CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Despite a season that was heavily affected by injuries, Lesley University Women's soccer program has much to look forward to in 2007. The young squad of 9 first year players worked together to lead LU to a 2-15-2 overall mark. The lynx lost 3 matches in overtime and 3 matches by a margin of 2 goals or less.
The Lynx have brought on Coach Paul Vasconcelos to take over the day to day operations of the program. "My staff and I are very excited about this group of players we have a great young core to work with. In my opinion we have the best freshmen class in the conference." Vasconcelos was quoted as saying.
Up front, freshmen Jody Fralick led the Lynx attack. The Woburn, MA native finished the season with 22 goals and 7 assists (51 points) in 19 games. With those numbers, Fralick was voted NAC Rookie of the Year and finished 2nd in scoring only to the NAC Player of the Year Shelby Pickering of Husson College. Returning starting sophomore Lani Cabral-Pini (Wilmington, Mass.) gave the Lynx a much needed second scorer in the Lynx attack, notching 17 points on 7 goals and 3 assist in a shortened season due to injury. Senior keeper Sarah Wedge (Londonderry, N.H.) led the North Atlantic Conference in total saves and was 12th in the Nation in saves per game with over 130 shots saved in conference play.
In the middle of the field, sophomore Michelle Gagne (Portsmouth, R.I.) and freshmen Margaret Surrena (Vestal, N.Y.) paced a solid Lynx midfield corps. Both players provided a spark as Gagne registered a goal and two assists in 15 games while Surrena started, played in every match, and chipped in with steady work rate in the middle of the pitch.
The Lynx defense was anchored by the freshmen Luisa Flores (Ridgefield Park, N.J.) and seniors Katie Wilson (Kittery, Me.) and Christy Lecam (Andover, Mass.). Freshmen duo Lauren Polinsky (Palo Alto, Calif.) and Molly Lawrence (Springvale, Me.) played in all 19 matches and chipped in with a combined 5 goals.
The Lynx play in 2006 did not go unnoticed as both, Fralick and Cabral-Pini were selected to the 1st and 2nd team NAC All-conference respectively. The Lynx lose 4 players to graduation and are looking forward to a bumper crop of players in their 07' recruiting class. "This is going to be our first full year recruiting as a staff, we are really working hard to bring in top prospects from all over the Northeast," said Head Coach Paul Vasconcelos.