Philadelphia, Pa. - (8/31/2016) – After narrowly missing the conference playoffs with a ninth place finish a season ago, the Chestnut Hill College women's soccer team looks to take the next step forward in 2016. Predicted to finish eighth in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) preseason poll, the College will look to seasoned veterans to provide leadership and talented newcomers to spark their quest for a postseason berth.
 
The 2015 season began with a bang for the Griffins, rebounding from a 5-0 season-opening loss to Palm Beach Atlantic University with victories over Oakland City University (3-2 on September 6), The Lincoln University (4-2 on September 9) and Concordia College (N.Y.) (3-2 OT on September 12) to sit at 3-1 entering the heart of CACC play. Unfortunately, Chestnut Hill College (4-10-2, 2-8-2) dropped five straight games before topping Dominican College, 3-1, on October 3. The Griffins fought hard down the stretch and finished the season with a 0-4-2 stretch despite only yielding eight goals in six contests.
 
With nine upperclassmen on the roster, the Griffins will have no shortage of student-athletes to look to for leadership. Junior forward Anna Abbot (Sicklerville, N.J.) led the team in goals last season and will look to increase that production this year. Junior forwards Julianna Casasanto (Philadelphia, Pa.), Kylee Jazikoff (Brick, N.J.), and Morgan Ruth (Blackwood, N.J.) will also be counted on to shoulder the offensive workload.
 
Junior Kiersten Cobb-Wilkins (Lowman, N.Y.) and a trio of talented sophomores look to anchor the midfield and defense for the Griffins, who will look to generate their offense through opportunities created in the midfield. Coming off a strong sophomore season, Cobb-Wilkins will serve as the Scarlet and Gold's holding central midfielder. Meanwhile, sophomore midfielders Brianna Ferrell (Newtown Square, Pa.) and Marikate O'Toole (Philadelphia, Pa.), as well as sophomore defender Molly Sullivan (Pasco, Wash.), aim to support Cobb-Wilkins and build on solid freshmen campaigns. The Griffins will have a battle to see who the starting goalkeeper will be, with junior Meghan Guagenti (Pennsauken, N.J.) and freshman Leah Peshkin (Haddon Heights, N.J.) vying for a chance to be the team's top keeper.

The Griffins will also look to their freshmen to make an immediate impact, with several looking to challenge for starting roles early in the season. Freshman midfielder Sabrina Shinkowitz (Stratford, N.J.) is a smart and athletic attacking player who could see time with both the forward and midfield units. Sophomore newcomer Ariel Magee (North Cape May, N.J.) is a hard-nosed, gritty defender who will challenge for a starting role immediately. Freshman Elizabeth McCormick (Philadelphia, Pa.) is another feisty defender who will challenge for a starting role as an outside back. Meanwhile, freshman Geena DiRugeris (Woodbury, N.J.) is a do-it-all type of player whose great work-rate can be plugged into any position on the field and succeed.
 
With a talented blend of returnees and newcomers, the 2016 team has the makings of a competitor in the CACC. Citing a blend of veterans and youth, Dickson says the goal of this year's team is to qualify for the CACC postseason. To accomplish that goal the Griffins will need to buy into Coach Dickson's new philosophy of generating more offensive opportunities with sound defensive play. The Chestnut Hill College women's soccer team opens the 2016 schedule on September 2, when they host Barton College in a 7:00 p.m. non-conference contest at Victory Field #1. The Griffins then travel to Shippensburg University (4:00 p.m.) on September 6, before opening CACC play on September 10 with a 1:00 p.m. home contest versus Post University.