Women's Soccer Starts New Chapter as 2023 Season Begins

The 2023 St. Bonaventure women's soccer season gets underway Thursday, Aug. 17 on the road at Eastern Michigan.

It will mark the first game under the leadership of new head coach Donny George who was hired in January. George takes over the program after serving as an assistant at Niagara the past two years. He helped build Niagara into one of the MAAC's top programs with a 13-6-1 league mark while there and aims to do the same at another Little Three institution as the Bonnies look to rise in the Atlantic 10. 

MEET THE TEAM

The Bonnies return 18 players from last year’s roster and will have one of the more experienced rosters in the Atlantic 10 this fall. 

Bona’s has tremendous leadership from the net as junior goalkeeper Chiara Gottinger returns for her third season with the program. Last season, Gottinger led all of Division I with 163 total saves and led the team to the NCAA national statistical championship for team save percentage. The Austria native already ranks fifth in Bonnies career saves (282) and sixth in shutouts (10). 

In addition to one of the A-10’s top goalies, the Bonnies also return 2022 Atlantic All-Rookie Team selection Ami Komori. She led the team in scoring last season and tallied eight points in her first collegiate campaign after coming to the United States from her native Japan. 

The Bonnies also boast the leadership of five graduate students – Haylee Smith, Christine Napoli, Rachel Hutchison, Amber Achladis, and Kenzie Tarmino. Each of the graduate students boast extensive experience with the program and figure to provide a leadership element for the newcomers. The graduates have played in 232 combined games in their Bonnies careers.

Traditional seniors include forward McKenna Robinson (44 career games, 33 starts) who was a leading scorer for the team as a sophomore during a run to the A-10 Tournament, Alexa Martinos (31 career games), Lydia Choban (44 career games) and goalie Mackenzie Nolan who played every second during her freshman season. 

The junior class also includes Chanel Alexander, an A-10 All-Rookie Team pick two seasons ago, Kristen Pickard who started 12 of 19 games last year in the midfield, and Bridget Kennedy who leads the back line by playing in every second of her first two seasons with the Brown and White.

Sophomore Hannah Walker also handed out two assists in her debut campaign. 

NEWCOMERS

Eight new players also join the fold for the 2023 season. 

Freshmen Lilly Ma, Lauren Westwood and Grace Buczek join the backline along with first-year goalkeeper Juliana Castellano.

Fellow freshmen Allie Grant-Clavijo and Alessia Donia add to the midfield while two sophomore transfers, Ishana Sandhu and Olivia Allen, add to the attack. 

Allen was a standout as a freshman at the University of Ottawa last year, scoring six goals with an assist and helped Ottawa to the Bronze medal with a goal in the semifinal of the U Sports National Championship. Sandhu also arrives from Canada as the British Columbia native played as a freshman at Colorado State. 

Coach George on the Defenders and Goalkeepers

The upperclassmen have chosen to set the standards for future classes to come and our freshmen have taken to their first few weeks in a Division I environment well. It's been a challenging two weeks. Freshman goalkeeper Juliana Castellano has integrated well with senior Mackenzie Nolan and junior Ella Smith. Junior Chiara Gottinger will lead the goalkeeper group and I am looking for Chiara to not only compete with the best goalkeepers in the conference but to also step into a leadership role on the team.  

Our defense has added freshmen Lilly Ma, Grace Baczek and Lauren Westwood. I expect all to compete for time and push players around and in front of them. I am looking for Lauren to bring experience from Reading Academy into our back line. Returners Bridget Kennedy, Hannah Walker and senior Kenzie Tarmino have returned in excellent condition and are raising the level day in and day out. Junior Sydney Hayward is someone I group in with some of the top center backs in the conference. Defenders Allie Drake, Savanna Modesir-Singh have also started well are looking to push teammates around them. 

Coach George on the Midfield and Forwards 

In midfield, we are grateful to retain graduates Christine Napoli and Amber Achladis. Both are included in our leadership group and will have roles on and off the field. We have added freshman Allie Grant-Clavijo who is a hardworking player that can break up plays. Freshman Alessia Donia has also started well; Alessia will push for time in the middle, a player comfortable on the ball and fits our style of play. Sophomore Ami Komori will likely feature in both the forward and midfield line as the team benefits from her composure and ability to control the game in tight spaces. Junior Elisabeth Ptacek has also shown her abilities to unlock teams with her precise passing. Mckenna Robinson and Kristin Pickard are pushing for roles in the midfield as both are able to link forward and back lines.  

Returning fifth year Rachel Hutchison will compete to lead the line. Rachel's experience and leadership will serve the team well. Competing for that spot includes Haylee Smith, a hard-working forward who can pick up goals from inside the box. Transfer Ishana Sandhu will also compete in that role as I expect her to push captain Rachel Hutchison. In wide areas, we have added transfer Olivia Allen who has quickly made a name for herself as a dynamic wide forward that will look to add goals and assists for her teammates. Alexa Martinos also has set the tone for her teammates, starting well as she tries to make a position her own. Junior Chanel Alexander and sophomores Ava Myers, Avery Parks have all returned in good condition and will have roles this year.          

The Bonnies will start the season on the road but will have an opportunity to gain momentum with four home games before the close of the month of August. 

After their season-opener at Eastern Michigan, the Bonnies begin a four-game homestand Aug. 20 vs. Cleveland State and also welcome Marist (Aug. 24), Detroit Mercy (Aug. 27) and Niagara (Aug. 31) before the month is out. The A-10 campaign opens at home vs. Dayton Sept. 14.