NEW LONDON, N.H. – The Colby-Sawyer women's soccer team is eager for the new season to commence as they look to clinch a playoff seed under new leadership. 
 
A NEW ERA
Head coach Anthony Cosky will be at the helm for his 1^st season as a Colby-Sawyer Charger. Cosky brings a wealth of coaching experience from various levels of competition. Before becoming the 10th head coach in program history, Cosky was the assistant coach at Clark University for the 2021 season and previously was the head coach at Becker College for four seasons. 
 
The new Charger head coach has high expectations for his team heading into the 2022 season. Last year the team finished in the nineth seed away from making it into post-season play last year ending with a 4-10-1 overall record and 4-8-1 conference record. Since joining the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) in 2019, the Chargers have yet to make a playoff appearance. 
 
"I am really impressed with the amount of talent that we have," Cosky said after completing the team's first preseason practice. "I think we can compete with anybody in this conference. I know there's going to be some tough competition, but I feel like we have the players to do it and to make it to the playoffs." 
 
THE CAPTAINS
Seniors Thea Alberti (Wilmington, Mass.) and Jess Stuckart (Windham, N.H.) will lead the team as captains for the 2022 season. The veteran leaders are confident they will guide their team into post-season play. 
 
Three-year starter, Alberti is a nursing major who made an immediate impact in her first year as a Charger. Thea started in all 19 games and recorded two goals including a game winning goal in her rookie season. Her defensive presence for the Chargers was key to holding down the backline and earned her a spot on the GNAC All-Conference Third Team. As a junior, Alberti was named a team captain and transitioned to being the defensive leader for the Chargers. 
 
"I think that we are coming in super strong," said Alberti when asked about this season's expectations. "We have such a great team bond already. We are building a strong team chemistry, and everyone is super excited and happy to be here." The senior captain expressed how important it would be to make playoffs in her final year, "It would be a dream to make it in my last year and I feel like we're going to get there this season." 

Fellow senior captain, Stuckart who is a nursing major enters her fourth season as a Charger for the women's soccer team. The seasoned defender started in 14 of the 15 matches during the 2021 season. Jess recorded the game winning assist in the Chargers victory over Simmons University last year on September 18^th. 
 
"I think we're expecting to surprise everyone," said Stuckart. "We got a lot of new, good players and we're building a lot of team chemistry. I think that's going to take us really far this year." Stuckart also described the Chargers backline saying, "We're strong, we're tough, and we're ready for an exciting season." 

NEW ADDITIONS
Coach Cosky has five first years added to the 2022 roster and hopes the newcomers will aid the team in making playoffs.   
 
First-year defender Sophie Nadeau (Hampton, N.H.) is expected to make a defensive impact for the Chargers. Nadeau went to Saint Thomas Aquinas High School in which she was named the team's captain and was a First Team All-State selection. 
 
Entering the midfield position as a first year is Lauren Ardolino (Milford, Conn.). The crime and legal studies major attended Joseph A. Foran High School where she was a team captain. 
 
Fellow first year teammates Kaylee Manzella (Littlelton, N.H.) and Sierra Flint (Orford, N.H.) will both look to assist the Chargers midfield this year, while on the offensive side, first year forward Emma Collins will look to be an attacking threat. 
 

WHAT TO KNOW
The Chargers have a total of 20 regular season matches scheduled, with 13 of them being GNAC games. Their 2022 season opener will take place on September 1^st against Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Maine. Colby-Sawyer remains undefeated against the Mariners with an overall record of 8-0.  
 
The first GNAC conference match takes place on the road for the Chargers against Anna Maria College on September 10^th with a 4:00 pm kickoff. Some other notable matches this season are on September 24^thagainst Lasell University, October 5^th against the 2021 conference champions Johnson & Wales University, and on October 26^th against Saint Joseph's College of Maine. 
 
The Chargers will host a Blood Cancer Awareness game on September 17^th against Albertus Magnus College. The team will also host a Breast Cancer Awareness match on October 5^th against Johnson & Wales University. The seniors will be recognized on October 15^th for the annual Senior Day match against Rivier University. 
 
The 2022 GNAC Preseason Poll predicted that the women's team will finish in nineth place this season. The Chargers are optimistic that they can make program history by becoming the first team to clinch a playoff seed since joining the conference in 2019.  

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