April 12, 2011
WASHINGTON - Georgetown University Head Women's Soccer Coach Dave Nolan took a few moments to reflect about his seniors during the team's season-ending banquet this past Saturday at the Leavey Center Ballroom on campus.
When the Class of 2011 was freshmen, they saw a group of seniors lead them to the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance. Nolan said that this year's class - seniors Michaela Buonomo (Churchville, Pa./Council Rock), Jackie DesJardin (Sunnyvale, Calif./Archbishop Mitty), Caitlin Durkee (St. Paul, Minn./Como Park), Ingrid Wells (Upper Montclair, N.J./Montclair) and Kelly Steele (Carlsbad, Calif./Carlsbad) - reminded him of that 2007 class in that they wanted to make their mark on the Hilltop before they left.
And the mark the seniors and the Hoyas made during the 2010 season was what more than 100 people were there to celebrate as the team closed out its spring schedule the team's banquet.
The Hoyas are coming off the most successful season in program history, posting a 15-7-2 overall record and advancing to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Georgetown finished the season ranked No. 18 in the country by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).
"When this group came in, they were part of a team that brought us to our first NCAA appearance," Nolan said to the crowd. "And this group was determined to take this program one step further. We never, ever would have had the success we had if it were not for them, on and off the field."
The dinner was also a chance to honor the team's award winners from the season. After brief addresses from Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Lee Reed and Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs Dan O'Neil, the team's 2010 highlight film was shown, showcasing the team's run in the NCAA Tournament with wins over Siena, Maryland and Minnesota, as well as the accomplishments of seven players who earned postseason honors.
Nolan and his staff - associate head coach Naomi Meiburger and assistant coach Mike Calabretta - recognized the team's award winners. Four members of the team were selected to All-Northeast Region teams by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). Midfielders Kelly D'Ambrisi (Trumbull, Conn./Lauralton Hall Academy) and Wells earned first team honors, while Buonomo was a second team selection and DesJardin neared third team honors.
Wells, who was named the BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year and a First Team All-America, was one of five players recognized with All-BIG EAST honors. She and D'Ambrisi were named first team, while junior forward Camille Trujillo (Albuquerque, N.M./St. Pius X) earned All-BIG EAST Third Team honors and freshmen Kailey Blain (Merrimack, N.H./Merrimack) and Emily Menges (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) were selected to the BIG EAST All-Rookie Team.
The coaching staff also presented its team awards, with Menges, who is competing for the Georgetown women's track & field team and had her awards accepted by her little brother, named the team's Rookie of the Year; Buonomo was named the team's Defensive Player of the Year and Trujillo, who set a school single-season record with 13 goals, was named the team's Offensive Player of the Year.
After showing a highlight film from the team's trip to Brazil over spring break, the members of the senior class presented gifts to the coaching staff and addressed the team.
"We just wanted to have the chance to thanks the coaches and this team for the opportunity they gave us," Buonomo said, speaking for her classmates. "None of it would have been possible without you three giving us the chance to go to school and play soccer here.
"One of our goals was to make an impact and take the program one step further than the seniors did when we were freshmen in 2007 and I think there's a really good foundation here for the future."
