When the Trinity University Women’s soccer team, led by Lance Key, finishes another strong preseason.
The Tigers started off the season with their first scrimmage Saturday, August 22 against Monterrey Tech.
The Tigers went up 2-0 at half with both goals by freshman forward Halleanne, but Monterrey fought back to tie it up 2-2 for the final score.
The new formation has created some challenges for the team, and consequently they’ve had to adjust to change.
They are now playing with five in the back defending, allowing one wing back to run at the other team so they are able to have a lot of space to run into while still having enough defenders to prevent counterattacks.
“I think this formation will suit us great, especially with the strengths we have,” said Hannah Hommel, junior midfielder. “We just have to get used to it and get the rhythm going, and then we will be good to go.”
The Tigers are led by three senior captains this season, including forward Maggie Olvera, center midfielder Kimberly Polasek, and defensive/holding center midfielder Emily Donnan.
Their leadership will be significant not only on the field but, more importantly, off the field.
“It’s important that we set an example of how to balance the demands of not only soccer, but our busy academic schedules as well,” Olvera said, “A huge thing with any student athlete is time management, and if we can lead by example, we are able to do part of our job as captains.”
Being captains of such a large team, which includes three seniors, eight juniors, twelve sophomores and eight freshman, requires a lot of time and dedication to lead the team in every aspect of the game.
“Not only do I have to hold myself accountable, but it is now my responsibility to do so even for my teammates,” Donnan said.
Trinity Women’s soccer is known for being a successful team, making it to the Division III championships in their 2013 season, then finishing with a 22-1-1 record and making it to the round of 16 in their 2014 season.
Losing three All-Americans, Emily Jorgens, Kirby Peddicord and Kelsey Falcone, should be threatening to a team, but the Tigers are coming in with great confidence and high expectations this season.
“I’d say overall, our expectation is to improve from last year,” Polasek said. “We’re looking to continue to improve from what we did in the 2014 season, taking one game at a time, with the hopes of making another good tournament run to the championship come November.”
Having more people pass the fitness tests this year than in the last four years, the team has really worked hard and endured the Texas heat in order to prepare for this upcoming season.
Emily Donnan speaks to the team’s hard work and dedication during preseason as the launch point to accomplish their goals:
“Preseason, like any year, is stressful and mentally and physically taxing,” Donnan said. “But our entire team wants to be the best we can be so every day of preseason we push each other to our maximum potential.”
The team’s motivation and collaboration as one unit will help them achieve their high standards and goals for the season.
Trinity Women’s soccer will play at home on Friday, September 4 against Pamona-Pitzer at 8 p.m. on the McGinlay Soccer Field.
