NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., August 25, 2023 – After missing out on a trip to the NJCAA Div. I Women's Soccer Championship in 2022, the Monroe College Mustangs women's soccer team has its sights set on a return to the national stage in 2023. The journey begins this weekend with a season-opening trip to the Carolinas. The Mustangs head into the season ranked No. 12 in both the NJCAA and United Soccer Coaches Preseason Polls.
The Mustangs come into 2023 with new leadership, as
Dr. Mercedes Motz took over as head coach of the program in the spring. Coach Motz was with the Mustangs in 2022 as an assistant coach, and now looks to inject new life and personality into the team in her first season at the helm.
Monroe really challenged itself in 2022 with a difficult schedule featuring five nationally ranked opponents, all of which the Mustangs played away from home, in the regular season. The Mustangs took a 7-2-2 overall record into the postseason, which included a victory over No. 15 LSU Eunice and draws with No. 8 Monroe Community College and No. 13 Daytona State College. Monroe's opening-round matchup in the Region 20 Championship saw them defeat Essex County College at home, 4-0. The Mustangs then visited then-No. 6 Monroe Community College, falling to the Tribunes, 2-0, in the semifinals to be eliminated from postseason contention.
The Mustangs return a lot of experience from last year's roster looking to change their fates this time around. The roster features 16 returning sophomores, including double-digit point scorers
Sabrina Bastos da Silva, who led the team with 11 goals and 29 points, and
Louise Featherstone, who totaled 11 points on five goals and an assist. Sophomores
Samara Dullabh and
Angel Fowler have stepped into leadership roles in 2023 as the team's two captains. The Mustangs bolstered their lineup with the addition of nine freshman newcomers.
Monroe's season-opening trip to the Carolinas begins on Saturday, Aug. 26, when they visit Div. II No. 20 Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, N.C. They will then make the jump over the Lancaster, S.C. for a matchup with USC Lancaster the following day at 12:30 p.m.
Monroe takes to the road once again the following weekend for a three-day stay in Maryland. The Mustangs will take on Montgomery College on Sept. 1 before trekking over to Harford Community College on Sept. 3. The Mustangs hit the road once more on Sept. 11 when they visit Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, Pa.
The Mustangs only pair of scheduled home games will take place on Friday, Sept. 15, and Sunday, Sept. 17, respectively. Monroe welcomes Lake Tahoe Community College of the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) to Skidelsky Field in New Rochelle on Sept. 15 for an 11 a.m. kickoff. The Mustangs will then host Bryant & Stratton College (Rochester) of the USCAA on Sept. 16 at 1 p.m.
The schedule takes a step up for Monroe's next three matches, beginning on Sept. 23 when the Mustangs head up to Rochester, N.Y. to challenge No. 5 Monroe Community College. They follow that up with a trip to Florida the following week, first taking on No. 4 Eastern Florida State College on Sept. 28. After a couple of days off in the sun, the Mustangs then visit No. 9 Daytona State College on Oct. 1.
The schedule slows down for Monroe for its final two games of the regular season. The Mustangs will take a short trip down to Newton, N.J. to take on Sussex County Community College on Oct. 14. The following Friday, Oct. 20, they close out the regular season at College of Southern Maryland in La Plata, Md.
The postseason format for the East District will be determined and announced at a later date. The 2023 NJCAA Div. I Women's Soccer Championship is set to take place at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, Kan., from Nov. 17-23.
Monroe's journey back to the national stage begins against Cape Fear tomorrow, Aug. 26. Kickoff for the season opener is set for 4 p.m.
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 28 teams competing across nine sports. There are 20 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well the Monroe College marching band, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has seven teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.
For more information about the Monroe Mustangs, please visit us at
www.MonroeCollegeMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (
Monroe Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (
@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (
@monroemustangs).
