Wednesday, June 28, 2006

USM Names Lisa Petruccelli Women's Soccer Head Coach

     GORHAM, Maine  --  Lisa Petruccelli, a former All-State soccer player at 
Cape Elizabeth (Maine) High School and most recently the women's soccer head 
coach at SUNY-Potsdam, has been named the new head coach for women's soccer at 
the University of Southern Maine.  Al Bean, Director of Athletics at USM, made 
the announcement following a national search.
     Petruccelli, who becomes the fifth head coach in the 22-year history of the 
women's soccer program, succeeds Steve Quinones, who resigned after eight years 
(1998-2005; 65-69-8) as the Huskies' head coach to pursue other professional 
opportunities.
     "I'm very excited about coming to a program that did some great things last 
year.  This is a great opportunity for me to live where I want to live and to do 
what I want to do," commented Petruccelli.
     "The program has taken some positive steps forward the past four seasons 
under (Quinones).  I want to continue taking the program in a positive 
direction, to win the (Little East Conference), and go to the national 
tournament," added Petruccelli. 
     "Lisa will be an outstanding addition to our coaching staff and should be a 
tremendous fit within the department.  She has been a head soccer coach at 
comparable institutions and has leadership experience that should prove to be an 
outstanding compliment to our program philosophy.  I feel confident that Lisa 
will be successful on the field and will make an impact with our student-
athletes in many significant ways," said Bean.
     Petruccelli played four years at Cape Elizabeth HS prior to attending Smith 
College (Northampton, Mass.).  During her four seasons at Smith (1988-91), 
Petruccelli, a defender, played in 78 matches and had seven goals and four 
assists for 18 points.  She helped the Pioneers to a 52-21-6 record, including 
two New England Women's 8 championships and two berths in the ECAC tournament, 
during that span.
     "Lisa Petruccelli, more than any other player with whom I had the pleasure 
of sharing the pitch, exemplified the three R's of a successful athlete.  She 
respected herself,  she respected her team mates and she took responsibility for 
her actions. She was very talented and astute, and always played with a style of 
grace and dignity," commented Petruccelli's former college coach, Jim Babyak.
     Following her graduation from Smith in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in 
biology, Petruccelli began her coaching career serving as an assistant coach at 
the University of New England for one season.  She move on to become a graduate 
assistant at the University of Maryland while pursuing her master's degree in 
kinesiology - sports management.
     Petruccelli's first head coaching experience came in 1994 when she served 
as the interim women's head coach at the University of Maine.
     Named the first head coach for women's soccer at the University of 
Wisconsin-Stout in 1995, Petruccelli guided the Blue Devils' program to a 
27-41-5 overall record during its first four years, and was named the Wisconsin 
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1998.
     Returning to Maine in 1999, Petruccelli spent the next five years as an 
assistant coach with the Bowdoin College women's soccer program.  She returned 
to the head coaching ranks in 2004 when she was named the head coach at SUNY-
Potsdam.  In her combined seven seasons as a head coach, Petruccelli has 
compiled a 30-86-8 record.
     Petruccelli holds a national diploma from the National Soccer Coaches 
Association of America (NSCAA) and is a certified strength and conditioning 
specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.  She has 
also served as a coach, counselor or director at numerous soccer camps.
     Southern Maine finished the 2005 season with an 11-7-2 record overall and a 
4-3-0 mark (fourth place) in the Little East Conference.  The Huskies advanced 
to the semifinals of the LEC championship tournament before losing to eventual 
champion Eastern Connecticut, 2-1, and were picked to play in the ECAC Division 
III New England Tournament.
     The Huskies open the 2006 season on September 2 at Gordon College.



TRANSACTION:  Southern Maine:  Named Lisa Petruccelli women's soccer head coach



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