STANDISH, ME - The Saint Joseph's Women's Soccer team entered the 2008 campaign with lofty expectations after posting a program record 16 wins along with a .889 winning percentage the previous season. With a tougher schedule in place, the Lady Monks posted a 13-5-1 overall record and went 9-2-1 in GNAC play to earn their second-consecutive #2 seed in the conference tournament.

Despite a stunning 3-2 double-overtime loss to seventh-seeded Johnson & Wales University in the quarterfinal round, the Lady Monks enjoyed a highly successful season. The 13 wins total by the Royal Blue is the fourth highest in the traditionally-strong program's history. St. Joe's rode a 10 game unbeaten streak, including a stretch of five straight shutouts, into the GNAC playoffs, with both ranking second in team history.

The 2008 Lady Monks squad, which featured three seniors, five juniors, five sophomores and five freshmen, opened the season with a pair of losses to regional contenders Wheaton College, who later advanced to the NCAA Tournament, and Babson College. Although the games may not have gone as planned, the experience proved to be valuable later down the road when St. Joe's was pursuing a top seed in the conference playoffs.

Saint Joseph's rebounded with two shutout victories over GNAC opponents Lasell College and Mount Ida College. A trip to Northfield, VT yielded a 4-2 loss to eventual GNAC Champion Norwich University as the Lady Monks fell to 2-1 in league play. Lopsided victories over GNAC counterparts Pine Manor College Suffolk University followed, as the Royal Blue outscored the duo by a 12-2 margin.

St. Joe's suffered a 3-2 loss to league rival Emmanuel College on October 4th, but the Lady Monks followed with the aforementioned ten-game undefeated streak, outscoring opponents by a 25-6 tilt and posting six shutouts during the three week period of dominance. St. Joe's picked up five conference victories, including a satisfying 2-0 win over Emerson College, who knocked St. Joe's out of the playoffs last season via penalty kicks, on October 8th.

With a 4-2 triumph over Maine Maritime Academy on October 5th, Head Coach Michael Bolanz ‘00, in his fifth season, broke the program mark for coach wins with his 55th victory. Former Head Coach David Roussel (1998-02) previously held the record with a 54-35-5 record in five seasons. Bolanz wrapped up the ‘08 year with a 63-29-5 record and currently holds the best winning percentage, .676, in team history.

Two SJC players were recognized by the GNAC for their standout play during the streak. Sophomore forward Mikayla Call (Portland, ME/McAuley) was named as the GNAC Player of the Week on October 6th and junior goalkeeper Katye Mayo (Fairfield, ME) received GNAC Goalkeeper of the Week honors three weeks later.

Following the completion of the regular season, four Saint Joseph's players garnered All-Conference recognition. Mikayla Call was named to the GNAC First Team while midfielder Katie Jordan ‘09 (Sandwich, MA) and junior defenders Anna Willis (Gorham, ME) and Lauren Hagerman (Scarborough, ME) received Second Team honors.

For the second-consecutive season, Call led the Lady Monks in scoring with 14 goals and 33 points. Her goals tally was the third-highest in the league while her 33 points ranked fifth. In two seasons, Call has accumulated 69 total points, which ranks ninth in program history.

Co-captain Katie Jordan capped her four-year career with a fine season with 10 goals and six assists for 26 points, with all totals ranking second on the team. She led the Lady Monks and was second in the conference with five game-winning goals. Jordan collected postseason accolades after each of her four seasons and was invited to play in the 2008 NEWISA Senior Game. She completes her career with 76 points, the seventh-highest tally in team annals.

Willis and Hagerman anchored a backline that allowed 1.38 goals per game, fourth-best in the league, and posted 10 shutouts, which ranked second in the GNAC. Willis split her time between forward and back and notched five goals and 12 points on the season. Hagerman, known as a shutdown defender by opposing coaching staffs, gained the first postseason recognition of her collegiate career with the honor.

Senior co-captain Lauren Harrigan (Caribou, ME) was selected as the team's representative on the GNAC All-Conference Sportsmanship Team.

Forward Jessica Needham ‘11 (E. Bridgewater, MA) tallied eight goals and eight assists for 24 points while midfielders Brianna Jordan 10 (Scarborough, ME) and Whitney Linindoll ‘11 (Paris, ME) combined to net seven goals in 2008.
Jennifer Crisp ‘10 (Dedham, MA) and Elizabeth Theberge ‘11 (Danvers, MA) both roamed the backline in front of junior keeper Katye Mayo and helped the side post impressive defensive statistics. Mayo enjoyed another strong campaign in net with a 1.39 goals-against average and nine shutouts.

With nine of eleven starters returning next season and 15 of 18 overall, look for the 2009 SJC women's soccer team to continue on the path to regional contender status and build on the program's rich history.