MILTON, Mass. – In 2017, Jason Tassinari will be entering his sixth season at the helm of the Curry Women's Soccer Program,coming off one of their most successful seasons in recent history (11-9-2 record in 2016, advanced to the conference semi-finals, and qualified for the ECAC tournament for the second consecutive year).  Since 2013, the program has averaged 10 wins per season, 41 total in the past four years.

"The program is directionally correct, and my staff and I are very much looking forward to building on the success of 2016 and the previous five seasons.  Every year our talent level and depth have improved, and I expect that trend to continue this fall.  We are a veteran team that consists of many returning players who have been part of a winning culture the past few years. We also have a great group of seniors that will help us continue to build on our program's recent success."

Coach Taz announced his 2017 captains at the program's end of the season banquet on December 4. Abby Ford (Halifax, Mass.), and Cassandra Grasso (Wilmington, Mass.) were elected the team's captains for the upcoming season.

"Although we ask the players for input, the final decision falls directly on my staff and I. Abby and Cassie are great representatives of Curry, the athletic department, the program, the community, the coaching staff, and their teammates.  Both are hard-working and care deeply about the short and long term success of the program. Most importantly, they are solid students, solid citizens, trustworthy, and great role models. Deciding on captains is never an easy task, especially when we have so many great leaders in this program. It's a good problem for any coach to have, however. I'm blessed to be around a tremendous group of student-athletes."

In addition to his two captains, Coach Tassinari will be relying heavily on his other seniors (Arianna Viscione, Korinna Tsonis, Jules Petrucelli, Hannah Wells, Amanda Crisfulla, and Sami McGrath) to provide solid leadership on and off the field as well. All of them were key contributors.

"Although we have two captains, we truly have eight 'leaders'.   My seniors will be responsible to model the way for the large amount of younger the players we will have in the program this fall. I firmly believe that leadership is not a title; it's an attitude…its action not position.  All of them will work collectively as a unified group to help keep the team emotionally invested and constantly focused on the goals we have set for the short and long term."

"Abby and Cassie have important qualities that will make them great captains", Tassinari said. "They have a warrior mentality and a passion for winning that we love. They're always prepared, willing to battle, don't make excuses, and don't facilitate drama.  They are proactive, responsible and accountable.  I've had a great connection with them since they first arrived at Curry in 2014, and I trust them fully to be great extensions of the coaching staff."

The program is graduating six seniors from their very successful 2016 team.  Abby Ford was a captain in 2016 as a junior as well.

"We are graduating several talented players that were integral to the rise of the program the past four years, but I firmly believe that the program won't miss a beat with the quality of returning players and talented incoming freshmen and transfers we have coming in. Having a consistently successful program always generates interest from recruits, and I think we are starting to see that happen here at Curry. We are a good team, but I think our best years are ahead of us."