Rochester Institute of Technology

RIT Athletics
1 Lomb Memorial Drive Rochester, NY 14623

Division 3 New York Northeast

Private Large Competitive team

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Liz Masterson

In her 14 seasons on the bench, RIT head coach Liz Masterson has built the women’s soccer program into one of the best in the Northeast region. Masterson guided the Tigers to nine wins in 2023, including an at-large berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Masterson, the 2012 Liberty League Coach of the Year, has an 132-73-38 (.621) overall record in her 12 seasons on the bench at RIT. She became the all-time winningest coach in program history with a 3-0 win over Rensselaer (Oct. 15, 2021), surpassing Tom Natale who coached RIT to 106 wins from 1996-2009.

Under Masterson’s guidance, the Tigers have made five appearances in the NCAA Division III Tournament (2011, 2012, 2018, 2022 and 2023) and 11 Liberty League Tournament appearances (2011-15, 2017-19 and 2021-23).

Under Masterson’s tutelage, 59 players have earned All-Conference honors, including four in 2023. Senior Jessica Gomez and sophomore Elena Onodera were first team selections, while juniors Olivia Harris and Amber Flynn garnered second team honors. First-year Emma Pedro earned Liberty League Rookie of the Year honors. Gomez and Onodera each were United Soccer Coaches Women’s Division III All-East Region selections, while Gomez was a United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-American.

Sixteen Tigers were selected to the Liberty League All-Academic Team for maintaining at least a 3.3 cumulative grade point average and Gomez was a United Soccer Coaches Second Team Scholar All-America. RIT has been awarded with the Team Academic Award by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), for maintaining a team grade point average of 3.0 or better. Five Tigers have been named CSC Academic All-Americans, including Jessica Wagner earning Second Team honors in 2022.

Marla Roberts became the program’s first Google Cloud First Team Academic All-America in 2018. Lauren Chester was a 2018 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division III Second Team Women’s Scholar All-America. In 2015, Elizabeth May was a CoSIDA Third Team Academic All-America selection, while Amanda Murray was a third team selection in 2014. Jamie Martinez was a second team Academic All-American selection in 2013, while also earning NSCAA second team All-American honors. Emily Shoemaker earned 2015 NSCAA All-Academic honors and was named the 2016 RIT Senior Female Athlete of the Year.

Masterson came to RIT after serving two seasons as the head women’s soccer coach at Elmira College. While at Elmira, she helped Elmira earn the NSCAA All-Academic Team awards in 2008 and 2009. Four Soaring Eagles earned All-Empire 8 honors in Masterson’s two seasons.

Masterson is a 2005 graduate of St. Lawrence University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in government. She was a four-year starter of the varsity soccer team, serving as captain in 2004. Masterson earned NSCAA first team All-American honors in 2003. She was a three-time All-Region performer (2001, 2003 and 2004); and a four-time first team All-Liberty League performer from 2001-04. She scored 20 goals and added 15 assists for 55 points at St. Lawrence.

After graduation, Masterson went on to Manhattanville College where she earned a master’s degree in sport business management in 2008, while serving as the assistant coach for the women’s soccer team for two seasons.

In June 2011, Masterson completed her U.S. Soccer Federation “Senior-A” License. In 2011, Masterson graduated from the NCAA Women Coaches Academy. She also holds her advanced diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

Masterson played one year with the Massachusetts Stingers of the WPSL and three seasons with the Rochester Rhinos of the W-League from 2006-2008. She was a three-year captain and started every game for Rochester. Masterson is the Rhinos’ all-time leader in games played.

A native of Steamboat Springs, Colo., Masterson now resides in Rochester with her husband, Evan Schutt, their daughter Harper, and son Kai.

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Monica Cook

Dr. Monica Cook returns for her tenth season as an assistant coach in 2024. Cook completed her four years of NCAA competition in 2010 as a captain of the RIT Women’s Soccer team.

She transitioned into a coaching role while completing her PhD in Imaging Science at RIT, assisting Head Coach Liz Masterson from 2011-2014. She helped lead the team appeared to a post-season appearance four years, including two appearances in the NCAA Tournament (2012 and 2013).

“Our team and coaching staff are all beyond excited to have Monica back at RIT,” says head coach Liz Masterson. “During the time between her last time coaching with the program to now, she has stayed closely involved, which has made for a seamless transition.”

“I’m really excited to be back at RIT. My heart has always been tied closely to this incredible soccer program and the RIT athletic department,” Cook says. “While there are many aspects of returning that feel comfortable, the program has made so much growth in my absence and I’m anxious to see what is in store for this fall season.”

Cook will be responsible for the midfield and forward performance, recruiting, and all aspects of program operations and development.

Rochester Institute of Technology

Coaches

Liz Masterson

Monica Cook

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