PIKE CREEK, Del. – Head Coach John Cappiello announced Mon., July 12, five additions to the Goldey-Beacom College women's soccer program. Tess Beukers (Calvert HS/Lusby, Md.), Kaitlin Doherty (St. Thomas More Preparatory/Magnolia, Del.), Alexandra Ford (Dover, Del./Dover), Samantha Luppino (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown) and Danielle Semenza (Hazleton Area/Hazleton, Pa.) have each committed to Goldey-Beacom and will join the Lightning for the Fall 2010 season.
This new influx of talent, along with 14 returning players (five who started all 16 games) from last year's roster has fourth-year coach Cappiello thinking the program should bounce back from a 2-14 campaign in 2009.
“Every season is a journey,” Cappiello said. “With a good recruiting year and a strong Spring season with the incumbents, we are hoping to put the entire package together and be the most improved team in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference this 2010 season.”
Tess Beukers (Calvert High School)
A two-sport standout in soccer and indoor track at Calvert HS, Beukers helped lead the Cavalier girls' soccer team to a record of 7-5 (7-4 Southern Maryland Athletic Conference) last Fall.
After starting the season with three wins over its first six games, the Cavs reeled off four straight wins and later earned a berth in the Class 2A South region quarterfinals, but were eliminated after a 1-0 loss to county rival Patuxent.
Beukers' most cherished memories at Calvert include defeating SMAC power and county rival Huntingtown her sophomore year, and later that season, scoring the tying goal in an eventual playoff win against River Hill of Howard County.
Calvert head girls' soccer coach Dawn Lister told The Recorder: “Tess always played on the field with determination. She was a solid defensive player for us at Calvert High School, and she will be missed.”
Beukers also looked at offers from Coker (S.C.) College, Eckerd (Fla.) College, Wesley (Del.) College and Jackson State (Miss.) University. An honors student at Calvert, she would like to study criminal law. She eventually selected Goldey-Beacom for what it offered her both athletically and academically.
“I chose to attend [Goldey-Beacom] because I got along well with the soccer team during my visit,” she said. “Also, ninety-five percent of their graduates obtain a job in their field directly after graduation. I'm so excited, it's been a dream for me.”
The Lightning, which lose two midfielders to graduation in Second-Team All-Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference selection Kate Attenberger and four-year letterwinner Laura Yanacek, still have six returning midfielders in 2010, including Karin Eriksson, who has scored nine goals each of the last two seasons.
Beukers, a midfielder in high school, will look to bring depth to the GBC midfield line in 2010.
“I need to work hard, especially as a freshman coming in with a team that has been together for a while,” Beukers said. “I'm not a one-man show. I know my surroundings, and I know what to do with the ball when it's given to me.”
Cappiello said Beukers is a player that can immediately improve the Lightning's attacking shape and scheme.
“We need to be stronger in 2010 with our midfield-striker connection for the team to be statistically improved from the 2009 season,” Cappiello said. “Tess's talents can be a solid fit in this component of our team game. She comes from a good high school and travel program which have contributed to her development as a good soccer player.”
Kaitlin Doherty (St. Thomas More Preparatory)
After a decorated high school career at St. Thomas More Preparatory under head coach Josh Katz, Doherty figures to also be an impact player for the Lightning this Fall.
“Katie comes to GBC as an all-around positional player. She has great experience coming from the youth competitive cauldron with high school soccer, travel soccer, and ODP experience on her resume,” Cappiello said.
A second-team all-state selection twice and a first-team all-conference selection three times, Doherty led St. Thomas More to a Diamond State Conference Championship in her senior season this past Fall. She capped her high school career on a high note on June 10 when she was named the White team's most valuable player in the 15th annual Delaware Blue-White All-Star Senior Girls' Soccer Game.
After the game, Doherty told Mike Finney of the Wilmington News Journal: “That was a fun game. It was a good way to end my high school career. I'm so excited for college. I'll be going to Goldey-Beacom.”
Before transferring to STMP, Doherty had a terrific freshman season at Caesar Rodney under head coach Darrel Gravatt. There she set the school record for header goals in a season with five and she earned third-team all-state and first-team all-conference honors. She helped CR win the Henlopen Conference Championship in 2006.
