Senior gatekeeper: Mannino returns for senior season following standout 2009

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Shay Mannino’s 2009 was unlike any other.

The senior goalkeeper shattered several school records, earning national recognition with 17 shutouts — 13 consecutively — as the CMU women’s soccer team set the third longest streak in Division I history.

But the defending Mid-American Conference defensive player of the year who went 1,134 minutes without allowing a goal is quick to deflect the attention aimed at her to the defense in front of her.

“It was awesome to get those awards but I couldn’t do it without my team,” she said. “I know that I have to work harder to get the award again. I have to get better every day.”

Mannino said she won’t allow her team to be complacent after a record-setting year in which the Chippewas became the fourth MAC team ever to win an NCAA tournament game.

As one of three seniors on the roster, Mannino said she will need to be more vocal this year than ever before.

“I like to be loud.” she said. “Everyone needs to be on the same page and be ready to go. Everyone needs to step up, not just the seniors.”

Third-year head coach Tom Anagnost said Mannino is invaluable to a team that relies heavily on its defense.
“She brings it every day, and she’s an extremely hard worker,” he said. “She has a wealth of experience and brings a lot of leadership to the position.”

Mannino, who has started every game between the pipes the last two seasons for CMU, boasted a 0.60 goals-against average last season, 18th among Division I keepers. Her 17 recorded solo shutouts were the most in the nation.

She also was named to the All-MAC team last season and made six saves in the shutout win in the NCAA tournament against No. 24 Purdue.

Midfielder Jenna Hill, one of the three seniors on the team, said Mannino is one of the best players she has ever played with.

“Her work ethic just pushes me to be better. It pushes me to a better person and a better leader,” Hill said. “She’s one of the reasons I’m here.”

Winning comes first, Mannino said, and she doesn’t pay a lot of attention to her statistics.

“If we get a shutout, that’s great, but I never really look at that,” she said. “We’re all out there doing our job.”

The team will have a target on its back after last year’s success, Mannino said. It has been an underdog in the past, she said, but as the defending MAC champions, it will need to play hard to compete in every game.

“Everyone is going to want to beat us,” she said. “We have to be strong physically and mentally.”
Mannino earned four varsity letters for soccer from Grosse Ile High School and ranks second in school history with 58 career shutouts. She also led her club team, the Michigan Hawks, to a national title game in 2004.

“I’ve been a goalie for a long time,” she said. “It’s such a big part on the field. I have to be loud and be vocal.”

Mannino said she expects the team to do everything it accomplished last year and more heading into the season.

“We want to get as far as we can,” she said. “But he have to take it one game at a time.”

In addition, sophomore backup keeper Stefanie Turner was the most highly touted recruit as a freshman for CMU last season.

Turner said she and Mannino have friendly competition in practice.

“Every practice is intense with us,” Turner said. “We don’t take anything lightly.”