Here’s a primer on Gordon fall sports, including the teams and players to keep your eye on.
Women’s Soccer
Head Coach: Chuck Breton (2nd season)
Previous Season: 6-9-4, CCC Tournament Runner-Up
Match-ups to watch:
10/1/16 vs. UNE (12:00pm, Quad)
10/15/16 vs. Wentworth (12:00pm, Quad)
Players to watch:
Kaelyn Silveira ’18
Jill Kefalas ’19
Despite some struggles finishing games in the regular season, GoCoWoSo surprised many with a
deep CCC tournament run, reaching the championship match despite a sub-.500 record. It was
the epitome of peaking at the right time, something that has come to characterize a team that
seems to always come through in the biggest moments. Second-year coach, Chuck Breton, has
had a full off-season to prepare and recruit, and with goal scoring threat Jill Kefalas and
defensive rock Kaelyn Silveira on the field, you can just never count these Scots out. Expect a
number of quality wins with the possibility of another conference tournament run.
Men’s Soccer
Head Coach: Derek Potteiger (4th season)
Previous Season: 16-5, CCC Tournament Champions
Match-ups to watch:
10/1/16 vs. UNE (3:00pm, Quad)
10/25/16 vs. Endicott (7:00pm, Brigham Athletic Complex)
Players to watch:
Caleb Cole ’17
Ben Gradert ’18
Caleb Cole and Ben Gradert anchor an extremely talented and experienced squad that has high
hopes for this coming season. Gradert, last year’s CCC Defensive Player of the Year, leads a
defense that surrendered less than a goal per game last season. Cole, Offensive Player of the Year
and First Team All-New England in 2015, led the team in both goals and assists and is one of the
most dynamic playmakers in the conference. Fresh off of their first CCC title since 2003, the
Scots will look to carry the momentum of their championship season into the 2016 campaign.
With the potential to reach national prominence through a deep tournament run, this edition of
Gordon Men’s Soccer will certainly be one to watch closely.
Field Hockey
Head Coach: Cory Ward (17th season)
Previous Season: 5-14
Match-ups to watch:
10/8/16 vs. Endicott (12:00pm, Brigham Athletic Complex)
10/29/16 vs. Roger Williams (1:00pm, Brigham Athletic Complex)
Players to watch:
Bailey Balmer ’17
Emily Allcroft ’18
Gordon’s main focus for this season will be adding some offensive spark to their game. Although
the defense surrendered only 1.8 goals per game last season, the team was shut out 13 times,
making it difficult to steal wins despite stellar defending. Defender Bailey Balmer and
goalkeeper Shannon Hicks, both All-CCC second-teamers last season, make up the strong
defensive core that this team can use to win games. Forward Emily Allcroft, who led the team in
goals last season, showed great finishing ability and could be the one to take the Scots’ offense to
the next level. If the Scots can put the ball in the net, the defense will do its job and a spot in the
CCC tournament is certainly not out of reach.
Cross Country
Head Coach: Justin Wikerd (1st season)
Previous Season:
Men – 6th at CCC Championships
Women – Bronze medal at CCC Championships
Meet to watch:
9/24/16 Pop Crowell Invitational (1:00pm, Gordon campus)
Runners to watch:
Damon Kilgore ’18
Emily Nelson ’17
Cross Country at Gordon is a sport in transition. First-year coach Justin Wikerd will be ironing
out the wrinkles and getting his philosophy in place by the time the season rolls around. He does,
however, already have a key building block in place: All-Region runner Damon Kilgore. Kilgore
took the program to new heights last season, winning five individual races and representing New
England at the national championships, both firsts for Gordon Cross Country. The Scots now
look for depth in order to compete for team victories.
Women’s Tennis
Head Coach: Peter Amadon (4th season)
Previous Season: 15-6, CCC Tournament Semifinalists
Match-ups to watch:
9/8/16 vs. Endicott (4:00pm, Brigham Athletic Complex)
9/20/16 vs. Roger Williams (4:00pm, Brigham Athletic Complex)
Players to watch:
Abigail Denney ’19
Katherine Jeffreys ’18
Women’s Tennis will attempt to build upon a very strong 2015 season. They went 7-1 in
conference play and reached the semifinals of the tournament. This season, however, without the
services of last year’s star Tawnie Yeaw ’16 (12-0 in singles matches), the Scots will have to rely
on some of their younger stars. Abigail Denney, who went 15-5 in singles and 16-3 in doubles in
just her freshman season, is the biggest threat. They have a deep team that can win matches all
the way from 1 to 6 and this is what makes this edition of Gordon Women’s Tennis a CCC title
contender.
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