LATHAM, N.Y. -The United East has announced its women's soccer Skye Division preview for the 2023 season. The Skye Division consists of 10 teams, with each program squaring off against one another once in conference play.
Six of those teams will earn bids to the postseason which begins on October 28 with the Divisional First Round. Winners of that round will then square off in the Divisional Semifinals on Halloween (October 31). The Divisional Final will then take place on November 2.
The Skye Division Champion will then square off against the Volt Division Champion in a culminating Championship on November 5. The winner of that match will be crowned United East Champion and earn the conference's automatic qualifier into the Division III NCAA Championship.
Notre Dame of Maryland University
Nathan Rauscher will lead the Gators in his first season, hoping to improve upon the program’s four wins a season ago. He will have help from seniors Emma Alascia, who tallied seven goals and five assists last year, and Averee Radonovich, who will anchor the defense. The Gators will square off against some nearby rivals to start the season including the Volt Division's Gallaudet (9/1) and Marymount.
Coach’s Outlook: “This season we're looking to blend in our incoming players to create a close unit. In getting more comfortable with each other, we hope to add competition that will drive us to keep every game tighter and reach the conference playoffs.”
Clarks Summit University
The Defenders finished last season with a 2-6-0 record while going 5-8-3 overall. In his eight season as the head coach, Wayne Slusser is focused on finishing games through the final whistle, calling out rematches against Wells and Gwynedd Mercy in which Clarks Summit’s early leads faltered. CSU brings back Ksenya Larsen Sorterup, who led the squad in scoring last season and received an All-Conference nod. Davi Ort also rejoins the cast, providing captain leadership.
Coach’s Outlook: “I am excited for this year. There is a group of freshmen coming in that can make an immediate difference, especially on defense. We look to be stronger at each position, and continuity for the team will also be there (since we are only losing only a few starters). On the offensive side (strikers and midfielders) all are coming back this year - this will help with both leadership and scoring of goals. The team looks to avenge and win three games that we tied last year, as well as make the playoffs.”
Bryn Athyn College
The Lions saw plenty of success a season ago, finishing with a record of 14-3-1 and the title of Conference Champions. In his seventh season, Bill O’Neill is looking to recreate that and will have help from First Team All-Conference player Maria Storck who tucked away 15 goals in 2022. Aiding Storck is Shea Gormley, a stout center-back, and Ally Paul, a true leader on the pitch. Non-conference games against Cabrini, Rutgers-Camden, and Neumann should have the Lions primed for a Skye Division schedule.
Coach’s Outlook: “We are really excited about this upcoming season. We have some really big shoes to fill with the loss of the Player of the Year and all-time leading goal scorer Ashley Rivera. The good news we return 90% of our roster from last year and brought in a really talented recruiting class. It will be crucial for this group to not be complacent from previous years success. We put together a very competitive out-of-conference schedule and hope to represent the United East in a positive fashion through the season. The unique play-off structure for this year will be interesting to navigate, but we are looking forward to the challenge to follow up on our recent success.”
Saint Elizabeth University
Coming off a historic 2022 season, Coach Natalie Acciani and Eagles look to test the waters again in 2023. Despite the loss of two key components in Lauren Griesmeyer (D/M) and Jalissa Caiza (M), the Eagles will return two All-Conference honorees, Laila Kendle and Alex Carmona to step up and carry the program to another remarkable season.
Coach’s Outlook: “Last year was about rebuilding and relied heavily on a strong freshman class. 2022 was the best record in SEU's women's soccer history, most conference wins in a decade, and highest conference finish in program history. Looking to continue to build on this in 2023. Incoming class is extremely talented, with many coming from out of state. Still a young team, but most now have at least a year of college playing experience under their belt.”
Cairn University
Coach Kailey Bartholomew begins her 2nd season at the helm of Cairn Women’s Soccer with an experienced team and looking to improve upon last season’s 11-7-1 (5-3 CSAC) campaign that ended in the CSAC Semi-Finals. Returning are Em Kuansongtham (Sr., M/F, 10 G, 3 A, CSAC Honorable Mention) and Teresa Lee (Sr., MF, 9 G, 10 A, First Team All-Conference) on the attack. In net, Junior Isabelle Portis returns after a 2022 that saw her post 139 saves and a 10-6 record with 4 shutouts.
