Number One Team in the Nation Gearing Up for Playoffs

Number One Team in the Nation Gearing Up for Playoffs

By: Chris Hogan

Managing News Editor

Back in August, UB women's soccer head coach Magnus Nilerud would have never thought that his 2011 squad would accomplish the historical results they are currently experiencing. Now the Purple Knights are a perfect 14-0-0 and are riding as the number one team in Division II rankings into late October.

The team's success has come from having its deepest bench in years, players playing their own game and the improved chemistry. Goaltending has been another strength as sophomore goalkeeper Julia Hansson has recorded nine shutouts and a .958 save percentage, which is second in the nation only behind Southern Connecticut's Jacquelyn Fede.  The Purple Knights have allowed an East Coast Conference low three goals all season.

"We have over exceeded all of the expectations for this season," Nilerud said. "There so many new faces this year and we didn't know if they were going to latch onto the formation that we play and they more than bought into and executed it."

Several newcomers including freshman backfielder Gillian Munro and midfielder Giuana Prugger have stepped in as starters this season and have contributed in different ways. Munro has proven to be a solid player in her own zone and Prugger has added some speed and ball skills to help the forwards up front, while ranking fourth on the team in scoring.

There have been some positions changes this year including junior Becky Wallis, who made the switch from midfielder to backfielder and senior Danielle Weir from backfielder to midfielder, who said it has made difference.

"It has made us focus more since we have switched positions because it has kept out us of our comfort zone but we have stepped up our game more," Weir said.

In order to keep the focus level and the perfect regular season record intact, Nilerud said that his team needs to keep the consistency and defend solidly. The only team that might present a problem for the Purple Knights is Pace University, from the Northeast-10 Conference when they travel to Pleasantville, N.Y. on Oct. 25 due to the unfamiliarity with their field.

"We are much more of a team and everyone has each other's back on the field," senior forward Julia Colley said. "I think we just need to stay fit and play our game [in order to go far this season] because it obviously has been working for us [all season]."