American International College field hockey head coach Ashley Mazzoli and her captains note that the team appears stronger and more fit this season.
"I think we have a fitness level that's quite impressive," Mazzoli said. "One of the best teams we've had collectively in a while."
The Jackets will put that strength on display as they begin their season with four straight home games in a quest to improve upon a 4-14 record from last season, starting with a contest against Saint Thomas Aquinas on Sept. 2. AIC is projected to finish eighth in the Northeast-10 Conference.
Nine freshmen join the roster, adding depth to a team that lost five seniors after 2015.
"Our freshman class is going to be huge for us in terms of they're going to see time right away," Mazzoli said. "We scrimmaged on Friday, they all saw minutes, they all made an impact on our game and on our offense."
RECAPPING 2015: AIC book-ended its season with wins, posting a 2015-opening win against Mercyhurst University, and closing the year with a victory over Mercy College. The Yellow Jackets also added wins against conference opponents Southern New Hampshire University and a 1-0 win over Pace University, highlighted by an overtime goal from midfielder Paige Montague and sophomore Taylor Ross's first career shutout.
KEY LOSSES: Captain Erica McLean graduated after tying for the team lead in points (15) in 2015 and being named second team All-Conference. Midfielder Kaylin Harbin joined McLean in the NFHCA Senior Game, after registering four points during the season. Ainslee Penfield played four games in net and also notched eight points as a forward.
CAPTAINS: Senior captains Lizz Moulton, Katie Lombardozzi and Emma Heroth will each wear the C this season.
FORWARDS: Senior forward Taylor Ruscillo returns as the team's leading goal scorer (six goals, 15 points) from last season. Heroth had nine points last year, while junior Liv Magni posted eight. Fresh faces include freshmen Georgia Barnes, Mikayla Jones and Jenny Holmquist.
MIDFIELD: Lombardozzi (three points in 2015) will lead the way in the midfield. Junior twins Paige and Payton Montague will also play a prominent role. Freshmen Katelynn Leclerc and Enara Foncea join the team this year as well.
DEFENSE: Moulton started all 18 games in 2015, and will lead a young defensive corps that includes sophomore Anna King and freshmen Chelsea Davis, Kalisi Taufalele and Raquel Granados.
GOALIE: Last season,Ross saw the majority of time in net, playing in 13 of the team's 18 games last year. In her nearly 914 minutes of play, Ross posted a goals-against average of 3.34 and a save percentage of .766. However, her classmate, Chelsea Lombardo, continues to push for playing time, and the coaching staff is confident that either goalkeeper can win games for the team.
"We have the ability to sub people in at any position, which makes us pretty dangerous," Mazzoli said.
KEY DATES: Adelphi University, the preseason No. 3 selection in the NE-10, visits AIC on Sept. 10. The Yellow Jackets' first road game will be a non-conference matchup at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, New York, on Sept. 14. In conference play, AIC will travel to face Merrimack College, the preseason conference number-one pick, on Oct. 8. Defending conference champion Stonehill College hosts the Yellow Jackets on Oct. 19.
