POTSDAM -- Prior to the start of the 2010 season, the Clarkson University Women’s Soccer program received a shock from its head coach. Laurel Kane would step down after 10 years to pursue a full-time role as an administrator.

While that change certainly could have shaken the program for some time, an easy transition was made with the addition of Sarah Raymond, a former conference coaching foe at Skidmore College.

If the early returns from pre-season are any evidence, Raymond has been able to maintain the program’s continuity while making the team her own, and the seamless change at the top with the returning veterans and incoming talent could make for a quick rise to the top of the Liberty League standings

The Golden Knights will certainly miss their departed senior class, none more than Liberty League All-Star goalkeeper Stephanie Collins. The two-year starter recorded nearly 200 saves over the last two campaigns and will be a tough replacement. Fortunately, a veteran corps returns for the Golden Knights in 2011 to provide a solid line of defense for the freshman keeper. Seniors Alix Petitti (Amsterdam, NY), Emily Garrant (Marcellus, NY), and Alyssa Dausman (Syracuse, NY) all played in both the midfield and in back for the Knights and should provide a steadying influence when the opposition is on the attack. Petitti scored three goals as well with a strong shot from outside, while Dausman contributed a pair of goals and an assist on the offensive side.

Junior Katie VanDeValk (Baldwinsville, NY) has started all 33 games over the last two years and will continue to be a vital cog for the Knights, along with classmate Nicole Johnson (Massena, NY), who was able to add a goal to her career totals last season. Additionally, sophomores Andrea Riedman (Kirkville, NY), Nicole Mendelson (Richmond, VT), and Caitlyn Hennessey (East Syracuse, NY) received a fair amount of playing time as first-year players and look to gain more in the coming seasons.

The Knights will look to add to their scoring punch in 2011 after scoring 16 times last season, but luckily only two of those goals left via graduation, providing plenty to build upon this fall. Junior midfielder Linde Zajac (Cicero, NY) led the team in scoring as a second-year player, posting team-bests in goals (3), assists (5), shot (28), and shots on goal (15).

Classmate Ellen Heenan (Bridgeport, NY) skipped last season, but has already proven to be a capable player as well, scoring a goal during her freshman season in 16 games, which included eight starts. Junior Sarah Andres (Honeoye, NY) is one of Clarkson’s steadier players, providing plenty of defense and astute passing in the midfield to set up her teammates, and she will be looked to for more offense in 2011.

Hopefully providing the most offense will be a trio of veteran strikers. Senior Andrea Walsh (Underhill Center, VT) was held scoreless in her third year with the Knights, but her first two years saw her score a pair of goals and two assists while leading Clarkson in shots (45) and shots on goal (24) for the previous two seasons combined.

Classmate Hilary Mosher (Hilton, NY) emerged as a scorer for Clarkson last season, tallying a pair of goals on just four shots, primarily as a reserve. Sophomore Marissa Cook (Chateaugay, NY) made an immediate impact for Clarkson as a freshman, tying for the team lead in goals with three and finishing second in points overall, all in action coming off the bench. If that group of strikers can get things flowing offensively, the Knights could challenge some team scoring records.

Accompanying the solid group of veterans, several freshmen will make an immediate impact for the Knights, none more than Brianna Thibeau (Salem, NY), Clarkson’s likely starter at goalkeeper for 2011. Backing Thibeau up will be Kim Kenline, another first-year player looking to make an impact for Clarkson in her first season.

Among the position players, midfielders Aubrey Harris (Cicero, NY), Ashley DeHond (Penfield, NY), and Taylor Abraham (Canandaigua, NY) will vie for starting time, while Jessica Budaj (Windsor, MA), Taryn Dausman (Syracuse, NY), Cailey Nieto (Chatham, NY), and Olivia Dawson (Scottsville, NY) hope to emerge as key contributers.