Press Releases

August 21, 2000
Southampton College Women's Soccer Team Ready to Contend

A Squad Mostly Composed of Freshmen in 1999 Matures Quickly

Contact:
Darren Johnson
(631) 287 8313
Fax: (631) 283 4081

Southampton, NY - Returning a prolific scorer, a stifling defender and a midfielder from the Icelandic National Team, the Southampton College Lady Colonials have big plans for the 2000 season.

Midfielder Begga Laxdal was one of only two freshmen named to the NYCAC All-Conference First Team last year. Forward Joanna Ferguson was one of only three freshmen named to the Second Team. They return as sophomores with senior captain Jana Sanders to help create a formidable squad. The Lady Colonials' season opener is at home on Wednesday, September 6 at 4 p.m., vs. East Stroudsburg University.

Laxdal instantly was a force last year, ranking eighth in the league in goals per game (.56). "She is one of the best Division II players in the country, if not the best player," said Coach Mark Dawson. "At times, it seemed she was our whole midfield."

A quick, highly skilled player from Reykjavik, Iceland, Laxdal is a member of her country's national team. Ferguson, the other young gun from a team with 11 freshmen in 1999, had a much shorter trip to Southampton than Laxdal. Ferguson, a speedy and prolific goal scorer, only had to travel the Long Island Expressway from Massapequa. Ferguson made her shots count. She only had 22 shots - less than half as many as Laxdal (7 goals) - but more than a third (8) went in for a very high goal percentage.

"Laxdal and Ferguson were our two main guns as freshmen," Dawson said, "so that's our future."

Both Laxdal and Ferguson had multi-goal games last year, and both came through in the clutch with two game-winning goals each. Other key players are two returning seniors: midfielder/forward Shannan Henley of Mount Airy, Md., and Sanders. Henley, who also stars for the basketball team, totaled 14 points for the soccer team (4 goals, 6 assists). Sanders' tough play helped keep games close.

The good news for the 2000 season is that the team began to gel last year. The 1999 Colonials began the season 0-5, playing four nationally ranked Div. II teams. But the team rebounded and won four in a row. The Colonials ended the year 5-4 in the very competitive NYCAC and 7-11 overall. Considering the seasoned competition, the record was good for a team that only had two seniors and four juniors.

"The key is that we got better last year as the season progressed and played the top teams in our conference competitively," Dawson said. "In some of the games, we outplayed our opponents but still didn't get the victory. It was because our players were young, but they matured quickly over the course of the season and teams will be watching out for us in 2000."