Press Releases

September 24, 1998
Southampton College Women's Soccer Team Kicks Off Its 16th Season

New Head Coach Mark Dawson of Mastic, NY, Earns 1st Win; 7 Recruits Join Team

Contact:
Joe Dionisio
(516) 287 8313
Fax: (516) 283 4081

Southampton, NY -- The women's soccer team at Southampton College of Long Island University, which recently opened its 16th season, earned its first victory Sept. 23 by defeating host Concordia 8-0.

It was the first win for head coach Mark Dawson, who debuted vs. Bloomsburg on Sept. 6. The 1996 Southampton College graduate is assistant coach of the men's soccer team, a position he assumed in 1995. Dawson replaces Jacki Paton of Hampton Bays, who coached the Lady Colonials since 1994.

"Mark has a good eye for the game and a good eye for talent," said Ed Goodhines, head coach of the men?s soccer team. "He is a diligent worker as a coach, just like he was as a player."

Dawson, 25, is single and lives in Mastic, where he graduated from William Floyd High School in 1991. He played midfield for the Colonials from 1992-94, and was a starter for Southampton's 1994 championship team.

"After my playing career ended, one of my goals was to be a head coach," said Dawson, who is pursuing his Master's degree in Physical Education at Hofstra. "I'm glad I'm getting that opportunity at Southampton."

The Lady Colonials (1-4-1) have a 16-player squad with seven recruits-- a total that makes 1998 a rebuilding year. "It takes time to get that many new faces on the same page," said Mark Dawson. "But we've added some new talent, so we should be much stronger in the long run." Dawson and his new coaching staff inherit 9 returnees:

Allison Mullen of Ringwood, NJ, the team's co-leading scorer in ?97, will serve as captain. The forward, who holds the school record with 22 goals in a season, was a New York Collegiate Athletic Conference first team selection in 1997. Mullen spent much of the summer as an unpaid member (for eligibility reasons) of the Long Island Lady Riders professional soccer team.

Mullen's fellow seniors are: defender Mary Jackson of St. James, NY, who led the team in assists last season; and defender Kim Stahl of Ronkonkoma, NY.

Returning players from the junior class include: forward Stacia Semo of Carthage, NY, whose 16 points tied her for the team scoring lead in 1997; and midfielder Leslie Engeldrum of Livingston, NJ.

The sophomores, all midfielders, are: Christa Jewett of Chandler, AZ, who scored two goals in the victory over Concordia; Jana Sanders of Gettysburg, PA; Rachel Kopec of Parsippany, NJ; and Heather Knapp of Wayne, NJ.

Among the new talent on the team, there are six first-year students and one transfer.

The freshmen include: goalkeeper Robin Cate of Houston, TX, who won the starting job in pre-season; midfielder Kim Gurski of Baltimore, MD; midfielder Bridget Rooney of Deer Park, NY; forward/midfielder Nicole Scola of Worcester, MA, who scored twice in yesterday's win; midfielder Kasandra Watkins of Michigan City, IN; and defender Oliva Wilson of Lansing, NY.

Defender Marietta Doddi of Merrick, NY, is a junior transfer from Nassau County Community College.

Kerry Gorman of Carmel, NY, a 1996 alumnus of Southampton College and a former midfielder for Lady Colonials soccer, debuts as assistant coach. Joe Schiano of Deer Park, NY, a 1995 alumnus of the College, enters his first season as the team?s goalkeeper coach. Schiano played for the Colonials soccer team in 1994.

In 1997, the Lady Colonials finished third in NYCAC with a 5-3 record, and went 5-12 overall. In addition to Mullen, defender Joyce Fender of Fort Worth, TX, was also a 1st team NYCAC selection last season.