Women’s Soccer: building on last year’s foundation

A year ago, the women’s soccer team was adjusting to a new coach along with the new style of play that the new coach brought to the team. As the team continues to rebuild the program, the women are excited about the opportunity to build upon last year’s foundation.

During the preseason the women have been working together as a team both on and off the field.

“We’re learning how to play with one another and continuing to improve on our tactical game as well as starting to work on our Gustie Tempo soccer style. Playing a team sport, team chemistry is incredibly important so we also do team bonding activities such as blindfolded dodgeball, which is everyone’s favorite,” Junior and center-mid Heather Goff said.

This year’s women’s soccer team is a mix of new and returning players, so it’s important for all of the players to get a chance to get to know one another during the preseason.

“We have a strong senior class who have made all the incoming players feel very comfortable. This week we’ve been implementing more team building activities, which are helping to build the team camaraderie. All in all, the team has meshed from the get go, which is showing out on the field,” Coach Laura Burnett-Kurie said.

“Everyone except the nine first-years are returning players, and we are working hard to incorporate them into the team dynamic. Already, we get along exceptionally well, and I’m excited to see where this year will take us,” Goff said.

The biggest challenge for the team this year will be making sure all of the players stay healthy. The team has a small roster in order to ensure that each player is positively contributing to the success of the program, but that also means there are less players available to fill-in when others are injured.

“A smaller roster means we need to make sure everyone stays healthy and is ready to play, which will be the biggest challenge—monitoring bumps and knocks as well as the mental strain of balancing academics with athletics,” Burnett-Kurie said.

The team’s goal this year is to finish in the top half of the MIAC, which according to Goff, is a very competitive conference. The team is also focused on building their style of soccer and improving on their style of play, known as the Gustie Tempo.

Spectators are encouraged to cheer on the women’s soccer team this season. The team’s first home game is Friday, August 30 at 1 p.m.

“We hope to see new and old faces out supporting us on game days,” Burnett-Kurie said.

Cross Country: ready to run

The men’s and women’s cross country teams have begun their preseason training and they are fired up and ready to run. Last year’s women’s team won the conference title, and the current team is looking to follow in their footsteps. Both teams have put in countless miles over the summer, and are increasing their intensity now that they are on campus.

For the cross country team, however, the preseason is about more than just the intensified training. The team uses the time that they are on campus to bond with their teammates and to learn how to be better runners.

“The other thing that we do during preseason is bring in some speakers to talk about different running topics. We refresh with the returning runners all of the little things that we need to do each day during the week. This time is all about getting to know who the newcomers are and how they fit in. We make sure they understand what the culture of the team is and what the expectations are, and we also show them around campus. We also have many great traditions that we do during early camp,” Coach Dale Bahr said.

About half of the men’s team this year are first-years, which Senior Captain Joe Renier sees as an exciting opportunity.

“What I’m most excited about this season is to see what our first-year runners have to offer this team. This is one of the biggest, most competitive incoming classes that I have ever seen. They add a new dynamic to the team, and I am excited to see what they can do,” Renier said.

Several of the women’s top runners graduated last year, and the women’s team brought in fewer new faces this year—but Bahr is confident that winning conference again this year is an attainable goal for the women.

“We have some key returners [on the women’s team] and we should see some new faces trying to break into the top seven. For the women, the goal is to repeat as conference champions, and we all want to continue to run as a team and run for each other,” Bahr said.

After tying for last place in last year’s conference, the men’s team’s goal this season is to finish in the top half of the MIAC.

“If there is a team that will do it, it is definitely this one. We have come into the season with a lot of hope, and everyone has been working extremely hard,” Renier said.

According to Bahr the men’s team has done a complete 180 degree turn in terms of their attitude—and the team chemistry of both teams is at an all-time high.

“I’m excited to see the outcome of the season because of the hard work and the dedication that they’ve put in. I look at the runners and this team looks like athletes, they look like they’re ready to go. I’m really excited to see where the teams can go with this newfound passion, this energy that’s here. I think we brought in some talent with our incoming class that’s going to help push the returning runners to be even better,” Bahr said.