Anchorwomen soccer team set to take LEC by surprise

The Rhode Island College Anchorwomen soccer team finished the 2009 season with a 3-12 overall record and a 1-6 (seventh place tie) mark in the Little East Conference.

Head Coach Mike Koperda's (career record: 5-28-1) team will have their work cut out for them this season, but the good news is that they are returning a number of key performers from last year's squad. The returning veteran's combined with an infusion of talented youngsters makes this team the dark horse candidates to contend for a Little East Conference title this fall. The Anchorwomen were picked to finish last in the Little East Conference coaches' preseason poll, but there is plenty of reason for optimism.

The only major loss for the program this fall is midfielder Christina Tivana. She closed out her four-year career as an Anchorwoman last year having played in 66 games, recording 16 goals and four assists for 36 career points. Tavana ranks eighth all-time in program history in goals, while placing 12^th in points.

The Anchorwomen will be led into battle this fall by their three outstanding captains, junior Jenna Childs, and seniors Maddi Pirri and Alicia Lardaro.  

Players to Watch

Junior captain Jenna Childs

Childs was named the women's soccer team's MVP as a sophomore last year. She played in 12 games, starting all of them as a midfielder. Childs scored one goal, netting the game-winning marker in overtime of the club's 2-1 win over Plymouth State on Oct. 10. Childs totaled two points last season. Childs is also a standout on the women's lacrosse team which competes in the spring.

Senior captain Alicia Lardaro

Lardaro played in 15 games, starting nine of them as a junior last season. She had one goal for two points. Lardaro scored her lone goal in the 3-1 loss to Bridgewater State on Sept. 22. She was named to the Little East Conference All-Academic team last fall.Lardaro earned All-State honors at South Kingstown High School where she graduated in 2006.

Senior captain Maddie Pirri

Pirri played in 15 games last fall, starting every single one of them. She was 3-12 with one shutout, a 3.41 goals against average, 174 saves and a .777 save percentage as a junior last year. Pirri made a season-high 20 saves in a, 5-0, loss to Keene State on Oct. 3. She recorded double-digit save efforts in 10 of her 15 games between the posts last season. Her 174 stops were the fourth-most in a season in program history.

Can't Miss Game(s)

Saturday October 2^nd

RIC vs. Keene State 

1:00 p.m. at Home

Last year's result

Lost 5-0

Goalkeeper Maddie Pirri had an outstanding game, but it wasn't enough to propel the Anchorwomen to a victory against Keene State last fall. The Owl's received the most first place votes of any team in the Little East Conference preseason coaches' poll, and will be RIC's biggest test of the fall at home.

The Lineup

Goalkeeper #7 Maddie Pirri (C)

Defender #5 Sarah Fagan

Defender #9 Theolinda Augustin

Defender #12 Hannah Peterson

Midfielder/Defender #8 Alicia Lardaro (C)

Midfielder/Defender #14 Jenna Childs (C)

Midfielder #6 Jessica Graham

Midfielder #10 Mariah Gonzalez

Midfielder #11 Libby Lazar

Forward #3 Alexis Smith

Forward #17 Ashley Choiniere

(C) Denotes team captain