2007 Outlook and History
2007 Outlook
Following the graduation of a senior class that made a major impact during their careers as Pioneers, Smith soccer had to look to its youth for a boost in 2006 and the young team did not disappoint. The Pioneers won 14 games, finished as runner-up in the NEWMAC championship and capped their season with a 4-0 defeat of Springfield College in the title game of the ECAC New England Championship. Coming off the best season in fifteen years, the team will have heightened expectations including a NEWMAC Championship title, NCAA tournament participation and a top-25 ranking as goals to achieve.
Head coach Phil Nielsen is confident that under the leadership of senior tri-captains Natalie Sullivan, Janine Olthuis and Caitlyn Colman-McGaw and with the return of the entire starting line-up, including leading scorer sophomore Dalyn Houser, there is plenty of quality on which to base this confidence. Adding into this mix will be a very talented first-year class which should include several players who will make an immediate impact.
Without a losing season over the past six years and with a string of top-four finishes in the NEWMAC, the Pioneers look to continue their history as a top program in both the conference and in New England. In pursuit of their goals, th Pioneers will play one of the most challenging schedules in the country to prepare them for play at the national level.
Team Honors
Year |
NEWMAC Season Finish |
NEWMAC Championship |
ECAC |
|---|---|---|---|
2007 |
5th place |
Quarterfinalist |
|
2006 |
3rd Place |
2nd Place |
Champion |
2005 |
5th Place |
Semifinalist |
|
2004 |
3rd Place |
2nd Place |
|
2003 |
2nd Place |
Semifinalist |
2nd Place |
2002 |
4th Place |
Semifinalist |
|
2001 |
8th Place |
Quarterfinalist |
|
2000 |
6th Place |
Quarterfinalist |
|
1999 |
5th Place |
Semifinalist |
|
1998 |
5th Place |
Quarterfinalist |
|
1997 |
5th Place |
Quarterfinalist |
NCAA National Championship
1986, Quarterfinalist
* Covers past 10 year history only.
