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Joseph Alianiello

Joseph Alianiello

Coach Joe Alianiello enters his fifth season as the Juniata women's soccer coach (2023). 

Coach Alianiello, a native of Altoona, spent the last seven years at the University of Minnesota Crookston as the head women's soccer coach. While at Minnesota Crookston, he led the team to its best two seasons in school history while beating nationally and regionally ranked opponents for the first-time program history and setting school records in the fewest goals allowed in consecutive seasons.  In 2015, he set the school record for most wins in a season and the program won six straight United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Awards. He leaves with the most conference wins in program history. 

Prior to his time at the University of Minnesota, coach Alianiello spent a season as the assistant women's soccer coach/academic advisor at Winona State University, and before that he spent four years as the head coach at Concordia University in Saint Paul.

In his one season at Winona State they were the NSIC regular season champions and worked with the goalie's as they tallied eight conference shutouts and 10 overall. The team finished the year 14-4-1 and the starting goalkeeper received second team All-America recognition.

In his five years at Concordia he: led the team to wins over three conference opponents they had never defeated (Northern State, Southwest Minnesota State and Winona State), was named NSIC Coach of the Year,  and broke six school records in the standout 2006 season (most wins in school history, most conference wins in school history, highest regular season finish, first ever postseason win in school history, first-ever appearance in the NSIC finals and third place in the NSIC Tournament). He is also the all-time wins leader at Concordia.

Alianiello graduated from Saint Francis University with a B.A. in History before getting his master's at Concordia University. He also played goalkeeper on the men's soccer team at Saint Francis all four years where he holds several records. He holds the single season record in goals against average, save percentage and shutouts in a season. He holds the career record in goals against average, shutouts, save percentage and wins. Alianiello was voted Team Defensive Player of the Year his final two years and served as a team captain his final year.

Alianiello resides in State College with his partner Jessica and their son Aidan Thomas. 

  • Three Landmark Conference Player of the Week selections - 2021: Cati Besch (2x) Spring 2021 (2020-21): Paige Bulgarelli  

  • Six College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® selections - 2023-24: Alyssa Bui, Lydia Hiller, Mariah McDonald, Ashley McWilliams, Lina Rahman, Daniela Scipioni

  • 74 Landmark Conference Academic Honor Roll honorees - 2023-24: Cati Besch, Alyssa Bui, Gillian Dell, Mia Gianni, Lydia Hiller, Brooke Jordan, Julia Lane, Mariah McDonald, Ashley McWilliams, Kara Mette, Emma Mumau, Savanna Murray, Lina Rahman, Daniela Scipioni, Breanne Spencer 2022-23: Cati Besch, Alyssa Bui, Gillian Dell, Lydia Hiller, Brooke Jordan, Julie Lane, Megan McConnell, Mariah McDonald. Ashley McWilliams, Kara Mette, Emma Mumau, Alexa Neiderer, Lina Rahman, Dani Scipioni, Hayden Thompson, Avery Zales 2021-22: Talia Bertrando, Cati Besch, Gianna Canale, Lindsay Daml, Cassie Firestone, Felicia Fressinelli, Grace Gibbs, Saraly Gonzalez, Lydia Hiller, Megan McConnell, Fiona McDonald, Mariah McDonald, Ashley McWilliams, Kara Mette, Emma Moreland, Emma Mumau, Alexa Neiderer, Kali Pupo, Lina Rahman, India Thakar, Hayden Thompson 2020-21: Talia Bertrando, Cali Besch, Paige Bulgarelli, Gianna Canale, Brooke Emge, Grace Gibbs, Saraly Gonzalez, Grace Kochanek, Fiona McDonald, Emma Moreland, Alexa Neiderer, Kali Pupo, India Thakar, Meadow Walshaw-Wertz 2019-20: Talia Bertrando, Gianna Canale, Brooke Emge, Saraly Gonzalez, Emma Moreland, Kali Pupo, India Thakar, Meadow Walshaw-Wertz 

 Bio Last Updated 1/18/24