Freshman Female Athlete of the Year: Pelusi

After a year in which the team struggled and a coach left, some players still stand out…. After a year in which the team struggled and a coach left, some players still stand out. No, this is not in reference to the men’s or women’s basketball team, but the women’s soccer team.

Goalkeeper Jamie Pelusi was named the Female Freshman Athlete of the Year by the sports writers of The Pitt News.

“It’s awesome, it’s good and a great honor. I am not so sure I deserve it, but it is still cool,” Pelusi said. “It was kind of nice after our season, since we are starting new and fresh this year, to go in with some recognition.”

After the departure of head coach Roland Sturk, the team is starting anew with former Colorado assistant coach Sue-Moy Chin. Chin has the benefit of starting out the season with an experienced goalie in Pelusi.

This season, Pelusi started all 19 games and finished with a 4-15 record. The record is deceiving since Pelusi faced many shots on a young team. Pelusi gave up 48 goals on 139 shots, good for a .743 save percentage.

Pelusi’s goals against average of 2.55 ranked among the top 20 in the nation and helped her earn two shutouts this year against Duquesne and Lehigh, easily the high point of her career thus far.

“Our high point of the season had to be being unscored upon in those two straight games against Duquesne and Lehigh. That was great, but so was beating Virginia Commonwealth at the end of the year and ending our losing streak,” she said.

Playing a sport in their first semester of college would overwhelm most student athletes, but Pelusi was an exception.

“Coming straight into school and playing soccer is getting everything thrown at you at once,” she said.

Pelusi showed no signs of being overwhelmed at all, being rewarded at the women’s soccer banquet for earning over a 3.5 grade point average.

With a new beginning on the horizon, the women’s soccer team and its goalie seem ready to go and continue their improvement.

“We had a decent season and we are stepping it up for next year and we are excited about that. We are looking a whole lot better, the whole attitude of the team is different and the practices are different,” Pelusi said. “Everything is more geared to winning and being ready, since our new coach says she is not used to losing.”

“We are a fun bunch of kids who are trying hard, and we are not there yet, but we will get there.”