SAINTS READY FOR ACTION

IN LOTTO CLASSIC

Aug. 31: The Saints women’s soccer team is optimistic about the 2007 season as they prepare for the Lotto North Country Classic this upcoming weekend, where they will play against Utica and Norwich at Clarkson University.

“Preseason went very well, and with scrimmages so early on, we had to get everyone on the same page relatively quickly,” Head Coach Deb Biche said.

Following a successful preseason, the Saints are excited to see what the first-year players bring to the field. “The returning players have painted a very good picture for our first-years, and they picked things up easily,” Biche said. “They had a great energy level throughout preseason and it was a very positive environment for everyone on the team.”

The team is young this year, with one senior, four juniors, and 19 sophomore and first-year players, but Biche finds that encouraging as she sees it as an opportunity for the team to improve upon last season’s 5 th place Liberty League finish and to build a strong team for future seasons.

“We’re young, but experienced,” Biche said. “We have 14 players returning, including eight starters. Seven of our nine sophomores started at some point in season last year. We have depth as a team which will allow for greater flexibility in our lineup.”

In front, the Saints will look towards captain Julie Giller, who had three goals for a total of six points during her junior season, and 2006 Liberty League Honorable Mention Becca Townsend, who was a starter during her first year and had four goals and three assists, totaling 11 points in her rookie season. “We will look to attack with numbers and create goal scoring opportunities while we get players forward,” Biche says. “We hope to force turnovers defensively and take advantage of opportunities created by this.”

Liberty League All-Conference player and captain Lauren Sischo will maintain the momentum the of the team in midfield with the help of Liberty League 2006 Rookie of the Year Stanzi McGlynn, who was also named a 2 nd Team All Liberty League midfielder. Sischo scored nine goals for the Saints and had one assist for 19 points during her sophomore campaign. McGlynn had two goals and seven assists for 11 points during her first season.

The Saints will be looking to the younger members of the team on the defensive side of the ball. “We’re young in the back, after graduating two starting backs and a senior goalkeeper,” says Biche. Sophomore Rachelle Doucette will be play a huge role defensively, as she started in each of the games during her rookie season.

With conference play on the horizon, Biche has looked ahead to see what’s in store for the Saints this season. “We have a very tough schedule this year,” she says. “The Liberty League is one of the toughest leagues in NCAA Division III soccer, but I think we have a lot to look forward to."

2007 SAINTS WELCOME PAIANO AS NEW ASSISTANT COACH

Aug. 23: With pre-season well underway, The Saints women’s soccer team has much to look forward to for the upcoming season, including the leadership and guidance of the squad’s new assistant coach, Steve Paiano.

“I'm really excited to be part of the ongoing excellence that is expected here at St. Lawrence,” Paiano said.  “I believe I can add a great deal to this already successful program, while also learning from [Head Women’s Soccer Coach] Deb Biche.  I'm looking forward to being part of a team that will challenge for the Liberty League title this year.”

A member of the U-20 Canadian National Team in 2001, Paiano (right) brings both personal and professional knowledge to the St. Lawrence women’s soccer team coaching staff. “I'm thrilled to have Steve join our staff,” Biche said, who is entering her tenth season as the Saints women’s head coach. “His playing and coaching experiences will be a tremendous asset for our program.”

Paiano was the goalkeeper consultant at Colgate University in the winter and spring of 2006, holding three-day goalkeeper training clinics on the weekends. He was an assistant coach for the Ottawa Fury Girls U-13 team throughout the winter and spring of 2006 as well, where he worked with goalkeepers, implemented conditioning regiments, and collaborated on individual and team defending strategies. Paiano also coached at La Cite Collegiale in Ottawa, Ontario as the men’s assistant coach for the 2005 season, working primarily with midfielders and goalkeepers.

A 2004 graduate of Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, Canada, Paiano was the starting goalkeeper at Mount Allison for two seasons and had the 2 nd most shutouts in Canada in 2004. He was awarded the Athlete of the Week Award twice during his last campaign with Mount Allison and was ranked 9 th in the nation by the end of the 2004 season. In 2006, Paiano played his final year of eligibility for St. Mary’s University, where he helped his team earn both a birth at the Canadian National Championships in Edmonton, Alberta, and a sixth place ranking in the country.

Paiano also played for the Ottawa Internationals Men’s Premier Soccer Team from 2003 through 2005 and was the starter keeper as well as the 2004 Player’s MVP award winner.

(Above photo by Tara Freeman)

GILLER AND SISCHO TO CAPTAIN

SAINTS IN 2007

Aug. 8: Head Coach Deb Biche formally announced the captains for the women’s soccer team today. Senior Julie Giller of Bellingham, WA and Junior Lauren Sischo of Rodman, NY will lead the Saints in the 2007 campaign.

The Saints, who went 9-7-1 last season, will again be a very young team in 2007 with just one senior and four juniors returning. Coach Biche knows that leadership will be an integral part of the team’s success next season. “Julie and Lauren have both demonstrated that they can and will be very effective leaders,” she says.

Julie Giller a senior from Bellingham, WA has played a variety of roles for the Saints the past three years but settled in as a forward in 2006. She has a career tally of seven goals and two assists while twice being named to the Liberty League All-Academic team. “Julie is one of the most tenacious players we have had here,” Biche says. “She thrives in competitive situations, and once she crosses the white line, she’s a true competitor, whether it’s a practice or a game. She will be responsible for setting the bar in our daily practice situations and holding her teammates accountable for their intensity every day.”

Former South Jefferson High School standout Lauren Sischo has already made an impressive mark on the Saints program in just two years. She was named to the Liberty League All Conference team and led the team in total points in 2006 with nine goals, one assist and three game-winning goals.

“Lauren is the workhorse for our team,” Biche says. “She has been a great role model for all of her teammates and has already provided a leadership role. I haven’t seen anyone match her work rate and the positive attitude she presents on a daily basis. She’s also very unassuming. She will give credit to everyone around her before taking any of her own. Her value system and her daily approach to the game and life will assist her in being a great captain for this program.”