The College of Staten Island Women's Soccer Team will kick off their season on Saturday at home against Felician University. Entering their fourth season of Division II playoff eligibility, the Dolphins will be seeking their first postseason berth as a Division II program in 2025. In order to get there, the team will need to overcome the loss of a large 2024 senior class that accounted for a huge sum of the team's minutes and scoring last season. The team will return to the newly renovated Dolphins Soccer Park for the team's season opener this weekend and will introduce a roster made up largely of new recruits. The team will be looking to this group of new additions, along with their returners, to fill the void left by the 2024 graduates. Of the program's seven minutes leaders from last season, five departed following their graduation last year. This creates the opportunity for a large portion of the roster to step into a big role during the upcoming season. Despite falling short of the postseason last year, the team remained in the playoff chase through mid-October. Only two wins out a playoff spot, a slight improvement in conference play this season could be enough to earn the program an ECC spot in the postseason for the first time in program history. Below is a look at the program's key returners, a breakdown of the 2025 schedule, and ways to watch and listen live on CSI Sportsnet.
WOMEN'S SOCCER - KEY RETURNERS
*9+ games played in 2024 (3+ for GK)
FORWARDS
Caitlyn Thompson & Eva Rodriguez
No returning Dolphin played more minutes or scored more goals than Thompson last season. In her first year with the program, she found the back of the net twice and appeared in all 15 contests. 14 of those appearances were starts, and the junior is sure to maintain a large role this season. Rodriguez joined Thompson as one of the seven Dolphins to appear in all 15 games during the 2024 season and logged nearly 600 minutes in those outings. Only three of her appearances were starts, a number that could certainly increase as she takes on a bigger role as a sophomore.
MIDFIELD
Gabriela Castro, Riley Hammond & Emilie Nagel
Both Hammond and Nagel appeared in every game for the Dolphins last season and combined for over 1500 minutes. The duo also combined for four points including an assist for Hammond and both a goal and an assist for Nagel. Despite missing some time last season, Castro still appeared in nine games and surpassed 400 minutes. Entering her junior season, she also joins the ranks of the longest-tenured members of the program this season.
DEFENSE / GOALKEEPER
Rachael Charsky, Brianna Dore & Oksana Zahirna
With the Dolphins graduating nearly all of their defensive starters from last season, Charsky is the only returning back to appear in a game last season. Across 11 appearances, she came just short of reaching 400 minutes for the season. Behind her in net, Dore and Zahirna combined to make eight starts in CSI's 15 matches. Dore posted a save percentage of .765 while Zahirna posted a .729. The pair accounts for two of four goalkeepers on the CSI roster that may see time in net for the Dolphins this season.