UAlbany Women’s Soccer Kicks Off the 2013 Season Against Florida Atlantic and Florida Gulf Coast This Weekend

ALBANY, N.Y. – University at Albany women’s soccer head coach Cailtin Colfer will begin her career with the Great Danes this weekend with a pair of games in Florida. UAlbany will face Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton on Friday at 7 p.m., followed by Florida Gulf Coast in Fort Myers at noon on Sunday.

"Things have been going great," said Colfer of preseason training. "The girls are getting comfortable with what we're asking them to do. The heat is definitely going to be a factor for us [in Florida], but we've had some hot practices and we're ready to get started this Friday."
The Great Danes are looking to improve on a 6-10-3 record last season. UAlbany was picked to finish sixth in the America East preseason poll. Colfer & co. make the squad’s first trip to Florida for non-conference play in at least a decade.

UAlbany graduated its top-three points leaders in Shayla Bergeron, Chelsea DeVerna and Maggie DeVerna. Sophomore Allison Carhart is the top returning goal-scorer for the Great Danes, netting four goals in 2012. UAlbany lost a total of five starters and eight letterwinners from last season.

Colfer’s young squad includes 13 freshmen, 11 sophomores and five upperclassmen. Seniors Aubrey VanGorder and Dani Britt will serve as captains.
This is the first match of the season for Albany and Florida Atlantic. The Owls faced Florida Gulf Coast in exhibition last Friday, falling 4-1 at the FGCU Soccer Complex. Florida Gulf Coast faces No. 9 Florida in Gainesville on Friday to begin its season.

Florida Atlantic Owls
The Owls also welcome a new coach in Patrick Baker. Baker is the only coach all-time to take a team to Division I, II and III postseason play. He has previously coached at Penn, Florida State and Georgia at the Division I level.
Florida Atlantic went 5-13-0 in 2012, and is led by sophomore Claire Emslie up front. The midfielder scored 10 goals last season. The Owls graduated their starting goalkeeper, Ashley Lantes.

Florida Gulf Coast Eagles
The Eagles posted an impressive 14-4-3 overall record to complement a 7-1-1 Atlantic Sun conference record in 2012. Head coach Jim Blankenship led the squad to its second consecutive Atlantic Sun championship and automatic NCAA tournament appearance. He was named 2012 Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year.
Florida Gulf Coast returns its top three goal-scorers from its 2012 Atlantic Sun championship team, including Shannen Wacker, Shea Rhoney and Ally Kasun.
UAlbany opens its home season against Hofstra on Sept. 8.