I Believe...

At first glance, the phrase may appear to be purely a motivational tool, a mantra emblazoned on the back of a practice t-shirt to foster unity and hope.  But a closer look reveals a much deeper meaning, the words serving as the backdrop for a new generation of Lady Deacons Soccer.

Belief is why they have come together.  It is why the returning players are certain this year will be the beginning of the program's rennaissance.  It is why the club's newcomers, some of the most highly-decorated players ever to join the women's team, have come to Bloomfield.  They believe in second-year head coach Katie Egan, and what the future holds for the 2011 season and beyond.

"We have a plan in place here, and it's great that people are responding to it," Egan said.  "We have girls who have gotten their friends to come here, their sisters to come here and be a part of our program.  I think that shows we are building a good thing, something people want to be a part of.  Now we just need to believe in each other and set out to achieve the goals we've set for ourselves."

A revamped roster has the Lady Deacons setting their sights on the CACC Tournament in 2011, a goal made evident from the preseason's opening workout.  As the team gets set to begin their quest for the postseason tomorrow afternoon against LeMoyne College, here's your by-the-numbers look at this year's women's soccer team.

10 - The Lady Deacons have been picked to finish tenth in the annual CACC Preseason Poll, voted on by the league's coaches.  Click to view the full CACC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll.

Departures

10 - Ten players have departed from the 2010 squad, including mainstays Jerrica Lavooy, Erika Len, Laura Nunnery Shannon Martin and Sara Locke, starters for much of their Bloomfield careers.  Martin leaves the Lady Deacons' defense as a two-time All-CACC player, while Lavooy, Len and Nunnery comprised the majority of the club's midfield the previous three seasons.  Alexis Forero, Liliana Cayamcela, and senior Keva Joseph have also departed, as has senior Kira Wagar and Deana Dedovitch.


Returners

10 - Bloomfield returns 10 players from last season, headlined by All-CACC forward and senior captain Christine Rutherford.  A second team All-CACC selection in 2010, Rutherford's nine goals placed her in a tie for ninth in the league, with three tallies serving as game-winners.  Also returning are the team's three remaining captains, senior defender/midfielder Shawna Reynolds, junior midfielder Stacey Jones and sophomore midfielder Mikie Bradley.  Bradley will join Jones in the middle of the pitch in 2011, after quickly becoming one of the CACC's top young players as a rookie defender in 2010.

Senior Tracey Nickles returns for her final season at Bloomfield, and will provide quality depth at both the defense and midfield positions.  Junior midfielder Michelle Cadena returns after finishing fifth on the team in assists with two helpers in 2010, while junior Vanessa Tobar returns after taking a significant step forward as a sophomore, her role expected to dramatically increase as a mainstay on the back line. 

At the forward spot, senior Ruth Joacin and juniors Michelle Florea and Dayana Moya will provide depth at the position, each expected to see significant time throughout the upcoming campaign.

Newcomers

11 - Eleven new players enter the fold for 2011, with junior college transfers Briann Bradley and Jocelyn Prescott headling the highly-touted group.  Each a Regional Defensive Player of the Year during their juco careers, Bradley will immediately provide a tremendous upgrade on the club's backline, while Prescott will make the move to the forward spot to team with Rutherford as a potentially lethal offensive combination.

Also new to the defense is junior Katie Reale, the Southampton, New Jersey native also expected to assume a starting role on the defense.  Freshman Dani Andreas will also assume a starting role, splitting time between the defense and midfield spots as a rookie in 2011.

At midfield, junior Victoria Gemma and freshmen Nicole Paparella, Gabrielle Bruckler and Stephany Cunha will each come off the bench to provide solid depth at the position.  Christina Vincentini rounds out the freshman field players, and will come off the bench at the forward spot.

The team also welcomes two new goalkeepers for the upcoming season, in freshman Katrina Guevara and senior Robyn Burton.  A four-year member of the women's basketball program, Burton joins the women's soccer team for her senior season and will serve as the backup keeper at the start of the season.

Schedule

18 - Bloomfield will play an 18-game schedule, with the campaign kicking off against LeMoyne College Saturday, September 3.  Tilts against Mansfield University, Lincoln University, Saint Thomas Aquinas College, Mercy College and NYIT complete the non-conference schedule, with the remaining 12 contests coming against the familiar CACC opponents.

Home matches against top teams from a year ago mark the conference calendar, with contests against Chestnut Hill College on September 17, Holy Family University on October 8 and Wilmington University on October 15 the highlights. 

When the dust settles...

Expect the Lady Deacons to make some noise in 2011, and be in the thick of the CACC playoff race from the year's opening match.  An impressive incoming class has arrived to bolster the young talent already in place, without question making Bloomfield a program on the rise.

Kickoff for the 2011 opener against LeMoyne is set for Noon.  You can watch all the action live by clicking here, and can also view live statistics here.