Brockport, NY – The SUNY Brockport women's soccer team is set to begin the 2021 season at home on September 1^st against Nazareth College. This match will begin at 4 pm on that Wednesday.
 
2019 Recap: The Golden Eagles put together a season to be proud of in 2019, finishing 12-7-1 overall and going 6-3 against SUNYAC opponents. They made the postseason for the fourth time in five years, making an appearance in the SUNYAC Semifinals. The team hosted and defeated Oneonta, 3-0, in round one of the tournament before falling to Cortland on the road in the semifinals. Brockport was fantastic on its home field, going 7-2 at home that season and outscoring opponents 30-6 in nine home contests. With 12 wins overall and six SUNYAC victories, the 2019 squad earned the highest win total since 2013 and the most conference wins since 2012.
 
The Driver's Seat: Head Coach Mike Idland is back for his fifth season leading the women's soccer program at Brockport. With the 2020 season being cancelled, Idland is coming off of a 2019 season that featured his most successful team yet since joining Brockport in 2016. In four seasons he owns a 36-31-5 record overall and has only missed the postseason once. When asked about his feelings going into season number five, Coach Idland provided his thoughts.
 
"Going into the 2021 season, more than anything I'm feeling grateful. Our roster is in a really good place right now, and I just really appreciate being able to work with this group of players and then watch them do their thing in games again.  I think we can expect some real swagger on the field along with the maturity and concentration it takes to get results consistently this season." 
 
Preseason Poll: On August 24^th the SUNYAC released the 2021 SUNYAC Preseason Poll, which featured Brockport at number three in the conference. The full listing of the preseason poll has the following rankings: 1. Geneseo, 2. Cortland, 3. Brockport, 4. Plattsburgh, 5. Oneonta, 6. Potsdam, 7. Fredonia, 8. New Paltz, 9. Oswego, and 10. Buffalo State.
 
Key Returners: The Green and Gold has several key pieces from the 2019 season back for another go around including four all-conference players. Kiley Longin was the SUNYAC Rookie of the Year and was an All-SUNYAC Third Team selection in 2019, leading the conference in total points and goals. The Second Team All-SUNYAC goalkeeper, Kayla Usborne returns for the 2021 season. In her freshman campaign she was 8-4-1 in 13 starts, recording 72 saves and multiple shutouts. Camryn Pettit is also back after earning All-SUNYAC Third Team honors in 2019. She was fourth in the conference in total points and second on the team in goals and assists. Franchesca Polcaro puts the Brockport colors on again as well, after earning All-SUNYAC Third Team honors as a freshman in 2019.
 
New Faces: With last year's season being cancelled the 2020 freshman class will finally get its chance to hit the field at the collegiate level. Now sophomores these new faces to the team include Karlie Mann, Elaine George, Hailey Mitchell, Sofia Fortuna, Sophia DeAngelo, Katherine Olsen, Kaylie Isereau, and Allyson Isereau. These girls are joined by the 2021 freshman class that features Victoria Cangialosi, Kellie Gentile, Katie Hotaling, Samantha Saponaro, and Maryalice Skutnik.
 
Schedule Layout: Brockport goes back and forth between home and road games for the first week of the season. However, starting on September 13^th against SUNY Canton the team hosts five straight games. The final two games of the lengthy homestand bring around the start of SUNYAC play as the Green and Gold take on New Paltz on September 24^th and Oneonta on the 25^th. Once conference play begins the team only has two more non-conference opponents to play. Starting on October 8^th, only conference games will remain as the team plays its last four regular season matches on the road.
 
Back to SUNYACs: After making a postseason run into the SUNYAC Semifinals in 2019, the Golden Eagles hope to get back there again in 2021. The final regular season game this year is on the road against Buffalo State on October 23^rd. The SUNYAC Tournament will then begin on Saturday, October 30^th for the first round. The semifinals are set for November 3^rd and the finals will be played on Saturday, November 6^th.
 
Looking at Nazareth: The Golden Flyers from Nazareth were fortunate to have played a shortened season in the spring of 2021 as a part of the Empire 8 Conference. They completed the regular season undefeated at 8-0 and had the opportunity to host the Empire 8 Conference Championship Game. Nazareth took on Utica College for the conference title, losing 4-2 in a penalty kick shootout. In 2019 the team fell in the first round of the Empire 8 Tournament, completing the season with a record of 9-6-2 overall. Brockport fell to Nazareth in 2019 on the road, 2-1, and will look for revenge in 2021.
 
Up Next: The Golden Eagles are on the road this weekend as they travel for a Saturday matchup against Houghton College. Game is set to begin at 1 pm.