The S.C. Genesee Lancers under 19 Girls soccer team is ready to start it's 2012 season. After weeks of practicing, the team will start it's indoor season in a few weeks with the Pal-Mac Indoor Tournament in Palmyra-Macedon.
The girls are coming off a fantastic 2011 season in which, as the youngest team in the u19 R.D.Y.S.L., they went 7-1-2 in league play finishing just 1 point out of first place. The ladies also won 4 tournaments and placed 2nd in 4 others.
With 17 returning players, expectations are high as the team prepares for 2012. Leading the way on offense is Erin Cleveland, a senior at Pavilion H.S. who led the league in scoring in 2011. Alishia Newman, a Medina graduate who currently attends and plays at Niagara Community College, Marissa Pangrazio, a senior at Elba H.S., and Randi Snopkowski, a junior at Warsaw H.S., anchor the high scoring offense which led the league in scoring last season. Captains Dana Sass (Daemen College/Cal-Mum H.S.) and Michelle Nanni (St. Bonaventure/Oakfield H.S.) along with Taylor Jaszko (G.C.C./Batavia H.S.) also help lead the way offensively.
On defense, 2-time All-State defender Danielle Casaceli, from Cal-Mum, and Sam Burnside, also a Cal-Mum graduate attending Finger Lakes C.C., help lead the top defense in the league, in front of Megan Mase, Batavia H.S. Senior All-County goalkeeper. Mase led the league in shutouts, least goals allowed, and wins last season as well. Also leading the way on defense is Sharon Husung (Medina H.S.), Alicia Brenkus (Pembroke H.S.), and Carley Dylag (Pembroke H.S.), as well as newcomers Haley Cunningham (Leroy H.S.), and Raven Bentkowski (Oakfield H.S.).
The strength of the team in its midfield, led by captain Dani Cecere (Roberts Wesleyan/Batavia H.S.), Anna Rath (Medina H.S.), Taylor Vanderkooi (G.C.C./Oakfield H.S.), and Amanda Disalvo (Batavia H.S.), is a big reason the Lancers have had so much success. Rayleigh Staba, a sophomore midfielder from Leroy H.S., who played with the Lancers the last half of 2011, joins the team full time and will immediatley contribute. Also joining the team fulltime are Rachel Hayward (SUNY Geneseo/Leroy H.S.) and Danielle Lambert (Daemen/Leroy H.S.).
The team has a full slate of indoor tournaments starting in Pal-Mac and continuing through early April, playing in a total of 10 tourney's all together before heading outside in April. While the outdoor schedule has not yet been released, the team is planning to play in the Roanoke, Virginia Showcase tourney in late July, as well as 1-2 other tournaments in Western New York.
The team is coached by Chris Chilano, with assistants Jessie Jaszko and Kylee Jones.
