Making Good Progress

One week at a time, we're improving how we start and finish games and learning how to read the game and realize quickly 'what's on' in each match.  Last night, our speed up front was too much for Altoona to handle and our 2 wide forwards were involved in 7 of the 8 goals we scored including one in the opening minute of the game.  Our YouTube channel shows 2 of the 2nd half goals by Chelsie McCoy, who had a hat trick (and enjoyed a Sour-Apple smoothie), and Jaci Buteau who one-timed a wicked shot into the upper-90.
A very tough series of opponents are coming up that will really define our non-conference season and prepare us well for CAC games.

Tough Lesson to Learn

Melanie Bell scored a fantastic goal on Saturday but we could not get back an equalizing score against Catholic and fell 2-1 for our first loss of the season.  We had a slow start to the game and gave Catholic enough time on the ball to connect passes and create quality chances to score and they took full advantage to build a 2 goal lead. We had a much better 2nd half and created several good opportunities to score but ran out of time.  We'll finish our non-conference schedule over the next 2 weeks beginning Wednesday night then make a trip to the Baltimore area next weekend.

Big Home Win!

We had a great crowd for our home opener last night against a quality physical side from Gettysburg College.  We won the game 1-0 on a nice breakaway finish by Stephanie Fazenbaker and got great defending from all of our backs but Abby Aposporos was especially tough last night and Katie Smith had a great game in the goal.   It was our first time live streaming a game here at FSU in our New stadium.  All our home games should be available for free now as a live webcast here:
http://portal.stretchinternet.com/frostburg/

Visit to The Big Apple

When we travel as a team, we always to try to see some of the great things to see in this awesome country.  In North Jersey on our trip to Newark for a tournament last weekend, we found out that about half our team had not been to New York City and about half had not seen an MLS game.  Shown here is the team in Times Square on Friday night and at Red Bull Arena on Saturday.  And btw, the train from Penn Station in Manhattan to Newark is not always on Track #1!

Solid Road Win

In the frenzy of classes beginning this week, we traveled for a solid win on the road at Washington and Jefferson Wednesday night.   After a slow start, 5 different players scored en route to our 2nd victory of the season.   We are growing as a team every day and looking forward to a weekend tournament in New Jersey.    Rutgers-Newark looks like they have web streaming of games:
http://www.rutgersnewarkathletics.com

Great Start to 2014 Campaign!

A shutout, plus a goal in each half, equals a great start to our season!  After a very good 2-week preseason at FSU, we traveled up to Latrobe, PA for our opening game Friday night against St. Vincent.  Several of our players had great chances to score in each half but it was Erin Worthman who finished hers and scored both goals for a decisive 2-0 win.  We defended well all over the field and gave SVC very little time with the ball throughout the full 90 minutes.  Shown below, Jessi Martz takes a shot on Friday night.  The players have really earned some time off this weekend before classes begin and we travel for a night game on Wednesday.

Yes, I did the Ice Bucket Challenge....

I resisted as long as I could but thanks to Coach Byrnes, our mens soccer coach, I took the Challenge today......
http://youtu.be/auLFrRoUEwU

First Day Off!

The players have earned their first full day off but since we are still in preseason, we took advantage of the day to visit Deep Creek Lake and the Wisp Resort for some fun and teambuilding.  The team is shown below at the Wisp Adventure Sports Center after their ride on the Wisp Mt. Coaster.  As they await the 1,300 foot incline to begin the ride, Steph Fazenbaker and Jessi Martz show their nervous smiles...

Great Start to Preseason Competition!

Today we finished our first full week of preseason with a scrimmage at Division II Shepherd University.  Stephanie Fazenbaker had a terrific start to the match intercepting a pass from the keeper in the 7th minute and shooting it near-post nicely.  2 minutes later, Nicole Gernert beat an off-side trap with a great long pass that Fazenbaker finished smartly after dribbling past the keeper.   Brooke Longo then took over the game sending a great ball into the box that Jessi Martz finished with a sharp volley before scoring one herself with a hard shot from 25 yards.  She added a PK later on and then freshman defender Lia Kelly dribbled nicely into midfield before feeding Chelsie McCoy for a breakaway goal.   We scored several quality goals and got a solid performance from our defense and keepers to earn the shutout.  Everyone got a chance to show the progress we've made in preseason as we took a big step forward as a team.   Our regular season opener is next on Friday at St.Vincent in Latrobe, PA at 5pm.

Well Deserved Night Off

After going full speed for 6 days to start the preseason, the team got a well-deserved break to visit the scenic overlook at Dan's Rock to take in the sunset.  A visit to the Frostburg Freeze capped off a fun night for the team.

The 2014 Team!

The 2014 team near the FSU Clock Tower on Monday.   The team will scrimmage Shepherd in Sheperdstown, WV on Saturday at 3pm before opening the season offically at St. Vincent in Latrobe, PA on Friday night August 29th.

Worthman has Busy Summer

Rising Junior Erin Worthman had a busy summer playing with the Washington Spirit U-20 team. This is the youth developmental team affiliated with the full profession Spirit club of the NWSL.  They traveled all over the mid-Atlantic region and qualified for the playoff final weekend in Florida in late July.   She led the team in scoring and is seen here taking a corner during the Florida playoff weekend.

Washington Spirit
W-20 League