Vying for a Title

Returning a prolific scorer and a midfielder from the Icelandic National Team, the Southampton Graduate Campus Lady Colonials hope to compete for a league title and get their first ever NCAA berth.

New York Collegiate Athletic Conference all stars Begga Laxdal (nine goals, seven assists in 2000), a midfielder, and Joanna Ferguson (five goals, 12 assists), a forward, return as juniors to a team that went 7-4 in league play last year.

"Laxdal 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, a speedy and prolific goal scorer, is from Massapequa.

The Colonials rebounded from an 0-6 start last year to win nine of their last 13. Tiffany Hughes (2.74 goals-against average) returns as goalie along with midfielders Kristen Fern (four goals), Jessica Coulon and Nicole Scola .

Dawson said that several notable newcomers could soon end up being league all-stars, including Asa Birgersdotter, Annelie Andersson, Katarina Bone and Joanna Vaccaro.

Colonial Generals

Mark Dawson, a 1996 alumnus of Southampton Graduate Campus, begins his fourth season as head of the women's soccer team. Since 1995, Dawson also has served as assistant coach for men's soccer. Whether on the field with the men's or women's team, his knowledge of the sport has helped both squads find success. Dawson, 28, played midfield for the Colonials from 1992-94, and was a starter for Southampton Graduate Campus' 1994 Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship team. A resident of Mastic, N.Y., he graduated in 1991 from William Floyd High School, where he now teaches Physical Education. "It's very gratifying to work for the same College and high school I attended," said Dawson, who received his M.A. in Physical Education from Hofstra University last year. "I'm able to give something back to both places."

Tom Liguori of Wantagh, N.Y., a 1998 graduate of Southampton Graduate Campus, enters his second year as assistant coach. A former defender and captain, he played on the Colonials' 1994 and 1995 ECAC soccer championships. He earned a B.S. in Business Administration and is working towards an M.A. in Physical Education at Hofstra.

Mike LaCarrubba of Ronkonkoma, N.Y., is a second-year assistant coach and 2000 graduate of Southampton Graduate Campus. He was a defender on the 1999 Colonials men's squad that made it to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals.

Roger Svensson of Solvesborg, Sweden, is a first-year goalie coach. Named All-American last season, he was an imposing starting goalie for four years for the Colonials as the team reached national notoriety.

#	NAME	POS		HT	CL	HOMETOWN	HIGH SCHOOL
0	Anna Frank		GK	5-11	JR	Gothenburg, Sweden	Frolunda
00	Tiffany Hughes		G	5-8	JR	Nesconset, NY	Sachem
1	Sara Adolfsson		D	5-8	FR	Motala, Sweden	Platenskolan
2	Shannon Williams		F	5-7	JR	New London, CT	New London
3	Jessica Coulon		M	5-1	SO	Mineola, NY	Mineola
4	Michelle Rita		M	5-2	FR	Westbury, NY	Clarke
5	*Begga Laxdal		M/F	5-6	SR	Reykjavik, Iceland	Hafnafjordur
6	Joanna Ferguson		F	5-4	JR	Massapequa, NY	Massapequa
7	Kristen Fern		D/M	5-3	JR	Newburyport, MA	Newburyport
8	Melissa Shaver		M	5-4	JR	Ypsilanti, MI	Ypsilanti
9	Annelie Andersson		M	5-6	JR	Stockholm, Sweden	Katedralskolan
10	Katarina Bone		D	5-6	FR	Stockholm, Sweden	Jakobsbergs
11	Shannon Giordano		M	5-3	SO	Malverne, NY	Sacred Heart
12	Nicole Scola		F/M	5-5	SR	Worcester, MA	St. Peter Marian
13	Theryn Henkel		D	5-8	JR	Belleuve, WA	Sammamish
14	Joanna Vaccaro		D	5-2	FR	Massapequa, NY	Massapequa
15	Stacie Marchionne		D	5-3	JR	New Milford, CT	New Milford
16	Asa Birgerdotter		F	5-8	FR	Stockholm, Sweden	International
17	Angela Panzarella		D	5-9	SO	Holtsville, NY	Sachem
18	Lina Isaksson		M/D	5-9	FR	Nol, Sweden	Ale
19	Ashley Schoenbrun		M/F	5-3	JR	Palm Desert, CA	Palm Desert
20	Sarah Baran		F	5-6	FR	Monmouth, ME	Monmouth Academy
21	Abbi Kenner		F	5-4	FR	Burnsville, MN	Burnsville
22	Stacey Ditroia		D	5-7	FR	Farmingdale, NY	Farmingdale
27	Dawn Grefe		M	5-1	FR	Glenhead, NY	Northshore
28	Corinne Morgan		GK	5-8	FR	Groton, NY	Dryden
	*Captain