Longtime coach to retire
Freshman Carly Bulich had one goal and one assist with three other players netting goals to lead the College at Brockport’s women’s soccer team to a 4-0 win over Medaille as they prepare for SUNYAC conference play.
Just 12 minutes in, the defense changed fields with Bulich carrying the ball down the left wing. She beat the defender before sending a cross that junior Chelsea Stahl (Brockport HS) tapped into the net for her second goal of the campaign and a 1-0 Brockport lead.
In the 36th minute, senior midfielder Courtney Szczesniak had her corner kick rebound back to Kelsey Sammon. Her kick was redirected into the back of the net by Szczesniak for a 2-0 halftime lead.
Bulich scored her first collegiate goal at 46:30 as she headed in a cross from Christina Leonardo.
The fourth and final tally came in the 84th minute as Vanessa Baldwin, seeing her first minutes of the season knocked in a goal-line cross from Stefanie Drago for her first collegiate goal as well.
Brockport goalkeepers Catherine Eliasson and Daniele Ogrodowski did not need to make a single save in registering the shutout as the Mavericks managed just one first half shot.
“I still think of us as a young team even though we have 13 juniors because some of them have played since they were freshmen, but others are just getting a chance,” head coach Joan Schockow said. “I think of us as game inexperienced, but I think we’ll get better as the season goes on.”
Schockow, in her 27th season as head coach and the all-time winningest soccer coach in program history, announced two days later that she would retire at the end of the season.
The Spencerport High grad has led the Golden Eagles to just five games shy of the 300 wins milestone, with a career mark of 295-176-38. During her tenure, the Golden Eagles program has produced 19 All-Region players, 38 All-State selections and 98 All-SUNYAC players. Schockow has been named the SUNYAC Coach of the Year five times – 2012, 2008, 2006, 1993, and 1989. The Golden Eagles advanced to their first ever NCAA Tournament in 2006 after winning the SUNYAC Championship.
A ceremony will take place prior to the Golden Eagles October 15 contest against SUNY Cortland, Schockow’s alma mater. She has accepted a full time position within the Brockport Kinesiology and Physical Education department.
“Even though this is a great opportunity for me, I am still very saddened to give up coaching this wonderful program,” said Schockow in a press release. “It has been so much more than a job, it has been a part of my heart and soul for the last 28 seasons. I want to say thank you to all the administrators, staff, fans, parents but mostly to the players both current and alumni who have truly made this a wonderful experience that touched my life in so many ways. It most sincerely has been my honor to coach Brockport Women’s Soccer. It’s about being a part of something bigger than yourself!”
