JOHNSON, Vt. - The 2011 Johnson State College women's soccer team will look to build on a fine 2010 season in which the Badgers went 9-7 overall and advanced to the semifinal round of the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) playoffs.  JSC went 3-4 in regular-season NAC action and fell at Castleton State College 3-1 in the post-season match under second-year head coach Ray Campanile.

Leading the way for Johnson will be 2010 NAC 1st Team midfielder Jennifer Ferrari (Westfield, Mass./Westfield) and 2010 NAC 2nd Team Forward Ally Bataille (Waterbury, Vt./Harwood).  Now a sophomore, Ferrari made an immediate and significant impact on the Lady Badgers soccer program by scoring eight goals and notching an assist for 17 points on the year.  Bataille, a junior, led JSC in goals scored with nine and added an assist for a 19-point season.

Johnson returns three of their four starting defenders from 2010 in senior Kathryn Johnson (Hyde Park, Vt./Lamoille), Kristina Gorden (Chittenango, N.Y./Chittenango), and Stephanie Fay (Essex Junction, Vt./Essex).  The defense side will also see the return of sophomore goalkeeper Amber McCullock (Morrisville, Vt./Peoples Academy) who was credited with four wins in her rookie campaign.

 "We have a group of fine returners, several dynamic newcomers, and a quality fitness base that I feel should aid us in improving on last season," stated coach Campanile.

Johnson opens their season with a home match against regional NCAA Division III foe Norwich University on Thursday, September 1 at 5:00 pm.  In addition the JSC non-conference schedule will feature matches against NCAA Division III members Daniel Webster College and Bay Path College and contests against NAIA members Vermont Technical College, Paul Smith's College, and SUNY-Canton.

The NAC schedule will feature nine contests in 2011 with the additions of Colby-Sawyer College and New England College to the league.  The Badgers will kick-off the NAC schedule on Saturday, September 17 when they host Green Mountain College at 3:00 pm.