By Edgar Rivas, Jr.
Before Robert Bielan, Jr. took over the helm as the NJCU women’s soccer coach in 2008, the Gothic Knights were underachievers. The previous 5 seasons before Bielan’s takeover was a combined record of 21-66-2. He is going into his fifth season and already has more than twice as many wins (50) and nearly half as many losses (34), including 1 draw. His teams made 3 trips to the ECAC Tournament (2009, 2010, and 2011) and one trip to the NJAC Tournament (2010).
“The first couple of years kept the program afloat,” he said. “It had a lot of bad stigma about it because there were so many coaches coming in and out and all young female athletes want is consistency in the coach.”
He’s had a successful 4 years at the helm. He’s produced 2 scoring machines in Jennifer Albuja, 24, Criminal Science, from Hoboken and Julia Caseres, 22, Criminal Justice, from Union.
Albuja, who played for the Gothic Knights from 2007-2011, scored 91 goals during her time here. She graduated with an impressive résumé- 3-time NJCU Athlete of the Week, 2011 Second Team All-ECAC, and was even featured in December 12, 2011’s issue of Sports Illustrated.
Caseres (2009-2011) netted 78 goals and was a 3-time NJCU Athlete of the Week, Honorable 2011 Mention All-NJAC, made the Dean’s List, and ended her career as the all-time points leader in NJAC history.
Freehan, the former midfielder, scored 33 goals and had 25 assists in her 4 years (2004-2007).
“Katie was going to be a junior. When I came in she was very deflated. She had gone to a school in PA and then came to NJCU,” he said. “When she got here the coach had left, I told her I was staying and she winded up staying. She was academic All-American and it started when her soccer game became more consistent.”
Both Albuja and Freehan came back after graduating and became Assistant Women’s Soccer Coaches.
As we approach the 2012 season, expect Bielan to continue with his magic. He has a mainstay goalkeeper in Brittany Hoffman, 19, Fire Science, from McMurray, PA. In 2011, she had a save percentage of .792, allowed 1.47 goals per game, and recorded 7 shutouts.
“Brittany Hoffman is my goalkeeper,” he said. “Half of the season she had her shoulder operated on. She came back and is in the best shape, better than any female or male player on campus. She has a 4.0 GPA and is here on a presidential scholarship from Pittsburgh,”
Will the Gothic Knights win any silverware this year?
“We have a lot of talent left but this is a building year,” he said. “It’s going to be heavy recruiting this year. Our expectations are to keep doing what we’ve been doing since I’ve got here.”
It all begins Sept. 5 at 4:00pm vs. SUNY Old Westbury.
