Women's Soccer

August 23, 2007

WATERBURY, Conn.-The Post University women's soccer team opens the 2007 season on Friday morning against the University of Bridgeport in the second annual Connecticut Cup, which features each of the four NCAA Division II women's soccer programs in the State, Bridgeport, the University of New Haven, Post University, and Southern Connecticut State University.

The Eagles will square off with the host Purple Knights, in the first game on their new field, Knights Field. Kickoff is slated for 10 a.m. Post fell to Bridgeport 2-0 in the second-round of last season's Connecticut Cup, and 1-0 in the semifinals of the ECAC Championships.

Post will square off with New Haven in the second-round of the Connecticut Cup on Sunday morning at 10 a.m. New Haven defeated the Eagles 3-0 last season.

Friday's contest will be the first for Head Coach John Benitez, who spent the last 10 seasons as an assistant women's soccer coach at Western Connecticut State University. He was part of a program that made nine post-season appearances and six trips to the Division III NCAA Tournament. Last season, the Colonials advanced to the NCAA's with a 20-2-1 overall record and finished the year ranked number-two in the NSCAA Top-25 National Poll.

The Eagles will look to senior Maria Krug for scoring punch, as last season, she was second on the team in scoring with 21 points, and led the team with nine goals. She garnered a spot on the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) All-Conference Team for the second consecutive season, landing on the first-team. In addition, she also earned a spot on the CACC All-Tournament Team.

Last year Post found the back of the net 32 times, as eight different players scored goals and 11 players were credited with points. It was the most goals scored by a team since the 2002 season, when Post scored 34 times.

The defensive unit was solid for the Eagles last season, as they finished the season with 11 shutouts, including nine at LaMoy Field. Post finished third in the conference in goals allowed with 25 (1.03 per game), and held the opposition to 11.7 shots a contest.

Three starters return from that stellar unit and will anchor the Eagles once again this season. Junior Samantha DelRegno, junior Jackie Sutton, and sophomore Tiffany Neuendorf return.

As a team, the Eagles enjoyed one of their most successful seasons in recent memory last season, finishing with an 11-8-4 overall record and a 7-2-1 mark in the CACC. Post also reached the semifinals of both the CACC Championships and the ECAC Championships.

Bridgeport finished last season with a 17-5-2 overall record and an 8-1-1 mark in the East Coast Conference. The Purple Knights were picked to win the ECC Championship in the Preseason Coaches Poll. They were upended in the ECC Championships by Adelphi, after winning the regular season crown.

New Haven is ranked 23^rd in the NSCAA Preseason National Top-25 poll, after finishing last season with a 12-5-4 mark last season. The Chargers have made the NCAA Tournament in each of the last two seasons.

Following the Connecticut Cup, the Eagles open the home portion of their schedule against Bentley College on Wednesday, Aug. 29. Last season, Post recorded a 7-1-3 mark at LaMoy Field. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m.