Rutgers Women's Soccer Season Starts Tonight

Despite losing two All-Americans to graduation, the Rutgers Women’s Soccer team is poised for yet another successful season.

When the Scarlet Knights open the 2010 season tonight against Stony Brook, they will be returning eight of its 11 starters from a year ago. Included among those returning are the top six goal scorers.

Rutgers starts the season ranked #18 in the NSCAA poll and #19 in the TopDrawer Soccer poll. With 87.2 percent of their offense from last year returning, Rutgers is prepared to take on a tough 2010 schedule.

This season, the Scarlet Knights will play nine teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament a year ago.  Three of those teams – Portland, Notre Dame, and Boston College – advanced to the Elite Eight or beyond. Those three, as well as West Virginia, start the season ranks in the NSCAA Preseason Top-25.

Gina DeMaio, Tricia DiPaolo, and Karla Schacher are this years team captains. All three will likely be in the starting lineup.

DeMaio has been named to the 2010 Watch List for the MAC Hermann Trophy, the most prestigious individual award presented in college soccer. This is the second straight year she has been named to the list. 

Gina DeMaio

The redshirt Senior was also named a Preseason All-Big East honoree. DeMaio is currently tied for second in Rutgers history for career assists and second in shots on goal.  She is already one of the most decorated players in Rutgers history.

Karla Schacher is as clutch as they come. The redshirt Junior is tied for ninth all-time in Rutgers history with five game-winning goals. Schacher started every game last season and was second on the team with five goals and four assists.

Tricia DiPaolo, a Junior from Sparta, New Jersey is the third captain. DiPaolo has battled back from five surgeries throughout her career. The Forward saw action in 20 of 22 games last season and took seven shots.  If she can stay healthy, DiPaolo will be a big part of this years team.

One of the biggest losses for Rutgers was 2009 Big East Goalkeeper of the Year Erin Guthrie. Now working her way toward professional soccer, Guthrie was a mainstay in the net for the Scarlet Knights.

Redshirt Sophomore Emmy Simpkins will likely be the starter this season. The North Carolina native earned her first start last season against Stony Brook but was plagued by injury and eventually underwent surgery in the offseason. The development on Simpkins will be key for Rutgers.

Head Coach Glenn Crooks also welcomes nine newcomers to the team this season, including three transfers. His squad was selected second in the National Division in the 2010 Big East Preseason Poll. The Scarlet Knights trailed favorite and defending champion Notre Dame in the poll.

Two other players Rutgers may count on a lot this season are Jonelle Filigno and Ashley Jones.

Jones is a Senior Forward from Pennsylvania. She will likely come off the bench and provide major depth. Last season, Jones was third in the Big East in points per game, sixth in goals, and second in goals per game. The Second Team All-Big East member had four game winning goals in ’09.

Tonight’s season opener against Stony Brook will be played at Yurcak Field at Rutgers University at 7 p.m. The match will be televised live on Verizon Fios1 and can also be seen live via www.scarletknights.com.

Rutgers leads the All-time series against the Seawolves, 17-5-4.