2012 Women's Soccer Quick Facts

The Huskies have high hopes for 2012, coming off a 2011 season that saw them reach the semifinals of the CAA Tournament before a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to VCU. The Huskies were tabbed to finish fourth in the conference's preseason coach's poll this year, but were one of two teams, along with conference favorite William & Mary, to receive a first place vote. In Tracey Leone's third year at the helm of the program, the Huskies return a solid cast of offensive veterans and defensive stoppers who will look to make some noise in the CAA and nationally.

FORWARDS
4 returning, 2 lost, 4 newcomers
Despite graduating last year's leading scorer and the top goal scorer in program history, Veronica Napoli, the Huskies will have no shortage of offensive firepower in 2012. Senior captain Greta Samuelsdottir is the leading returning scorer after blasting home eight goals last season, matching her 2010 total. The Icelandic forward's 18 career goals put her sixth all-time in NU history. Samuelsdottir was recently named to the Preseason All-CAA team.  Also returning from 2011 will be sophomore Lahaina Zoller, who appeared in all 21 games during her rookie campaign. The Hawaiian picked up a pair of goals last season, and was fourth on the team with 23 shots in 19 starts. Redshirt-sophomore Devin Griffin, who missed the majority of the last two seasons as a medical redshirt and NCAA exemption, will return to the pitch as well in 2012. Griffin turned in an all-time great season as a freshman in 2009, setting or tying school records in goals (14), assists (7), and points (35). Her efforts netted her 2009 CAA Player of the Year honors and an NSCAA Second Team All-America nod.

Joining the returners will be four talented newcomers in Shayna Blackwood, Breeana Koemans, Emily Nasuti and Taylor Tharp. Blackwood comes to NU by way of New Jersey, Koemans and Tharp hail from California and Nasuti is a local Massachusetts product. Blackwood won a state title as a senior at the Pingry School, earning All-Conference and All-Section honors along the way. Koemans was a member of ESPN RISE's #1 team in the nation, scoring 53 goals in her career at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy in Pasadena. Tharp earned All-League honors in all three of her varsity soccer years at Willow Glen, and was named her high school class' valedictorian. Nasuti scored 92 goals in her career at Millbury Memorial, earning a pair of All-State selections.

MIDFIELDERS
4 returning, 3 lost, 1 newcomer
Notwithstanding the graduation of Kirby Anderson, who started all 21 games in 2011, the midfield for Huskies in 2012 will be a strong group of solid veterans. Junior captain Hillary Savoy and classmate Hanna Terry will be the focal points, as the two started all but one game between them last season. Terry leads all returners in assists, dishing out three last season. The Park City, Utah native will look to see more scoring chances this season, as she was able to rip off 40 shots last season, third on the squad. Savoy was a CAA All-Rookie selection in 2010 after starting every game in the midfield, and followed up that strong freshman campaign with another strong season in 2011, starting 20 of 21 contests. Also returning in the midfield is redshirt-junior Hannah O'Donnell, who appeared in 20 games last year and picked up a goal and an assist.

Sophomore Kelsey McCarthy will look to increase her playing time this year, after appearing in seven games and making one start as a rookie in 2011.  The lone newcomer in the midfield is Morgan Hilby, who comes to Boston from Manhattan Beach, Calif. Hilby set a Vistamar High School record for goals as a senior last year, blasting home 34 tallies en route to First Team All-League honors.

DEFENDERS
7 returning, 5 lost, 2 newcomers
One of the Huskies' deepest units, the 2012 defense corps returns four players who appeared in at least ten contests in 2011 as well as six who made a start. Senior Sandra Magnusdottir will anchor the back line after starting all 21 contests last season. The Reykjavik, Iceland native has started all 58 games since arriving at NU in 2009, tallying a 6-7-19 scoring line along the way. Her four goals as a freshman in 2009 earned her All-CAA Second Team laurels and a spot on the CAA All-Rookie squad. Also returning will be a trio of seasoned sophomores in Maria Lanyi, Awnalisa Walker and Bianca Calderone, who combined to appear in 38 contests during their respective rookie campaigns.

Junior Cassidy Costa made 12 starts on the back line last season, and sophomore Alexandra Price earned a start in her two appearances. A pair of newcomers from California will also look to fight for playing time, as freshman Oksana Nicholls joins the team from Glendora and Brittani Gardella makes her way to Boston via Thousand Oaks. Nicholls won a Defensive MVP award as a junior at St. Lucy's Priory High School, while Gardella earned All-State honors as a senior.

GOALKEEPERS
2 returning, 1 lost, 1 newcomer
Sophomore Paige Burnett will look to continue her quest to start every game in her four years at NU in 2012, after getting the nod in all 21 contests last season. Burnett finished second in the CAA in saves with 102, while notching a 1.58 GAA and four shutouts. For her efforts, Burnett was named to the CAA All-Rookie squad and took home All-CAA Third Team honors. Burnett was recently named  Preseason All-CAA honorable mention. Also returning is senior captain Megan Penn, who has appeared in three contests in her career. Bailey Bruckmann is the lone freshman keeper. The local product comes to NU from South Walpole, Mass., where she won the Catholic Central League MVP last year as a senior at St. Mary's High School.

The Huskies finished 9-10-2 last season, advancing to the CAA semifinals before falling in a 1-0 nail biter against VCU.