The St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Soccer team returns to action for the 2021 season with high expectations, as the program looks to a new head coach and a retooled roster to propel them into the postseason. The Spartans were selected to finish 6th in the annual ECC preseason coaches poll released last week.
In 2019, STAC finished with an overall record of 2-13-2 and a 1-5-2 mark in ECC play, missing the conference playoffs. A summer of roster rebuilding and high hopes of a marked improvement were dashed in 2020 when the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, almost 22 months since the Spartans last regular season match, there is reason for optimism. Soccer is back and newly promoted Head Coach Chris Nichol has his team focused and ready to battle the region's best this season.
The Spartans return 14 players from the 2019 season, as Alessandra Santoriello, Colleen Stevens, Justine Drum, Jacquelyn Murphy, Caitlin Speranza, Corinne Kelly, Samantha Cardaci, Colette Martucci, Amandajane Fuchs-White, Merari Rodriguez, Katarina Ott, Jacquelyn Kaplan, Ally Gauzza and Reilly Henry will make up the core returning to Sparkill this fall.
A good mix of freshmen and upperclassmen in; Lucille Bluntschli, Rachel Brownell, Dharma Kotecha, Jessica Casanova, Francia, Pressoir, Ilena Santiago and Kiley Metcalf have been brought in to help give STAC the additional size, speed and skill necessary to make a push for the playoffs.
A familiar face will patrol the STAC sideline this season, as former Assistant and Associate Coach Chris Nichol has been elevated to Head Coach for the 2021 season. Assistant coach Adrian Palau also returns, while Brielle Heitman, Chris Owen and Fabio Hernandez come on board for their first seasons with the maroon and gold.
St. Thomas Aquinas College will open their 2021 season at Spartan Field on Saturday, September 4 against Franklin Pierce University, with kickoff scheduled for 4pm.
2021 ECC Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll
| School | Pts. | 2019 Record |
| 1. Mercy (4) | 93 | 13-3-4 (5-1-2 ECC) |
| 2. Molloy (4) | 90 | 15-5-3 (5-3-0 ECC) |
| 3. Bridgeport (2) | 82 | 9-7-3 (6-1-1 ECC) |
| 4. Daemen | 63 | 11-4-3 (4-2-2 ECC) |
| 5. Roberts Wesleyan | 59 | 10-6-3 (3-3-2 ECC) |
| T6. Queens | 49 | 7-9-1 (1-6-1 ECC) |
| T6. St. Thomas Aquinas | 49 | 2-13-2 (1-5-2 ECC) |
| 8. Staten Island | 27 | 6-7-1 (n/a) |
| 9. D'Youville | 24 | 10-6-2 (n/a) |
| 10. Lincoln (Pa.) | 11 | 1-14-0 (0-8-0 ECC) |
( ) – first place votes
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Dana Poetzsch, Sr., M, Molloy
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Jackie Carty, Sr., GK, Molloy