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DeMarsh looks to add depth for 2013
By Leif Reigstad
On November 7, 2012
After its season-ending loss to Cortland in the quarterfinals of the SUNYAC playoffs, the
Buffalo State women's soccer team was hoping to get some rest and relaxation.
But for head coach Nick DeMarsh and his Bengals, it was right back to work, with fitness
tests starting the Monday after that weekend's loss.
Rebuilding for next year just days after the season ended, DeMarsh is currently on the
recruiting trail looking to bring in some freshmen who can bolster the team's depth. If
next year's recruiting class can match the impact of this year's group of freshmen, expect
the Bengals to go far into the postseason.
This season's squad saw four freshmen consistently in the starting lineup. A few others
got significant playing time. DeMarsh said he always relies on freshmen, but hasn't
depended on first-year players to this degree since 2006, a season that also ended with a
quarterfinals loss to Cortland.
"The freshmen played pretty well," DeMarsh said. "Marissa Lombard has promise.
Taylor Volkman has potential. Kristin Seiferth was outstanding."
Lombard started all 19 games for the Bengals, helping fellow freshman Gabrianna
Boldinski solidify the defense. Volkman finished with three goals and three assists, good
enough for second on the team in both categories. Seiferth chipped in three goals and two
assists of her own.
Like any young team, the Bengals did experience some growing pains early on, losing six
of their first seven games.
"The first few games, it was hard," Seiferth said. "It was hard getting used to the
physicality and playing in a new formation. It took a few games to get used to that."
Seiferth credits her teammates for making her and the other freshmen feel comfortable.
"I've only been here (at Buffalo State) for two-and-a-half months, so yes, I still feel like
a freshman," Seiferth said. "But I also don't still feel like a freshman. I've gotten close to
my teammates, and they did a good job making me feel like I wasn't a freshman."
With the freshmen gaining experience and veteran players returning from injury, the
Bengals were poised to make a run at the playoffs.
DeMarsh saw glimpses of a turnaround midway through the season. A draw against
Allegheny and a win over Houghton, two strong non-conference opponents, got the
Bengals on the right track.
The next weekend saw two quality SUNYAC teams, Cortland and Oswego, visit Coyer
Field. The Bengals tied Cortland and beat Oswego, keeping an undefeated streak alive
that would stretch nine games and propel Buffalo State into the playoffs.
"For me, the Oswego game and the Cortland game, that weekend was huge," DeMarsh
said. "For us to tie Cortland, get a point, and to take five points out of six, that was a
moment where we thought we might be able to make some noise."
It was a difficult season for DeMarsh and the Bengals, who experienced the lows of
losing early, then rode a nine-game undefeated streak before dropping the last three
games of the season, including the loss in the SUNYAC quarterfinals.
"I think it was one of the biggest roller coaster rides we've ever had," DeMarsh
said. "There were a lot of challenges. We were a little out of our depth at times."
Buffalo State finished 5-9-5 overall with a 3-2-4 record in SUNYAC. DeMarsh noted that
while he believed the season was an overall success, he'd like to see his team grab three
points more often and go further in the playoffs.
"We'd like to see a lot more wins," he said. "Even though we didn't win the
championship, anytime you make it to the payoffs ahead of the teams that didn't get in,
teams that were very talented this year, it's a success."
DeMarsh is already working on improving his team for next year.
"It's all about recruiting now," he said. "I'm trying to bring 10-15 solid freshmen in. I'd
love to have 20 freshmen, just to have more depth. We just couldn't compete with all the
injuries this year."
The team's injury report reads like a laundry list. Senior co-captains Katie Hennes and
Jessica O'Donoghue played in almost every game, but were limited by nagging injuries.
Kara Donner and Liz Malinowski both missed significant time due to injury. Meghan
Allen, second on the team in assists, missed a game.
Jordan Dudish, a 2012 first-team All-SUNYAC selection, missed the last two games
of the regular season with a serious injury. She came off the bench in the quarterfinals
against Cortland but was virtually ineffective.
"This season was a challenge," DeMarsh said of trying to overcome injuries.
Although oft-undermanned and inexperienced, this year's Bengals were up for the
challenge.
"It was a good season," Seiferth said. "We started out not so well, and ended up in a
pretty good place."
Leif Reigstad can be reached at reigstad.record@live.com.
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