Select Teams Program

Women's Select Teams Program

Head Coach: Paul Athanasiadis

Telephone: 781-648-2406
Email:

Massachusetts Women Region 1 Champions

The Massachusetts Senior Select Women's Soccer team won the Region I tournament in Binghamton, NY June 4 & 5 by defeating the Eastern New York squad in the finals by a 2-1 score. Massachusetts will represent Region I at the Donnelly Cup, to be held in Tampa, FL in January 2006.

Following the round-robin phase of the tournament in which Massachusetts soundly defeated the New Hampshire and Rhode Island squads - with goals from eight different players - the Massachusetts women faced the defending national champion, Eastern New York, in the tournament final.

The match started at a very high pace, but in spite of several scoring opportunities for both sides, the first half ended scoreless, thanks in part to some stellar saves by Massachusetts goalkeeper Shannon Rowan. The second half began with clear control by the Massachusetts squad, resulting on two goals in the first ten minutes of the period. In the 52nd minute of the game, Massachusetts central midfielder Laura Asbell received a cross from forward Lauren Lukis and sent midfielder Kara Mirarchi through on the right side; Mirarchi beat her defender and rifled a shot to the far post past the Eastern New York goalkeeper for a 1-0 lead. Less than two minutes later, Lukis once again played the ball to the middle to Asbell who head-flicked it to a streaking Mirarchi on the right side; this time Mirarchi brought the ball to the end line and sent a long cross to the far post setting up forward Lindsay Sheffield, who responded by heading home the eventual game winner.

The game became a midfield affair for most of the remainder of the half, but a late goal by Eastern New York made things a bit tense for the Massachusetts squad at the end of the game. Massachusetts withstood a furious rally by Eastern New York in the waning moments of the match, but held on for a 2-1 victory and the Region I championship. Lauren Lukis was voted the tournament MVP. The Massachusetts women finished the tournament with the most goals scored as well as the fewest goals allowed.

Massachusetts Women Select Region 2005 USSF Region I Champions

The Massachusetts team was comprised of goalkeepers Shannon Rowan and Nicole Snizek; defenders Annmarie Yutkins, Heather Carr, Heather Macedo, Susanne Carter and Jessica Talbot; midfielders Kara Mirarchi, Laura Asbell, Hillary McGarr, Amy Pelletier, Kristin Anderson, Lois Farrell and Meagan Hess; and forwards Lauren Lukis, Lindsay Bruno, Lindsay Sheffield and Shannon Dowling. The squad was coached by Paul Athanasiadis and Gabe Mejal.