Listen to Head Coach Ken Prothero Interview
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RADNOR, Pa. - The Cabrini women’s soccer team is through two days of preseason practice at Edith Robb Dixon Field. The Cavaliers begin their defense of the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) crown on Wednesday, Sept. 1 at home against Lawrence University at 3:30 p.m.
“I think we’re doing pretty well,” said ninth-year head coach Ken Prothero. “After the season we had last year, there is a big target on our back.”
Cabrini’s whirlwind 2009 season started with a host of injuries before, during and after preseason. However, a 12-match win streak culminated in a thrilling 1-0 victory in the title game of the CSAC Tournament. The Cavaliers hoisted the hardware and returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2003.
Senior forward Annmarie Kolla is back in 2010 to help ignite the Cabrini attack. It was Kolla’s goal in overtime against No. 1 seed Marywood University that propelled the Blue & White to the national postseason.
Kolla listed second on last year’s team with 24 points on nine goals and six assists. She will also aid the Cavaliers in the leadership department this year with fellow seniors back Brianna Conner, midfielder Dana Nardello and goalkeeper Gianna Porretta.
“I think the one thing we’ve been blessed with the last five or six years, we’ve had great leaders,” Prothero said. “Whether they’ve been captains or upperclassmen, we’ve always had outstanding leadership.”
Conner started 19-of-20 games last season on the Cabrini backline and earned CSAC Second Team honors. Nardello (14 points in 2009) and Porretta (1.28 goals-against average) claimed honorable mention laurels.
Juniors Kara Hinkelmon (11 points) and Sammy Thompson (17 points) are also back in the fold. Thompson was one of two Cavaliers to receive CSAC First Team distinction in 2009.
Cabrini begins its regular season slate against conference opponents on Sept. 18 at home with Cedar Crest College (2:30 p.m.). And, the Cavaliers finish the schedule with nine straight CSAC matches.
“We know that our league just gets better and better every year,” Prothero said. “We used to have three or four teams that would battle it out for the championship. Now, we have to prepare for seven or eight teams.”