Season In Review

With a strong core of players returning from a team that finished 12-7-1, advanced to the semifinals of the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament, and made its fourth consecutive appearance in the ECAC Tournament, the pieces were in place for the Wentworth women’s soccer team to have yet another successful season.  However, in a season that could only be described as a tale of two halves, the Leopards finished 8-9-2, ending a streak of five consecutive 10-win seasons, and posted a 5-5-2 conference record, finishing eighth.

Wentworth would struggle through its first five games, going 0-5 and being outscored 14-2.  After picking up their first win of the season at the University of New England, the Leopards fell to New England College, 4-3 in overtime, and dropped a 2-0 decision at Gordon that saw their record drop to 1-7.

The loss to Gordon, however, would be the last loss Wentworth would have over the next two weeks.  The Leopards posted a 4-0-1 record in their next five contests, and would outscore their opponents by a 15-1 margin, to improve their record to 5-7-1.  After suffering a 3-0 setback to Curry, Wentworth finished the regular season strong, going 3-0-1 over its final four games to have an even 8-8-2 record at the conclusion of the regular season.

Being the eighth and final seed in the CCC Tournament, the Leopards had an immediate challenge in facing top-seeded and three-time defending CCC Champion Endicott.  The Gulls, who would win their fourth consecutive title and advance to the NCAA Tournament’s round of 16, jumped out to a 3-0 lead and ended Wentworth’s season with a 3-1 win.  The 8-9-2 record marked the first time since the 2000 season that the Leopards finished under .500.

Senior Caillin Wall (Guilford, Conn.) and sophomore Katie Brown (North Brookfield, Mass.) led the team in scoring, each scoring six times and assisting on six others for 18 points.  Wall’s final goal, coming in the playoff loss at Endicott, gave her 101 points in her career—the first Wentworth women’s soccer player to score 100 or more points in their career.  Three of Brown’s six tallies were game-winning goals.

Senior Katie Wetherbee (Bath, Maine), who had primarily played defense during her first three seasons, made the most of being moved to offense, scoring seven goals and adding a pair of assists for 16 points.  Classmate Amanda Thurber (Williamstown, N.J.) scored five goals and three assists for 13 points.

Junior Evelyn Hadden (North Smithfield, R.I.) and sophomore Chelsea Carron (Southbridge, Mass.) rounded out Wentworth’s top scorers with 11 points apiece.  Hadden scored five goals and added an assist, while Carron had a goal and a team-high nine assists.

Defensively, senior Rachel Gallagher (Philadelphia, Pa.) and juniors Mallory Prentiss (Barre, Mass.), and Jocelyn Martin (Somerset, Mass.) anchored a defense that allowed one or less goals on nine occasions.

Junior Beth Melanson (Lewiston, Maine) posted a 5-8-2 record with a 2.01 goals against average and one shutout in 18 games, while classmate Allison Wellman (Chelmsford, Mass.) saw action in nine games, posting a 3-1 record with a 1.19 goals against average and a shutout.

Post-season honors were bestowed upon Wall, Gallagher, and Brown.  Wall was a First Team All-CCC selection, Brown was a Second Team All-CCC selection, while Brown earned Honorable Mention All-CCC honors.  Additionally, Wall and Gallagher earned All-New England honors and Gallagher earned the Eugenia Louise Sweeney Senior Scholar-Athlete Award, given annually by Wentworth.

Looking Ahead

The Leopards lose six seniors to graduation, including three of their top four scorers, as well as their top defender. With the majority of the team returning, look for the team to be back in the hunt for the CCC title.

Schedule

The Leopards play a 17-game schedule, including 13 CCC contests against such schools as Colby-Sawyer, Nichols, Gordon, Western New England, and Endicott. The non-league schedule consists of games against Emerson, Western Connecticut, Emmanuel, and WPI. During the spring of 2000, the team took a trip to Bermuda and played in an out of season tournament.

History

After one season (1997) of competing at the club level, the women's soccer team was elevated to varsity status for the 1998 season and has an 93-71-5 mark in its first eight campaigns, including a 10-8 mark in 1999, an 11-6 mark in 2001, a 15-5 record in 2002, and a 14-7 record in 2003.

Meet the Coaching Staff

Angel Ayres (Springfield '93) enters her 10th season as the Leopards' head coach. The all-time leading scorer at Springfield College and a former three-time National Soccer Coaches' Association of America All-America selection, she was named the CCC Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2001. In her nine seasons as Wentworth's head coach, she has posted an 93-71-5 (.565) record.

Head Coach Angel Ayres	Assistant Coach Margo Ney '04	Assistant Coach Kristin Taylor