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After recording one of the finest seasons in program history, the Pride has its eyes set on returning to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four seasons with a group of talented returners. Leading the way from last year's 16-3-1 squad is senior defender Kayla Thibeault, a two-time first team All-New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) selection, first team D3kicks.com All-New England, and NCAA Division III All-New England first team selection.
The Pride also return top scorer Nicole Hanewich, who led the team with 16 goals and seven assists, good enough for 39 points in 20 games. In the midfield, NCAA Division III All-New England honoree Lauren Peltier returns to control the pace of the game. In the net, Sue Jenney returns her .673 goals against average, which was 37th best in the country last season.
Springfield has established itself as one of the top teams in the New England Region in Division III. In 2005, when SC posted a 14-5-3 overall record, the Pride won its first-ever NEWMAC Championship. In the NEWMAC title game, after remaining even with national powerhouse Wheaton College through regulation and two overtimes, the Pride advanced to its first NCAA Division III Tournament by outscoring the Lyons 4-3 on penalty kicks.
In 2001, the Pride was ranked as high as No. 23 nationally, and went on to compile a 14-6-1 record, which included a second-place finish in both the NEWMAC regular-season standings and conference tournament. The Pride won nine of its first 10 matches that season, including a 3-0 win at Amherst, which went on to the NCAA Division III National Championship match.
Head Coach John Gibson received high honors in 2005 when he was named the NEWMAC Coach of the Year and the NSCAA/adidas Division III New England Regional Coach of the Year. He also was the head men's coach at Division I Marshall University for five seasons (1989-93), and was the Southern Conference Coach of the Year in 1990.
The Pride has a 94-52-12 (.633) record in Gibson’s eight seasons at SC.
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