Women's Soccer

The Saints Women's Soccer program was founded in 1980 by Bill Borzilleri, then Athletic Director, with the team competing at the club level. In 1981, North Country proudly became the first in the region to pioneer women's junior college soccer at the varsity level. Through the years, the team has been ranked as high as 5th in the nation. The team has honored well over 75 student-athletes on All-Region teams, NJCAA Academic All-Americans, and NJCAA All-Americans.

This 26 year-old soccer program is a member of National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division 3, Region III, which is one of the largest and historically the most competitive athletic conferences in the country.

The program finished its 2006 season with an unexpected 0-13-1 regular season. "We had a very young group of women last year. They did whatever they were asked and were very dedicated to the game and one another,” said Director of Athletics and former head coach Heather Conger. This year’s program will return with 4 key players from the 2006 team and along with 4 transfers who will provide a good foundation of leadership and experience for this year’s team.

This year's team is led by four returning athletes who will be the backbone of the group:  Kristy Harrigan, a Midfielder from Chateaugay, NY (Chateaugay Central); Defender Dana Pelkey of Keene Valley, NY (Keene Central); Sunny Reed, a Midfielder from Keene Valley, NY (Keene Central); and Jessica “JJ” Wolstenholme, a forward from Norwood, NY (Norwood/Norfolk Junior/Senior) who will lead the charge for the Saints.  At the conclusion of the 2006 season Harrigan was named to the former Northern Independence Conference All-Conference Team.

New student-athletes to the Saints program are Amanda Demers, a Goalkeeper from Chateaugay, NY (Chateaugay Central); Jessica Diters, a Defender from Canastota, NY (Cortland State transfer); Rebecca Schwartz, from Saranac Lake, NY (Daemen College transfer) who will control the central midfield; and Jenny Zagrodzki, a Forward from Lake Placid, NY (Hartwick College transfer). Head Coach Kevin Mellon claims that, “With their maturity and previous playing experience, I believe that they will be a huge asset to turn this program around.”

Freshmen newcomers are the Forward, Mindy Bush from Lowville, NY (Beaver River H.S.); and controlling the central midfield position with Schwartz will be Diane Ralyea of McGraw, NY (McGraw H.S.) “I am extremely excited to see what these two players can do for their program” said Mellon.

For questions about the North Country Women’s Soccer Program, please contact Head Coach Kevin Mellon at (518) 891-2915, ext. 305, or kmellon@nccc.edu.

8/22/07 – 2007 Season Preview:

SARANAC LAKE -- The 2007 North Country Women’s Soccer preseason is underway, and by the look of things it is off to a good start.  After their rough 2006 season both Head Coach Kevin Mellon and Assistant Coach Brad Rafferty hit the recruiting road hard and were able to get 18 players from all over New York State to join the NCCC program.

The Women’s Soccer team has been working hard since the first day of preseason on Saturday, August 18.  “Everyone has been in great spirits this year and I think they are ready for Friday, August 31, when they take on Paul Smith’s College at 1 p.m., at the Sparks Athletic Complex on the North Country Saranac Lake campus,” Mellon stated.

Coach Mellon has discussed goals with his team and he expects that all goals will be reached with class.  One goal in particular is to make the NJCAA Region III tournament.  This year’s team is very excited and truly believes that this is an obtainable goal.

Mellon expects that the closeness of the team members will be their major strength as they progress through the season.  This year’s team has been the tightest team he has seen since his first day of employment in 2004.  They have been doing many things as a team outside of their three practices a day.  One of the many team get-together was a hike up to the top of Pitch Off Mountain, located just outside Lake Placid.  “They wanted to do a team building exercise without their coach. I guess they were already sick of my voice,” said Mellon, laughing.

This year Coach Mellon will continue to use a team slogan that he adopted from Pepe Aragon (Mellon’s coach at Herkimer) which is, “Respect your opponent, but NEVER FEAR THEM.” It is now a slogan that the second-season players each use and have been teaching the newcomers so they are all on the same page.

Mellon also stated that the Women’s Soccer team reached at least one of their objectives last year, namely to have the highest GPA on campus.  He expects nothing less from this great bunch of student-athletes.

Also in his second year as Assistant Coach is Brad Rafferty (SUNY Potsdam ’07) who is an Admissions Counselor for North Country.