Cedar Crest College
Cedar Crest College welcomes a new head coach for 2023 in Megan Geldernick who inherits an experienced team coming off of a 2022 in which the Falcons went 12-4-2 (8-0-1 CSAC) en route to a CSAC Championship Game appearance. Madison Balliet (Jr. Defense) leads a backline that only allowed 3 goals in conference play during the 2022 season while playing over 1,300 minutes. Olivia Kelly (Sr., Forward) had a goal and 8 assists while playing 1,600 minutes and Lauren Davis (So. Midfield) tallied 8 goals and 3 assists in her debut collegiate season.
Coach’s Outlook: “ (I am) looking forward to building off the great success of the team in the years past. We have lost some key contributors, but I am excited to see new players step up and accept the challenge. We have a group that is dedicated and hungry to raise the level and bring the group to new standards and heights. We are really looking forward to a productive year.”
Wilson College
Wilson College returns a solid group of starters for Head Coach Terry Harris’s 5th season in charge of the Phoenix. Jade Wolfe (Jr., Defense) leads the back line as a First Team All-Conference and Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the CSAC for the 2022 season. Sophomore Halley Shaffer had 12 goals and 3 assists in her debut season earning Second Team All-Conference honors while junior Rebecca Marakovitz had a .087 Goals Against Average and a Second Team All-Conference nod in 2022.
Coach’s Outlook: “A solid incoming class will help fill the voids, I think with the playoff format structure this year we will be in the hunt to make it to the finals from our bracket.”
Keystone College
After producing six wins (three in conference) in 2022, head coach Lilly Cross is excited to better that total in her second season as the Giants skipper. Tough early competition including Neumann (9/2) and Delaware Valley (9/16) should be solid proving grounds for the upcoming Skye Division schedule.
Coach’s Outlook: “We lost a strong senior class that had natural leadership qualities and worked extremely hard on the field. They played a big part in helping our program have one of the best seasons since 2015. And although we will have a young team this year, we have a good number of returners who had a lot of game experience for us last year. We are excited to get after it this year and continue to build off of the season we had last year.”
Rosemont College
Kathleen DeLitta begins her 3rd season in charge of Rosemont Women’s Soccer after last season’s 5-7-3 (4-4-1 CSAC) campaign. A challenging non-conference schedule includes United East opposite-divisional opponents Lancaster Bible and Penn State Abington during the season’s opening week. Sarah Warner returns for a sophomore season after tallying 3 goals and 2 assists in her initial season. Maggie Feaser added another 3 goals and Sophia Truran picked up 2 goals and 3 assists in 2022.
Coach’s Outlook: “With 15 players slated to return to Rosemont the coaching staff is expecting that the growth in culture and leadership will be instrumental when moving forward through this season.”
University of Valley Forge
Coach Maira Abreu De Campos begins her first season in charge of the Patriots women’s soccer team. Looking to improve upon last season’s campaign, Coach Abreu De Campos will rely upon sophomore’s Kimberly Pagan and Mieke Smith to lead a young team into the 2023 season.
Coach’s Outlook: “I am looking forward to this coming season. I think we have a better team than we did last year. It is going to be a challenge, but I am looking forward to seeing the growth we will have as a program. We are counting and celebrating every small victory. We have a few new teams in our schedule this season, and that adds some excitement as we continue to grow and face new challenges.”
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The United East boasts 17 NCAA Division III full member institutions which include: Bryn Athyn College, Cairn University, Cedar Crest College, Clarks Summit University, Gallaudet University, Keystone College, Lancaster Bible College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Harrisburg, Rosemont College, Saint Elizabeth University, St. Mary's College of Maryland, University of Valley Forge, and Wilson College. For more information, please visit gounitedeast.com.