WESTON, Mass. – After exceeding expectations in 2018, the Regis College women's soccer team is planning on aiming higher as the 2019 season approaches thanks to a strong squad of experienced players.
Mike Webber, entering his fourth season as head coach of the Pride, welcomes back 22 student-athletes from the 2018 roster, including 10 starters from the squad that posted a 10-7 overall record, featuring three overtime wins and three shutouts. Regis went 7-5 in league play, finishing in a tie for fifth in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference standings, and battled Emmanuel in the conference tournament quarterfinals before losing to the Saints, 1-0, the same score as in the regular season meeting.
Kaylee Francis (Millis, Mass.) made an immediate impact for the Pride, earning GNAC Rookie of the Week honors twice and Second Team All-GNAC recognition after the season. She finished with 11 goals and five assists for 27 total points, one goal and one point away from the Regis single-season record in both categories.
In fact, the top five scorers for the Pride are back this season, as junior Payton Fitzgerald (Danielson, Conn.) and senior Rachel Kelly (Whitman, Mass.) are both coming off years with six goals and three assists. Brianna Gaynor (Peabody, Mass.) was second on the team with four assists to go along with two goals, and Alex Maher (Reading, Mass.) contributed three goals in 2018.
Kelly, a two-time all-conference honoree, is one of six seniors providing leadership for the team, along with forward Kara Carchedi (Quincy, Mass.), midfielders Noelle Garcia (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Shelagh O'Neil (Tyngsboro, Mass.), and defenders Erin Filetti (Newburyport, Mass.) and Faith Montgomery (Abington, Mass.). Junior midfielder Emily Lange (Ashland, Mass.) started all 17 matches for the Pride last season, while sophomores Avery Finelli (Colchester, Vt.) and Kerri Urquhart (Burlington, Mass.) made their way into the starting lineup as first-year players.
"We only graduated two seniors, and the freshmen that came in are very strong. All of us came back in shape, and I believe we will go to the conference playoffs and contend for the GNAC title," Kelly said.
Goalkeeper Ori Attridge (Westwood, Mass.) earned Third Team All-GNAC recognition after starting 13 matches in net last season, collecting six victories, including two shutouts. Fellow sophomore Angie Caldwell (Goffstown, N.H.) posted a 4-1 record with a 2.22 goals against average, playing all 96 minutes during Regis' 2-1 overtime victory at Suffolk.
In the GNAC Preseason Poll, Regis finished in fifth place with 113 points, 15 points ahead of sixth place Simmons but over 20 points behind Emmanuel. In a close vote, Saint Joseph's College finished on top with six first place votes and 159 total points, just ahead of Lasell with 150 points and Johnson & Wales with 149 points, as the Lasers and Wildcats picked up three first place votes apiece.
The Pride open the 2019 season with road matches at Emerson Friday, Aug. 30, and at Framingham State Wednesday, Sept. 4. Regis will look to avenge a loss to the Lions early last season, and then build upon a 3-0 victory over the Rams at the end of the 2018 regular season.