Eileen Blumenauer was named head coach of the women’s soccer program on August 12, 2015.
Coach Blumenauer led UC to a 5-11-1 overall record with a 2-6 record against conference opponents last season. Under her leadership the Pioneers earned their first win over St. John Fisher in ten years, winning a 2-1 overtime thriller on the road. Six members of the team, including three freshman, were recognized with All-Conference accolades. Senior Keri Berkowitz was named Second Team All-Conference for the second year in a row, as she finished her career tied for first all-time in career assists. Goalkeeper Allison Wagner earned Second Team All-Conference, while Jenna Mazza was awarded with an Honorable Mention and a spot on the Sportswomen of the Year Team. The freshman trio of Kierra Caissey, Amanda Thut, and Emma Workman all received All-Conference Honorable Mention.
She pushes her players both on and off the field, which resulted in high praise for the team’s academic success in 2017. UC was recognized by the United Soccer Coaches (formerly known as NSCAA), earning the Team Academic Award for the second time in program history (2010, 2017) with a team GPA of 3.24.
She completed her second year in 2016, as the Pioneers finished with a 2-12-2 overall record and a 1-5-2 mark in the Empire 8 Conference. Juniors Keri Berkowitz (second team) and Jordynn Miller (sportswoman) were named to All-Conference teams.
In her first year she guided the Pioneers to a 3-13-2 overall record with a 1-7-0 Empire 8 Conference record senior Morgan Donovan was named an All-Conference selection on the Sportswoman of the Year squad. Off the field she guided nine players to the Empire 8 Academic team and had a total team GPA of 3.2 or higher.
Blumenauer comes to Utica after spending last season on the sidelines at Endicott College. Prior to her one-year stint as an assistant women's soccer coach at Endicott, she spent three seasons as an assistant coach at St. Lawrence University.
"We're excited to have Eileen on board as the new head coach of our women's soccer program," said Fontaine. "She comes highly recommended and has worked with some great coaches in the past. She also has ties to central New York, having grown up in Oneonta before spending two years as a student-athlete at nearby Herkimer County Community College. So we expect that she will acclimate to the Mohawk Valley rather quickly."
In her previous assistant coaching roles she handled several tasks including assisting with on field coaching/individual training sessions, recruiting (travel nation-wide, contacts, data entry), scouting, equipment distribution/inventory, co-alumnae relations, team meals and travel, game day preparation, day to day office operations, camp/clinic operations and she also handled the team's social media.
"I'm really looking forward to meeting all the players," said Blumenauer about what she planned to do first as a member of the Utica College community. "I want to get to know each and every one of the student-athletes. I want to know who they would like to be as a soccer player and as a teammate, who they want to be in the classroom and who they want to be when they graduate from Utica College."
During her three seasons as an assistant coach at St. Lawrence, Blumenauer coached under the guidance of longtime head coach Franco Bari. The duo helped lead the Saints to 25 victories in three seasons, including a nine-win season in 2011.
In one year at Endicott College she coached alongside Jodi Kenyon and guided the Gulls to a 10-5-4 overall record and a Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament appearance.
"I've always had really positive role models both as a player and a coach and I look forward to continuing that atmosphere here at Utica College," said Blumenauer.
Blumenauer has worked for several club soccer programs over the years including stints with Seacoast United Maine, the Aztec Soccer Club, and the FC Freeze Soccer Club. She also has extensive coaching experience at a variety of camps and clinics, including the Cape Ann YMCA, the St. Lawrence Soccer Academy, the Army West Point Team Camp, the Lake Placid Soccer Camp, the Geneseo Soccer Camp, the Doug Miller Sports Academy, the Oneonta State Soccer Camp and the Hamilton College Soccer Camp.
"I know how important athletics is to Utica College, so when I saw the job opening I was really excited," said Blumenauer. "I'm also excited to be able to coach in the highly competitive Empire 8 Conference against some outstanding institutions."
Blumenauer earned a Master's degree in Education-School Counseling from St. Lawrence University in the spring of 2013. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from SUNY Geneseo in the winter of 2009 and she also has an associate's degree of arts and sciences from Herkimer County Community College.
In two seasons as a student-athlete at Herkimer, she earned first team NJCAA All-American as well as Mohawk Valley Collegiate Conference Player of the Year honors (2005 & 2006). In 2005, Blumenhauer played in 21 games for Herkimer, scoring 29 goals with seven assists. She was also a first team All-Region pick and a NSCAA All-American. Blumenauer was named captain in 2006, scoring 43 goals to go along with 15 assists in 19 games, and was again named an NSCAA All-American. She was also named "Athlete of the Year" at HCCC and received the Green & Gold Award for her outstanding performance in soccer. In the Fall of 2005, she helped guide the Generals to a national tournament appearance. In 2014 she was inducted into the Herkimer County Community College Hall of Fame.
After receiving her associate's degree, she attended SUNY Geneseo where she was a two-sport athlete in women's soccer and lacrosse. She was a SUNYAC All-Conference selection in women's soccer under the tutelage of head coach Nathan Wiley. She helped guide the Knights to a SUNYAC Conference Championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2009.
Following her collegiate playing career, she went on to play soccer professionally for the Rochester Ravens of the United Soccer League from 2010–2011.
"It's important for us as a coaching staff to be honest and keep that open line of communication with the players," said Blumenauer about her personal coaching philosophy. "They should always know they can come to me. Whatever it is they are trying to accomplish during their four years here, I am willing to do whatever it takes in order for them to reach their goals."
Blumenauer will replace former Utica College Head Coach Claire McLain, whose husband Chris McLain recently accepted the Associate Head Coaching position for the women's soccer program at The Ohio State University.
More quotes from Blumenauer
When asked what she would do in her first few weeks on the job …
"Our first step in this process is to get together with the team and make sure everyone is on the same page in terms of expectations, commitment, and what our team culture is going to be like. We will be a family oriented team and we will have players that are going to push each other every day as we work towards common goals."
When asked about what qualities attract student-athletes to Utica College …
"Utica College has that nice small community feeling to it and a wide range of majors. This is a very attractive institution for both current and perspective student-athletes."
