The Rensselaer Red Hawk women’s soccer team is looking forward to accomplishing new highs in the 2003 season. After going 12-5-1 in 2002, winning the New York State Women’s Collegiate Athletic Association (NYSWCAA) Tournament, and receiving a bid to the ECAC Tournament, the Red Hawks look to compete at their highest level and hopefully make the NCAA tournament this year for the first time in the program’s history.

Second-year Head Coach Leslie Khachadourian said that despite losing eight women to graduation, including prolific goal-scorer Susan Gonyea (14 goals, 6 assists), the team came into preseason in great physical condition and has a strong determination to top last year’s performance.

Khachadourian said her team’s strengths this year include very strong group dynamics and cohesion, and high fitness and skill levels in the preseason that have been the best yet in the program’s history.

Their only weakness is that the team lacks the NCAA experience, which Khachadourian says may or may not be a weakness towards the end of the season.

For returning players, sophomore midfielder Mary Bond looks to take control in the midfield along with junior captain Katie Fredlund who Khachadourian says is “an all-around player and motivator.”

Junior forward Ann Drames looks to fill the scoring role left void by Gonyea. “She [Drames] is ready to step into a leading role as a scorer and playmaker,” said Khachadourian.

Five incoming freshmen join the Red Hawks this year including forward Kate Phillips and defenseman Emily Wheeler. Phillips, who is from Williston, Vermont, will look to make an immediate impact with her strong and physical presence. Wheeler, who is from Endicott, New York, looks to see a lot of time with the defensive unit.

The Red Hawks’ schedule this year is extremely tough, with games against nationally ranked University of Rochester and New York University and UCAA powers William Smith, Union College, and St. Lawrence University. Both William Smith and Union made it to the NCAA tournament last year and William Smith made it as far as the Final Four.

Khachadourian’s goals this season for her team include improving on last year’s record, putting a strong team on the field at all times and raising the bar each day in practices and games to become stronger and stronger until they become the team to beat.

“The women worked really hard in the off-season and if their work so far this preseason is any indication of things to come, there will be good things for the Red Hawk soccer program,” said Khachadourian.

Other goals of Khachadourian and the Red Hawks are to beat rivals Union, William Smith, and St. Lawrence, win the conference and the conference tournament, and make the NCAA National Tournament.

The women open their season against Russell Sage Thursday September 4 at 7 pm up on Harkness Field.