2010 Schedule / 2010 Roster / 2010 Media Guide

WILKES-BARRE - The Wilkes University women's soccer team has plenty to be excited about in 2010, returning 17 players from a team that earned a Freedom Conference playoff bid a season ago. The Lady Colonels went 7-9-3, 3-3-2 in conference play, a year ago, grabbing the fourth seed in the postseason tournament on the last game of the season. 

Wilkes is losing one senior from a season ago in forward Julissa Reed (Coal Township, Pa./Shamokin). Reed led the team in goals with eight, while also passing out three assists for 19 total points, leading the team. She was the major offensive threat for a Lady Colonel team that scored 30 total goals, and was a second team All-Freedom Conference performer. 

“It's difficult to replace a Julissa Reed (Coal Township, Pa./Shamokin),” said head coach John Sumoski, who has an overall record of 84-64-11 in his eight seasons at the helm of the Lady Colonels. “She was an exceptional athlete, a competitor, and had tremendous character, but I believe when you lose a player like Julissa, it opens up an opportunity for others to rise, and our attacking personalities will fill that role.” 

Something that Wilkes does not lack is experience on the field. The Lady Colonels return starters at nearly every position, and a key to their success will once again rely upon their proven defense. Juniors Megan Clementson (Frederick, MD, Tuscarora), Lyndsay Ellis (Shavertown, Dallas), Krista Zawistowski (Syosset, NY, Syosset) and Maura Kelly (Hummelstown, Lower Dauphin) will once again anchor a Wilkes defense that was third in the conference in goals allowed and goals against average. Ellis returns after her first season in a Lady Colonel uniform where she earned first team All-Freedom Conference honors as well as third team All-Mid-Atlantic Region. 

In goal for Wilkes will be Samantha Rohn (Levittown, Neshaminy), who saw limited time last year as a freshman. She logged over 119 minutes in goal in 2009, saving three shots and winning one game while surrendering no goals. 

“It starts in the back and in goal we will rely on Sam Rohn to get us going,” said Sumoski. “We also return four good defenders in Clementson, Ellis, Zawistowski and Kelly.” 

Offensively, Wilkes will look to first team All-Freedom Conference selection Katy Fissel (Maidson, NJ, Madison) to create in the middle of the field and put pressure on opponents. Despite playing in only 10 games due to injury a season ago, Fissel finished with three goals and two assists, and helped the Lady Colonels in their late push for the playoffs. She was also on the second team All-Mid-Atlantic Regional team. 

“There is no question that Katy is going to be looked upon to create for us,” said Sumoski. “She's an exciting player that is capable of scoring and creating goals at any moment.” 

Wilkes also returns forwards Taryn Hallowell (Belvidere, NJ, Belvidere) and Jenna Sargent (Stroudsburg, Pocono Mountain East) who worked as offensive threats a season ago. Hallowell finished the year with four goals and eight assists, six of which came in conference play, which was good enough to lead the league. Sargent had an outstanding freshman year, starting in 13 games and scoring five goals while passing out an assist. 

There will also be 13 new faces putting on a Wilkes uniform this fall, all of whom will be looked upon to compete for playing time on the field. 

“We have improvements to make up from last year,” said Sumoski. “But I believe the returners and the incoming freshmen in those spots will surprise me in the preseason. 

As far as expectations, Wilkes knows it has the talent and experience to compete within the conference.
“I expect to be in the conference playoffs,” said Sumoski. “That's realistic and challenging for this team considering the strength of our conference. From there, anything can happen.” 

Wilkes will open its season at home against Marywood University on Wednesday, September 1 at 7:00 p.m. It will be the first contest ever played on the new artificial turf at the Ralston Athletic Complex.