Sparkill, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Soccer team returns to action for the 2024 season with big expectations, as the program looks to a retooled and refocused roster in the hopes of propelling them into the postseason. The Spartans were selected to finish eighth in the annual ECC preseason coaches poll released in late August.
In 2023, STAC finished with an overall record of 2-12-1 and a 1-6-1 mark in ECC play, but don't let the record tell the whole story. Injuries to key personnel, who were expected to make an impact throughout last season, kept the maroon and gold from showing their full potential.
The Spartans return 17 players from the 2023 season, as Haley Liss (10 GP, 2-4, 3.54 GAA, .590 SV%), Kiley Metcalf (14 GP), Sarai Rodriguez (15 GP, 1G, 3A) Heidi Torre (15 GP, 2A), Rachel Brownell (15 GP, 5G, 1A), Natalie Oden (10 GP), Elle Chipperfield (13 GP), Sophie Stanley (15 GP, 2G, 1A), Nicole Savage (15 GP), Kaitlyn Maguire (15 GP), Lilly Lawson (15 GP, 1G), Britany Delao Romero (5 GP), Ashley Argento (15 GP), Olivia Gaillard (13 GP), Larymar Herrara (1 GP), Madison Powers (7 GP) and Catalena Robson (15 GP, 0-8-1, 2.67 GAA, .646 SV%, 1G) will make up the core returning to Sparkill this fall.
A good mix of freshmen and upperclassmen in; Amalie Steen (Midfield/Oslo, Norway), Kara Hill (Midfield/New Milford, N.J.), Serena De Astis (Midfield/Salt Lake City, Utah), Isabella Diianni (Forward/Livingston, N.J.) and Ninni Ringstad (Midfield/Moss, Norway) have been brought in to help give STAC the additional talent and depth necessary to make a push for the playoffs.
The biggest change to the STAC Women's Soccer program in 2024 will be on the sideline, as Fredy Guiran comes onboard as the team's head coach. Guiran is well respected within the soccer community, having trained many talented women's soccer athletes over the last 20 years with the World Class Football Club, which is just down the road from the college in nearby Orangeburg, N.Y.
The New Jersey native is no stranger to the Rockland County college scene, having served as an Assistant Coach for the women's soccer program at Dominican University in 2021.
In addition, Guiran's college coaching experience includes stops at Division III Rutgers University-Newark (2010) and Division I Seton Hall University (2006-2007, 2009), along with New Jersey City University (Div. III - 2005). He also served as an Assistant Coach for the United States National Team Under-17 squad in 2009.
Guiran's staff includes new comers Monique Howe and Lucas Marcusso, while Adrian Palau and Oscar Galvis return in their familiar roles as Assistant Coaches. Senior Emily Ras will serve as the team's manager for the upcoming season.
St. Thomas Aquinas College will begin its 2024 campaign at Spartan Field on Thursday, September 5, when the maroon and gold hosts Felician University in a 1:00 p.m. kickoff.
2024 ECC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Daemen (56 points, 2 first-place votes)
2023 Record – 9-5-3, 6-1-1 ECC
2. Molloy (52 points, 4 first-place votes)
2023 Record – 12-5-5, 4-2-2 ECC
3. Mercy (48 points, 1 first-place vote)
2023 Record – 9-5-3, 5-1-2 ECC
4. Roberts Wesleyan (45 points, 1 first-place vote)
2023 Record – 10-3-3, 6-0-2 ECC
5. Queens (35 points)
2023 Record – 6-7-4, 3-3-2 ECC
6. D’Youville (22 points)
2023 Record – 4-9-3, 3-4-1 ECC
7. Staten Island (16 points)
2023 Record – 4-7-4, 2-5-1 ECC
8. St. Thomas Aquinas (14 points)
2023 Record – 2-12-1, 1-6-1 ECC