Doherty also competed on the VISTA Shockwave, which was a Virginia State Championship finalist in 2008, and the five-time Delaware State Champion, CDSA Power.
Her high school successes were not just on the field though, as Doherty made the Academic Honors List all four years, was named a Scholar Athlete from 2006-2009, and earned the President's Award for Educational Achievement in 2010. She also participated in the Key Club, SAW I and Young Life.
“Her enthusiasm and passion for the game will be a positive force with our team component,” Cappiello said. “She can perform well at any position on the field. We are hoping that she can carry a wonderful youth career into her collegiate career beginning Fall 2010.”
Alexandra Ford (Dover High School)
A four-year player at Dover High School under Kristin Lupo, Ford brings to GBC a winning attitude after playing on three state tournament teams from 2007-2009.
Ford was named first-team all-conference this past Fall, and recently played in the Delaware Blue-White game for the victorious Blue team. She was also named a Dover High School Girls' Soccer Academic Scholar in 2007, 2009 and 2010.
A very involved student at Dover High, Ford was the History Club president, a member of the National Honor Society, Business Professionals of America, Earth Day committee, Make a Difference Day committee, and she also completed a kindergarten tutoring internship. Her Business Professionals team took second place at the state conference and competed at the national level.
Ford made the honor roll all four years and earned the Dover Officers' Spouses' Club Scholarship.
“Allie also brings positional flexibility to the GBC unit. She is a strong athlete with good pace and physical strength,” Cappiello said. “She also brings a high level of determination and desire to her individual and team game - the intangibles of performance. She is in the process of also being the type of player that will be better in college than in her youth career.”
Samantha Luppino (Huntingtown High School)
A four-year letterwinner at Hungtingtown High under Gina Hobson, Luppino led her school to two regional championships and one Southern Maryland Athletic Conference championship.
Luppino, who captained the team her senior year, earned a Minds in Motion award and was on the honor roll all four years.
She also played travel soccer for the CSA Hornets, which later changed its name to the Freestate Hornets. Coached by Patrick Noel (Freestate Soccer Alliance Director of Coaching), Mary Hearin (former assistant at University of Maryland Baltimore County) and Edgar Rauch (led team to U-14 Md. State Cup Championship), the Hornets have a rich history that includes four Maryland State Cup championships and eight finals appearances. Also on the Hornets is GBC-bound Tess Beukers and Tina Antzoulatous, who is headed to Monmouth University.
“Sam will be bringing talents that will contribute to both the defensive midfield and defending fullback shape of the team,” Cappiello said. “[Like the other recruits], she is a tactically disciplined and strong player which comes from a lot of experience with all phases: youth soccer, ladder-high school, travel, and ODP. She also comes from a strong high school and travel program. We anticipate a good contribution from her right away as a freshman.”
Danielle Semenza (Hazleton Area High School)
Semenza comes to GBC a very accomplished high school player despite playing just two seasons at Hazleton Area High. She finished her two-year career with 54 goals and set the single-season goal record with 31 goals in 2009.
“Danielle represents an important addition to the offensive part of the team,” Cappiello said. “A good goal scorer, she is a very committed and focused soccer player, represented by her continued participation in travel soccer.”
She was recently named the Wyoming Valley Conference co-most valuable player, a WVC all-star, and a Citizen's Voice all-star. Also, she twice earned the Hazleton Standard Speaker “Athlete of the Week,” in April of 2009 and April of 2010.
Semenza led the Cougars to an undefeated regular season in 2010 and a finals appearance as a No. 3 seed in the PIAA District 2 Class AAA championship where they would fall to Abington Heights, 4-0. She had a terrific post season, including a three-goal and one-assist performance in the Cougars' 4-0 first-round victory over Pittston Area.
In 2009, the Cougars lost just one regular season game and reached the PIAA District 2 semifinal game. Danielle, along with her younger sister Nicole, were often the one-two scoring punch for Hazleton that season. One of three pairs of sisters on the Hazleton Area squad, Danielle and Nicole were featured in a story entitled “Sister Act” in Hazleton's Standard Speaker.
“She will be a better player in college than in high school,” Cappiello insisted. “We look for her to have a wonderful career with GBC. She had a strong interest with GBC right away in the recruiting process.”
