Women's Soccer News

AGGIE WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM PREPARES FOR FREEDOM PLAYOFFS
Travels To Manhattanville College For Semifinal Game On October 30

DOYLESTOWN (PA) - The Delaware Valley College women's soccer team begins Freedom Conference playoff action on Tuesday, October 30 when the fourth-seeded Aggies travel to No. 1 Manhattanville College (Purchase, NY) for a semifinal match-up. Game time is slated for 6:00 p.m.

The other semifinal match-up has third-seeded Wilkes University (9-9, 4-2) traveling to No. 2 Arcadia University (14-3-3, 4-1-1) for a 2:30 p.m. start on Tuesday. The winners from each contest will meet in the Freedom Conference Championship Game at the higher seed on Saturday, November 3 (game time TBA) with the champion receiving an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III playoffs.

The postseason appearance is the third overall for Delaware Valley and the second in the last three years. The Aggies finished the 2007 regular season with a 7-9-3 overall record and a 1-3-2 mark in the conference. They were tied with 2-4 squads DeSales and FDU-Florham for the fourth and final spot, but earned the berth through a tiebreaker thanks to their 1-1 tie with Manhattanville.

Delaware Valley fared well against the playoff teams during the year as the Aggies earned 1-1 ties with both Manhattanville and Arcadia, and were edged at home, 2-1, by Wilkes.

Delaware Valley, which is averaging 1.8 goals and 13.3 shots per game is led by junior forward Elise Dauber (Erie, PA/McDowell). Dauber, the reigning Freedom Conference Player of the Week, leads the team and the conference in goals (16), game-winning goals (4) and points (39). She also paces the squad and is second in the Freedom with seven assists.

Freshman Jessica Stahley (Schnecksville, PA/Parkland) follows Dauber with four goals and one assists for 12 points. Fellow rookie Elise Carpenter (Earlysville, VA/Western Albemarle) and junior Nicki Martini (Flemington, NJ/North Hunterdon) have four goals and one assist for nine points apiece.

Defensively, the Aggies allow an average 1.5 goals and 14.9 shots per contest. They have also notched four shutouts on the season. Juniors Christine Del Turco (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) and Emily Perryman (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) have been two keys behind the defensive effort.

The last line to the defense is goalkeeper Cortney Bower (Perkiomenville, PA/Boyertown). The sophomore and reigning conference Goalie/Defender of the Week played every minute in net for Delaware Valley and has made 143 saves, en route to a 1.51 goals against average.

Manhattanville had an up and down regular season, but finished on top of the conference in their inaugural year in the Freedom. The Valiants opened the year 0-11-2 in their 13 non-conference games, but then won their first five Freedom contests including four by shutout. They then came to Doylestown on Sunday and finished with the 1-1 tie to move their record to 5-11-3 overall and 5-0-1 in the conference.

Freshman Holly Nonis and sophomore Cybil Robinson have combined for 10 of Manhattanville's 16 goals this season. Nonis has five tallies and four assists for 14 points while Robinson is right behind with five goals and two helpers for 12 points.

The Valiant defense has allowed an average of 1.7 goals and 15 shots per contest with five shutouts to their credit. Ali Bromson has played all but 128 minutes in net and has recorded five wins, four shutouts, 121 saves and a 1.71 goals against average.