After being ranked eighth in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America preseason poll and starting the season 5–1, the women’s soccer team bowed out of its eighth straight NCAA tournament appearance with a 3–0 loss to The College of New Jersey on Sunday.
Despite injuries to several starters this season, the women’s soccer team’s defense is leading a squad that has allowed the fewest number of goals in the league.
The women’s soccer team has had no trouble finding the back of the net this season. Last year, the Blue and Gold managed to score 34 goals through its first seven games. This season, the Bomber’s scoring hasn’t been quite as high, but the team still leads the Empire 8 conference in goals scored with 27 through eight games.
Sophomore forward Rachael Palladino has been a key player since her first game for the women’s soccer team as a freshman. Now in her second year, Palladino brings experience and composure to the field as the team’s top returning goal scorer.
Graduate student and forward/midfielder Liz Masucci returns to the field for the women’s soccer team this season, providing key leadership for the squad. After transferring from Division I University of New Hampshire in Fall 2007, Masucci, then a track and field athlete, made the transition to playing varsity soccer.
