Photo Courtesy of MSU Athletics
The 2015 season started for Montclair State University’s Women’s Soccer team as they opened up their schedule on Sept. 1 with a game against Stevens Institute of Technology. After making it to the Sweet 16 of the Division III NCAA Tournament last year, the team will look to continue and build upon their previous success.
The Red Hawks entered the season ranked second in the NJAC Preseason Coaches Poll, only behind The College of New Jersey. The women posted a strong 19-2-2 record last season and also won their second NJAC championship in three seasons. They continued their success as they beat both Lesley University and Connecticut College in the first two rounds ,but would end up losing to the eventual champion, Lynchburg College, in the Sweet 16.
Building upon and continuing their success into the 2015 Fall season may be more difficult, however, as they lost two key seniors who had a big role on the team in previous years. Jessica Bonjione was a senior defender who was voted to D3Soccer.com’s All-America Second Team and helped lead a defensive unit to rank third in goals-against average among all Division III teams. Melissa Koster, also a senior on the team last year, was voted to the D3Soccer.com’s All-America Third Team and also earned the title of NJAC Midfielder of the Year in 2014.
All is not lost, though, as two players named to last year’s NJAC Second All-Conference team, senior forward Martina Landeka and senior defender Janae Geonnetti, will return this season. Also, Jennie Hornstra, who was second on the team in goals, and Shawna Grabowski, who played the most minutes out of any non-senior, will both return.
Despite losing 10 seniors to graduation, including their starting goalie, the Red Hawks were still voted second in the NJAC Preseason Coaches Poll. A lot of their key and contributing players are returning this year and they’ll look to step up and continue the success of the previous teams.
The Red Hawks opened up with a 2-1 loss to Stevens Institute on Sept. 1.
