scheduled to face Medaille during the regular season.

Speaking of men's soccer, I'm still waiting on the men's press release to be published, and will break it down for you all as soon as I receive it.