SUNY Potdam

In the third season under Head Coach Tim Moody, SUNY Potsdam continued its ascent toward the upper echelon of the women’s soccer ranks as the Lady Bears posted a 10-9-2 overall record en route to the best single season record in the programs history and for the first time achieved double digit wins. In doing so the program was recognized by the ECAC and selected to participate in the ECAC Upstate Tournament. The Lady Bears accepted the invitation. This was the first time the women’s soccer team has gone onto postseason play and at their first attempt won a playoff game. They defeated Sage College at home in the quarterfinals by a score of four-nil and moved into the semi-finals.

SUNY Potsdam kicked off the season with a win against local North Country opposition SUNY Canton, posting a two-nil score line with Jen Rutan (#7) scoring the first goal of the season. The Lady Bears would go on to stay undefeated for eight games, picking up seven wins and one draw. The best start to a season in the programs 21 year history. During these 8 games the team scored 33 goals, while only conceding 2 goals. The wins would be against Canton, Wells, Cazenovia, Paul Smith’s, Keystone, SUNY IT, Sage, and a score draw away against neighbor Clarkson University.

There were some close and exciting games against several SUNYAC teams, such as the 3-2 game against Brockport, and 1-0 games against Cortland and Fredonia. Potsdam also played to a home score draw against Oswego, having the better of the game, creating several more scoring opportunities but just couldn’t find the back of the net, all games that could have gone in the Bears favor.

The Lady Bears finished the regular season scoring 14 goals in two wins against Morrisville and Maritime. This propelled the program into new territory and post season play in the ECAC. Potsdam made it three wins out of the last four with another comfortable win of four-nil against Sage with Brittany Hughes (#15) scoring the final goal of the season in the tournament before succumbing to Brockport in the semi-final, the eventual ECAC winners for 2008.

There were many outstanding performances by individuals this season, however most wins, goals, assists, points, corners and 8 shutouts in a season speaks the loudest for the team. The team scored goals going forward in the attack and defended with their lives in front of their own net on defense. Defensively the Bears were able to hold there own, keeping their opponents to 1.47 goals a game while scoring 54 goals at 2.57goals a game.

The program is going from strength to strength and in turn has inspired the players to believe in each other, the staff, the system they play and conviction that they can compete with anybody they face on the soccer pitch. The winning attitude is reflected in the teams play and performance as well as results this year. Coach Moody’s career .442% winning percentage is the highest of any women’s soccer coach and 23 wins keeps him in second place in wins. And despite no individual player being recognized by the SUNYAC, several individuals on the team did break individual game, career and season records.

The 2008 team was all about the journey rather then the destination, but what an astonishing ride it was in the end!