2013 Alverno College Soccer Season Preview

Entering her fifth season, Alverno College Head Soccer Coach Brittany Nikolic is ready to take the team's offense to the next level, while hopefully picking up a few more victories in the process.

"Our attack is going to be a lot more dynamic," Nikolic said. "We've been able to add more athleticism and experience with some new players to our forward line and midfield line. It's really going to help us."

Nikolic has already turned around the Inferno's defense, which has posted 18 shutouts during her tenure and has the top four goals against averages in school history, but would like to see the team's offense progress.

"It's one of the things we really struggled with last year -- being dangerous in the attack. So this will give us an opportunity to get forward more, and to take a little pressure off Nava [Moniriarani] in terms of having to do everything with the ball -- set things up and get shots off -- so I'm excited to see what we can do with the ball moving forward this year."

Moniriarani, one of the Inferno's two All-Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Second Team selections last season and the team's three-time MVP, led the Inferno in scoring with 12 goals, setups with seven assists, and shots with 81. It was first time the senior midfielder scored double-digit goals, yet also the first time she fell below the double-digit mark in assists.

"We didn't graduate any seniors, so everyone is coming back another year older and more experienced."

Andrea Diaz (Bowhall), a sophomore midfielder, was second on last year's team with 16 points on five goals and six assists, while no other returner scored more than a pair of goals last season.

Juniors Erica Isaacson and Casey Scheibengraber, and sophomores Carla and Yessy Lopez also return to the midfield line, while junior Amber Thomas and sophomoreNeysel Powell return to the front line.

Seniors Samantha Robinson and Ashleigh Sagat will join Moniriarani in their final season. The duo of Robinson and Sagat have led the back line of the defense as Robinson, an All-NACC selection in 2011, had played all but one game as goalkeeper last season, and Sagat missed just one game as well.

"I finally have my first senior class, the first class I had for all four years. Their leadership and experience, having been in the programs for three years already, I think is really going to help the team. I want us to play for them this season. We want to send them off on a high note."

Also returning to the defensive line that posted four shutouts in 2012 are juniors Brittany Carpenter and Kaitlyn Gallinatti. Carpenter, who was third on the team with four assists, also represented the Inferno on the All-NACC Second Team.

Eight freshmen join the Alverno squad that was picked 10th in the NACC preseason poll and finished 12th in league play last year with a 1-12 NACC record, and was 6-14 overall.

"We've added some new faces and some freshmen are coming in and going to contribute right away. We've added to every line of our team."

Samantha Devcich (Franklin, Wis.) and Sydney Wisner (Sussex, Wis./Hamilton) join the front line, Megan McCarthy (Franklin, Wis.), Hayley Serketich (Greendale, Wis.) and Elizabeth Terrones (Milwaukee, Wis./Reagan) join the midfield line, while Sarah Devcich (Franklin, Wis.) Emily Ogas (Milwaukee, Wis./School of Languages) andJenna Reed (Mauston, Wis.) have been added to the back line. Reed will also be the backup goalie.

"We've had three players transfer in and play with us in the spring. They have the experience of playing in our spring season, playing in a game with us, which has helped them adjust to the college game. The other freshmen have done a really good job of coming in ready to go, working super hard every day, and the attitudes and mentality of this group is really strong."

Alverno opens the season at home on Tuesday, Sept. 3, versus Mount Mary University at 4:30 p.m., while NACC play opens on Saturday, Sept. 21, against defending conference champion Aurora University at 12 p.m. at Alverno Field.