After ending the 2008 season on a very high note with a victory in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England championship, the Brandeis women’s soccer team is looking to continue their success. Forward Melissa Gorenkoff ’10, the tournament MVP, will share the duties of captain this year with goalkeeper Hillary Rosenzweig ’10.

Coach Denise Dallamora, who started the women’s soccer program at Brandeis in 1980, will be joining the team for her 30th season as head coach. Kerry O’Malley will help Dallamora as assistant coach for the third year in a row. The team will be striving for their seventh straight postseason spot and their third straight ECAC title.

Forward Tiffany Pacheco and defender Taryn Martiniello, both ’11, are two players to keep an eye on this season. Last year Pacheco had eight goals and four assists and Martiniello was a critical piece of the championship team.

Mimi, a midfielder, Ali, a midfielder and forward, and Theodore ’12 combined last year to make five goals and two assists and are ready to kick off their second year on the team. Midfielder/defender Alanna Torre, defender Allison Maresca, and defender/midfielder Francesca Shin, all also ’12, are three other players expected to show great improvement since last season. Coach Dallamora is very excited for rookies Stevie Phillips, Meagan Bautist, and Brooke Gruman to be joining the squad as well.

The women’s soccer team will be kicking off their season at home next Tuesday against MIT at 7:30 PM. MIT was 7-9-2 last year, while Brandeis was 13-7-2.