When a new season kicks-off, one of the goals of every coach is for their recruiting efforts to pay off, and for their freshman to step in and make an immediate impact. So far in 2015, coaches for the teams below are sure to be pleased with how things are starting. We’ll take a look at some of the highlights.
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Alyssa Fugiel – GK
BR-86 Massachusetts-Boston
Week two of the 2015 season wasn’t what Mass-Boston had hoped for, dropping both matches. But goalkeeper Alyssa Fugiel was named Little East Conference Rookie of the Week for her standout play between the posts. This honor, came after being named LEC Goalkeeper of the Week for week one. Flugiel registered eight saves in a 2-0 loss to BR-111 Wesleyan, and held BR-10 Brandeis to just one goal in their match, saving 13. Fugiel currently holds a .902 save percentage through four games, and was the first Beacon goalkeeper to post a shutout in their opening match since 2000, when Fugiel held BR-75 Kean scoreless for a one-goal victory.
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Jaclyn O’Grady – F
BR-86 Massachusetts-Boston
The Beacons captured their first-ever regular season tournament title to open the season, taking the crown in the Rutland Herald Invitational Tournament with wins over Kean and BR-176 Bard. Freshman forward Jaclyn O’Grady led the charge for UMass-Boston, scoring the lone goal in the match with Kean, and struck with 4:18 remaining in regulation, knotting the match with Bard 1-1 to force overtime. She would go on to convert her penalty kick attempt, and was named the tournament Most Valuable Player.
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Kristen Hori – F
BR-21 Johns Hopkins
The Bluejays snapped a three game losing streak this week, topping BR-128 St. Mary’s (MD) 6-1 with the help of two goals from forward Kristen Hori. JHU, now 3-2-1, have posted all three wins when Hori scores at least one point. Hori’s seven-point effort against SMC put her to the top of the stat sheet in points for the Bluejays for the season, with 11.
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Liz Young – M/F
BR-21 Wesleyan (CT)
After posting victories over UMass-Boston and BR-213 Albertus Magnus, Wesleyan found themselves in their third match of the season down 1-0 to BR-34 Tufts, with just 10 minutes remaining. Freshman forward Liz Young tied the match with a goal at the 5:27 mark, finishing off a three-player connection started by senior Madison Keene with a long throw-in from the left side. The Cardinals didn’t let up, attacking the Jumbo defense and with just :14.6 remaining on the clock, Young once again found the back of the net to secure the win for Wesleyan. With the two goals, Young leads the Cardinals in scoring with three goals in her seven shots.
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Erin Doody – GK
BR-43 Wisconsin-Whitewater
With their only loss this season to BR-13 Illinois-Wesleyan in the season opener, Wisconsin-Whitewater has put together a run of four straight victories. Allowing just one goal in those four games, freshman goalkeeper Erin Doody has been a major factor in the Warkhawk’s success. Doody has knocked clear nine shots, and currently holds a 0.44 goals-against average, posting two shutouts.
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Keene Kessler – F
BR-41 Hardin Simmons
Just five games into the 2015 season, the Hardin-Simmons offense has posted 16 goals. Co-leading the Cowgirls in the goal scoring category is freshman Keene Kessler, with three goals, one each in contests with BR-272 Southwestern, BR-170 Mary Hardin-Baylor and BR-205 Concordia (TX). Kessler has put six shots on goal out of a total 16 shots, and along with sophomore Kami Jones has the Cowgirls off to a 3-1-1 start as they enter American Southwest Conference play this coming weekend.
