Seton Hill University’s (SHU) women’s soccer team is transforming this year in terms of both players and goals. Five seniors graduated, and they have had to be replaced. The coaching staff was forced to find new talent to fill the positions of goalie, marking-back, and inside and outside midfielders.
They have done just that. Five freshmen girls joined the squad, as well as two transfers. Most of the seven new team members have started at least one game according to head coach John Fogle, and have �contributed significantly,� he said.
By Meredith Ponczak,
Senior Staff Writer
Seton Hill University’s (SHU) women’s soccer team is transforming this year in terms of both players and goals. Five seniors graduated, and they have had to be replaced. The coaching staff was forced to find new talent to fill the positions of goalie, marking-back, and inside and outside midfielders.
They have done just that. Five freshmen girls joined the squad, as well as two transfers. Most of the seven new team members have started at least one game according to head coach John Fogle, and have �contributed significantly,� he said.
�We have a completely new team,� said Kate Ward, a senior.
This will be the last year with this team and these coaches for Ward and senior, Maggi Quinlan. They admit that the idea saddens them, but Ward is quick to add, �Coach Fogle is the best coach to have because we have fun but still play hard.�
Games twice a week, on Saturday and Tuesday or Thursday, and two hours of practice on the off days, except Sundays, require a substantial commitment to the sport. Some of the players condition outside of practice as well.
Quinlan said that conditioning continues �year-round, if you are serious about it.�
Fortunately, injuries are not a major concern. Only two players from last season will not return due to serious injury.
The team will need to be at its best when it faces Malone College and Houghton College at home. The goals for this year are to �play as a team, start a quicker transition, and finish on our shots,� said Fogle.
Winning will not go by the wayside, however. Fogle and his staff will still encourage the players to win and do their best on the field.
Led by captains Quinlan, Elaine Zaveckas, and Nicky Pergar, the team’s overall focus this year will be different. The switch from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) to the National
College Athletic Association (NCAA) puts the team in the position of being between conferences, so they are ineligible for playoffs.
Thus, instead of focusing on winning to advance to the playoffs like they did last year, this year’s team will center on �getting the girls ready for next year when they are eligible,� said Quinlan.
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