Following a two-win season in America East (AE) play, and a failed run at the playoffs, the Binghamton women’s soccer team has added another piece to the puzzle of what it hopes will be a turnaround 2016 season. Head coach Neel Bhattacharjee, who was hired last winter, has added former Syracuse standout Jackie Firenze as an assistant coach for the BU squad.
Firenze played under Bhattacharjee during her time at Syracuse and joins assistant Taylor Schram to round out the program’s staff. A four-year starter on the Orange’s women’s soccer team from 2012-2015, Firenze started 71 games and served as team captain for two years.
“I am very excited to be bringing Jackie on board at Binghamton,” Bhattacharjee said. “She possesses fabulous character traits that will have a high impact on our players here and the program overall.”
Before playing at Syracuse, Firenze led C.W. Baker High School to five Central New York Counties League championships, two sectional titles and a state championship appearance. Her leadership is something Bhattacharjee knows will help his Bearcats squad.
“At Syracuse she was a team captain and was very well-respected by her teammates in terms of commitment and in terms of what she did on the field and off the field,” Bhattacharjee said. “She was a great example and a very strong leader that was able to unite our team [at Syracuse].”
In addition to Firenze’s accomplishments in high school and college, she also has international experience. Firenze participated in the U.S. Under-14 National Development Program in 2007 and took part in the U.S. Youth National Team training camps in 2008 and 2010.
“The reason she is here at Binghamton is because of her experience,” Bhattacharjee said.
After a disappointing 3-12-2 season that saw BU finish last in AE, the Bearcats are hoping a new coaching staff will help rejuvenate a team that has failed to finish over .500 since 2009. Bhattacharjee is hoping to bring a winning mentality to BU and he knows both his assistant coaches will help him do this.
“We were able to instill confidence in our players [in the spring] and that’s something we want to carry into the fall,” Bhattacharjee said. “[Schram] and [Firenze] will be able to bring that [confidence] because they have the knowledge base of the game and a strong ability to communicate that.”
Although 2015 was a year to forget, there is reason for hope in 2016. The Bearcats return three of their top-five points leaders from last season. Starting goalkeeper Katie Hatziyianis, who led the AE with 6.29 saves per game, will also return.
“I know already that we are very much on board, the three of us [coaches],” Bhattacharjee said. “We’re looking to instill that competitiveness and that passion within our team and really make this a competitive force within the America East.”