MARIETTA, Ohio – Veteran Ohio Athletic Conference coach
Tracy Blasius leads the Marietta College women's soccer team into action at the Purple and Gold Classic hosted by Defiance College this weekend. Blasius is in her first season with the Pioneers after 15 years at John Carroll University.
Marietta takes the field against Defiance on Friday (Aug. 30) at 2:00 p.m. Marietta wraps up play in the Classic on Saturday (Aug. 31) with a 3:00 p.m. match against Westminster College (Pa.).
"We will develop a successful women's soccer program at Marietta College," Blasius said. "We had a good preseason camp and everyone is looking forward to the season."
The Pioneers return 13 letter winners including nine seniors from last year's team that finished 3-13-1 overall.
A quartet of three-year letter winners will lead the way for Marietta. Goalkeeper
Kaitlyn Pearse (Galena/Olentangy Orange) returns after playing every minute in net last season. Midfielder
Melina Feitl (Broadview Heights/Holy Name ) tied for the team lead with seven points a year ago including two goals and three assists.
Midfielder
Emily Jones (Loudon, Tenn./Northville (Mich.)) and defender
Stacey Smith (Cambridge/John Glenn ) round out the group of three-year lettermen. Jones tallied one goal in just seven matches played last fall after battling through injury, while Smith tallied a goal and an assist.
The Defiance Yellow Jackets went 9-6-4 overall last season under the direction of head coach Alex Van der Sluijs, now in his fourth season at the helm. The Jackets return their top two scorers from last season in senior forward Karly Smith (seven goals, three assists) and junior midfielder Lindsay Bubnick (five goals, three assists). Sophomore Claire Turner returns in goal after posting a 1.10 goals against average and seven shutouts in 2012.
Westminster head coach Girish Thakar enters his twelfth season with his top two scorers returning from a squad that went 7-8-5 overall in 2012. Titan senior forward Amanda Turi tallied six goals and five assists for 17 total points, while sophomore midfielder Krista Edwards notched five goals and three assists last fall.
Fans can follow the Pioneers all season long at
pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at
facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on Twitter.
