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Women's Soccer - Coaching Staff
last updated
08/27/09
 Head Coach
Erik Burstein
-Q&A with Erik Burstein
-e-mail coach Burstein
Erik Burstein will enter his third season as head coach of women’s
soccer at Kutztown University in fall 2009.
Burstein led the women’s soccer program to its seven straight season
of 10-plus wins, and the second of his career at KU. The Golden
Bears finished the 2008 season 12-6-2 overall and 6-4-2 in the PSAC
East, qualifying KU for the PSAC playoffs for the first time under
Burstein.
KU cracked the
nation's top 25 on Oct. 14, earning a ranking of No. 23. The Golden
Bears earned the national recognition after winning eight straight
games, tying a school record. KU also built an unbeaten streak of 11
games, second-best in program history.
The 12 wins were the
second highest total in school history. Burstein's record at KU is 22-12-5 overall and 11-9-4 in the PSAC East.
In his two years at
KU, his players have won four All-PSAC East first team and three
All-PSAC East second team awards. He also coached the 2008 PSAC East
Rookie of the Year. His players have won five All-Atlantic Region
honors from Daktronics and four from the NSCAA.
In 2007, the Golden Bears were 5-5-2 in the PSAC
East and defeated two top-15 teams. Prior to 2007, KU had made four straight
appearances in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC)
Playoffs and was the PSAC runner-up in 2004 and 2005.
Burstein came to Kutztown from Bowling Green
State University, where he served as an assistant coach during the
2006 season. An accomplished soccer player, he brings 10 years of
coaching experience with him to Kutztown.
While with the Bowling Green Falcons, he worked
primarily with the defenders and goalkeepers, which produced the
team’s best defensive record in the program’s 10-year history in
2006. The team allowed the fewest goals, produced the most shutouts
and had the league’s leading goalkeeper in goals-against average.
Prior to BGSU, Burstein was the head coach at
Division III Rutgers University-Newark. Over three seasons, he
guided the Scarlet Raiders to a 23-29-2 record. His team was 8-10 in
2003, then the school’s record for wins. The next year, Burstein led
the squad to the first winning season in program history, finishing
10-7-1. Prior to taking over as head coach, Burstein served the 2002
season as assistant coach at Rutgers-Newark.
Burstein began his coaching career in 1997, when
he coached the Greater Akron (OH) Premier and West Akron Soccer Club
under-14 boys teams. He was also an assistant coach at Median
Highland High School. He has spent time as director of
coaching/player development with the Lakehurst-Manchester Soccer
Association (2000-02) and on the coaching staff with the New Jersey
Olympic Development Program (2002-06).
From 2003-04, Burstein was an assistant coach
with the Jersey Shore Boca F.C. of the United Soccer League: Premier
Development League.
An accomplished goalkeeper in his own right,
Burstein was a two-time all-conference, all-county and all-state
first-team selection at his alma mater, Toms River East (NJ) High
School. He was a Mid-Atlantic All-America selection as a senior in
1994.
He has also played professionally, both
domestically and internationally. He was a member of the Brooklyn
Italians Professional Soccer team in 1991, then played for the
Leyton Orient F.C. (English 3rd Division) from 1992-94. He played
for the New Jersey Youth Soccer State Cup Champion Jersey Shore Boca
F.C. in 1992 and 1994, and earned a spot on the Olympic Development
Program at both the state (New Jersey) and regional (Region I)
levels from 1990-94.
He currently holds a USSF National "B" license.
He also holds USSF National Goalkeeping and Youth licenses, as well
as NSCAA Goalkeeping Level III National and Youth diplomas.
He is a 2002 graduate of Richard Stockton College of New Jersey,
with a degree in communications.
 Assistant Coach
Brittney Ruggieri
Brittney
Ruggieri, a
graduate of Liberty University, joined the Golden Bear coaching staff in 2008.
Ruggieri was a
four-year varsity member with Division I Liberty’s women’s soccer
team. At forward, she started in 13 games and played in 18 as a
senior, scoring two goals and two assists. She also had two goals in
each of her first three seasons at Liberty.
During her
sophomore year, she did not score during the regular season, but in
the conference tournament, she netted two, including the game-winner
in the second round. For that, she was named to the Big South
All-Tournament team.
She was a high
school graduate of Owen J. Roberts, where she was an all-state
selection every season.
Ruggieri
graduated from Liberty in 2007 with bachelor’s degree in science of
religion. She will continue her pursuit of a masters at KU in
professional counseling, which she started at Liberty.
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