Plum grad Gina Proviano excited for future of LIU women's soccer team

Plum grad Gina Proviano was eager to try something new when she chose to play soccer at Long Island University.

The program was new. Three years ago, LIU’s two campuses, Post and Brooklyn, merged their athletic departments to form one Division I program.

There was also New York City. The Big Apple is just a 10-minute train ride from LIU’s campus.

One new item she didn’t count on was a new coach. Lucy Gillett took the reins of the Sharks women’s soccer team before the start of the season.

Coaching changes for college athletes often can be difficult. Some even decide to transfer. But Proviano had nothing but good things to say about the change and is eager to see what the future holds.

“I was definitely extremely pleased with the coaching change,” said Proviano, a sophomore midfielder. “I think it has brought the team a lot closer together. … This year we’re coming in full swing with a new coach, two new assistant coaches and an awesome speed and strength coach.

“We definitely have a much bigger support system, and everything has been a lot more serious than last year. It has been extremely positive.”

Proviano’s contributions to the Sharks have been positive as well. Through 16 matches, Proviano had a pair of goals, the first two of her college career, and appeared in all but one match, making five starts and playing a total of 654 minutes.

As a freshman, she appeared in only nine matches with no starts and a total of only 57 minutes.

“She’s definitely stepped up as a player, and you can see that in her game time,” Gillett said. “She’s always been great with the ball at her feet and great with her movement, but just getting that confidence, speeding up her game play to the college level has been one of her strengths this season.”

Proviano’s first collegiate goal came in the second match of the season against Delaware State. Her tally in the 70th minute padded the Sharks’ lead as they earned a 2-0 victory.

Her second goal came against VMI, tying the score and completing the Sharks’ rally from 2-0 down to earn a point.

“I definitely want to be a goal-scorer on this team and be a leader on this team,” she said. “That really is one of my goals is to be more of a play-maker and really help lead this team in the next two years I’m going to be here.”

And Proviano has big aspirations for the team. The Sharks still are finding their way as a young program. Last season, they won only two matches. This season, heading into Sunday’s match, they had won four overall and remained in postseason contention in the Northeast Conference.

In the preseason coaches’ poll, LIU was picked to finish ninth in the 10-team NEC. Entering the weekend, LIU (2-3-2) was sixth and still holding down an NEC Tournament spot. The top six teams earn berths.

But if anyone doubted the Sharks, Proviano said they never doubted themselves. She pointed to LIU’s Sept. 15 loss to Central Connecticut State as evidence of the team’s mettle.

Though it was a defeat, CCSU has finished first in the conference each of the past four seasons. The Sharks got down 2-0 then had a player sent off for a red card in the 57th minute. Not only did LIU keep Central Connecticut off the scoreboard the rest of the way, they scored in the 87th minute to set the final score.

Proviano sees that as a signal the Sharks are to be taken seriously.

“We have people doubting us. Preseason poll … picked to finish ninth,” she said. “You can’t believe those things. If we believe we’re a top team, we will be. We just beat Wagner, who was (picked) above us, so I think that’s a pretty big win.

“I’m extremely excited about the future. I know there’s a lot of girls who won’t be returning, and we’re definitely going to have a younger squad next year. I’m really excited to have a fresh start.”