2023 Women's Soccer Season Preview

The College of Southern Maryland women's soccer fall 2023 season gets underway on Friday, Aug. 18, when the Hawks travel to take on Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m.

Midfielder Madelyn Minichino and defender Brooke Portzen return from last year's squad with goalkeeper Ashley Cox returning from the spring 2021 and fall 2021 seasons. Minichino and Portzen started all 11 games for the Hawks last year. Cox started all five of CSM's games in their spring 2021 season and 11 of CSM's 12 games of the fall 2021 season.

Minichino will be a central figure in the Hawks' lineup playing from her central midfield position. She posted two goals and three assists last year. Minichino was named to the 2022 NJCAA Region 20 Division II Women's Soccer All-Tournament Team.

Primarily a defender but making her presence felt all over the field, Portzen registered one goal in the 2022 season against WVU Potomac State College on Sept. 13. She was named to the 2022 NJCAA Region 20 Division II Women's Soccer All-Tournament Team, the NJCAA All-Region 20 Division II Second Team, and the All-Maryland JUCO Second Team.

Minichino and Portzen excelled in the classroom too as they were both named to the 2022-23 Maryland JUCO All-Academic Team with Minichino also being named to the NJCAA All-Academic First Team.

Cox made 32 saves in the spring 2021 season. Over her 11 games in the 2021 season, Cox made a total of 83 saves, which ranked third in Region 20 Division II that season. She made a season-high 15 saves in consecutive games against Montgomery College and Harford Community College.

The Hawks will certainly be trying to replicate and improve upon the level of success they achieved last year, as they made it to the program's first regional championship game in eight years. 

CSM women's soccer head coach Richard Landis said, "This team has the potential to win Region 20 and advance to Nationals. We expect to be competitive in every game this season – including against the nationally-ranked teams on our schedule - and I think we will definitely surprise many teams that we play. Based on what I have seen from our captains Brooke [Portzen] and Madelyn [Minichino], my confidence has only increased and raised my expectations for a highly successful season. We have a cohesive group who like each other and are willing to sacrifice for each other in whatever we will encounter moving forward."

CSM is slated to face two programs ranked in their respective divisions' preseason polls. The Hawks will host CCBC Essex - ranked No. 9 in the NJCAA Division II preseason rankings - on August 22 and Monroe College - ranked No. 12 in the NJCAA Division I preseason rankings - on October 20 to close out the Hawks' regular season.

In addition to Portzen and Minichino, Landis said the program has added "a terrific recruiting class that is highlighted by one of the best high school and travel players in Southern Maryland last year, Megan Hinton. We have a tremendous potential to score lots of goals as a result of Megan Hinton. Our defense will be anchored by Brooke and newcomers Brooklyn Beebe and Zoi Whitsett who will also be a constant offensive threat as a wingback. We have two experienced and excellent goalkeepers in Natalie Schiavone and Ashley Cox, making it hard to score goals against us. Our midfield will be anchored by Madelyn who is one of the best midfielders in NJCAA, supported by a highly skilled freshman Sophia Larson and a veteran Kylee Flint. Finally, up top we will have Alexis Corcoran who is an exquisite finisher and goal scorer. Along with the above, we have several passionate and hardworking newcomers that I expect will make a significant contribution at some point this season in Olivia McGarrah, Nasaiya Prather and Victoria Mendez Garcia."

Landis said, "My main message to the team this season is to build upon what we did last year, making the region finals by doing things the right way - academics, soccer, and togetherness. We will have a smaller squad this season but the quality of players and the positive team culture makes me extremely excited to see where these young ladies will go."