2013 ESU Women's Soccer Quick Facts (PDF)

East Stroudsburg University, which advanced to the PSAC women's soccer semifinals for the third time in six years last fall, will lean on an experienced group of returners while replacing four key starters as they look for another postseason run in 2013.

The departure of first team All-Region center back Carly Collins, two-time All-Region midfielder Cree Julian and four-year starters Ashley McKenna and Marissa Spitler presents new challenges for seventh-year head coach Rob Berkowitz, who guided ESU to its fourth 10-win season and PSAC Tournament appearance since taking over in 2007.

The Warriors' most lauded players entering 2013 are on the defensive end of the field in senior goalkeeper Brittain Wagner, who was named to the All-PSAC second team, and senior back Michelle Gogolen, a two-time All-PSAC selection who was on the NSCAA All-Region third team last year.

Wagner started 19 of ESU's 20 games, posting a 0.91 goals against average, .836 save percentage and six shutouts in her second year as a starter. Over her sophomore and junior seasons, she has a 15-8-6 record in 27 starts in goal after starting all 18 games at left back as a freshman in 2010. She will be backed up by freshman Brooke Powers.

Gogolen, a 5-11 center back, has started 50 games in her first three years at ESU. She was named to the All-PSAC third team as a freshman in 2010, with Collins out to injury, and formed a strong central defensive tandem over the last two seasons. Both players were named to the All-PSAC first team.

The newcomer in the back four is freshman Laurel Neira, an All-Division and All-Conference selection at Owego Free Academy (NY), who will be counted on to fill the other center back position.

Both outside backs return in junior Kelly Clark, who started all 20 games on the right side last season, and junior Lexie Peveraro, who has started at left back in 37 of ESU's 38 games over the last two years.

Providing depth will be freshmen Kristen Kennedy and Robyn Piveteau on the outside, and sophomores Brianne Borthwick, Alyssa Gower and Kelly Kane in the middle.

The Warriors must replace all three midfielders in Julian, McKenna and Spitler, who were outstanding on both ends of the field during last year's 10-5-5 season that ended in the PSAC semifinals.

While the starting spots are still undecided entering the first week of the season, a few veterans return, led by junior Courtney Keller, who started 18 games at forward last year. She scored four goals, all in wins over PSAC opponents – West Chester, Gannon, Shippensburg and Mercyhurst.

Freshman Shea Neal, an All-State midfielder who scored 23 goals as a senior at Christopher Dock, is also expected to contend for a starting spot.

Other returners include redshirt sophomore Ashley Tait, who played in 14 games and made one start last season, redshirt junior Katie Metrokotsas and sophomore Syrandin Deere Vester. Newcomers looking to get on the field are freshmen Andrea Polanco, Alyssa Simeone and Erika Wilt.

The starting forwards appear to be set going into the fall, with senior Kerri McClay and sophomore Sammi Jo Hughes joined by freshman Brielyn Hackett.

McClay leads all current Warriors with 10 career goals entering her third year as a starter. She had three goals and one assist off the bench as a freshman, five goals and one assist in 18 starts in 2011 and two goals and an assist in 17 starts last fall. Five of her 10 goals have been game-winners, including both last season.

Hughes led the Warriors with 13 points on four goals and five assists as a freshman, starting all 20 games. She had two goals in a 3-2 win over previously undefeated Gannon in September, two assists in a 3-0 win over Mercyhurst and the assist on Keller's game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over nationally-ranked West Chester to highlight her first year as ESU.

Hackett, who helped lead Pennsville to the South Jersey championship in 2011 and was an All-County selection, is expected to fit into the lineup and could be one of three or four freshman starters for the Warriors.

ESU should have plenty of depth at forward, with as many as nine players competing for playing time. Junior Lauren Buchanan-Dwyer has scored a goal in each of the last two seasons and sophomore Madeline DeVico scored one goal as a freshman. Other options include sophomore Adriana Klepsvik and freshmen Liia Carpenter, Olivia Davidovich and Hannah Gombos.

The Warriors will play 17 games in 2013, with 16 coming against PSAC competition after the conference added Pitt-Johnstown and Seton Hill as full members beginning on July 1.

The first 13 games are all conference opponents, beginning with a home game against fellow PSAC Tournament qualifier Kutztown on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 1 p.m.

Other match-ups with 2012 PSAC Tournament qualifiers are Sept. 13 vs. Gannon, Sept. 24 vs. NCAA Atlantic Region champion West Chester, Oct. 5 at IUP and three straight road games to finish the season – Oct. 25 at defending champion Slippery Rock, Oct. 26 at runner-up California and Oct. 30 at Edinboro.

The Warriors' only non-conference action comes on Oct. 21 when they host Chestnut Hill.