With nine returning seniors, seven of whom are expected to be starters, the women's soccer team is looking to take advantage of their leadership. Add to that the fact that head coach Jean-A. Tassy is retiring at the end of the upcoming season each player believes that this season is make-or-break for the Bulls.
"I think leadership is key, we have a group of players who have been here for four years," Tassy said. "Who have always knocked at the door, now those players are ready for graduation, and I think that might have been a trigger to do that."
Tassy is the only Bulls coach to lead his team to a Mid-American Conference championship since Buffalo became a division one program. The lady Bulls won the title in 2000 but the departing head coach believes that this team has the potential to be one of his best.
"I would say that we have the potential, it just that the players need to believe, and then the players need to adhere to the fact that it's going to take work," Tassy said. "Every team that we play is going to challenge us the same way that we should be challenging every team that we come up against."
While he would like to leave UB on a high note, Tassy does not want to become one of the major story lines of the season. Instead, he prefers for the team to want to win for themselves.
"When I addressed the team about my retirement, I wanted them to be at the point where the players are playing because they want a championship, not playing for a championship for coach," he said.
The Bulls return most players from last years 8-10 squad including Senior captains midfielder Courtney MacVie and forward Ashley Turner, and junior captain forward Andrea Vescio.
"I think the players have come to the realization that they need to do it this year. They understand that and they're committed to it," he said. "We're going to be challenged this year, but if they're committed and believe they can do it, then it's just a matter of going out and doing it."
Vescio led last year's squad with six goals and 18 shots on goal. Senior forward Heidi Griffiths led the team with 14 points and five goals. MacVie finished the season with two assists, and Turner finished with four goals three assists and 11 points.
"I think we have the nucleus to go forward and make something happen," Tassy said. "Do we have the determination to be able to do that? That is to be seen, because that is something that occurs step by step."
Tassy who has coached several collegiate teams in western New York, has spent the last 12 years as head coach of the Bulls. Before that, he spent seven years as the men's head soccer coach at Buffalo State, and also spent seven years as the men's head soccer coach at Niagara University.
While wins are important to any athletics coach, Tassy believes that success can be measured in more ways then just wins and losses.
"The recognition for what I do, the success is based on championships," Tassy said. "I see the success the in the total development of the student athlete. When I look at the senior class over the past four years the challenges that we have faced, and that we've overcome has been a tremendous success. Their level of commitment academically has been another level of success."
While Tassy believes in the growth of his players in all facets of their life, athletics ultimately come down to wins and losses, and Tassy believes this year could be a banner year for the Bulls.
"If we win eight games in the MAC, automatically that will give us a championship," Tassy said. "My philosophy is to put your goal forward, the bottom line comes down to winning one game at a time. If we win one game at a time, we'll be playing in December."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
