Tyler Stabile | The BG News
As the season opener against Loyola on Aug. 19 approaches, the women’s soccer team appears to have a renewed outlook after going 4-12-4 last season.
“I sense a feeling from all the players I’ve spoken to that they’re excited about the season, they want to do well and they’re working hard to achieve that,” said head coach Andy Richards.
Forward Alyssa Zuccaro said the team lacked the mental aspect of the game last season and did not play with an urgency to win.
Injuries to key players and the loss of momentum in several games began to prick the confidence of last year’s seniors, Richards said.
But Zuccaro feels with the previously injured players returning to health, along with an improved attitude among the team, the team can get the job done this season.
“In the [Mid-American Conference] everyone is pretty equal in talent, so I don’t think we were lacking in that … We’re working hard, and people are basically changing their attitudes because the MAC can go any way.”
Zuccaro led the team with eight goals and 22 overall points last season, and will return to the Falcons roster as co-captain along with midfielder Leah Johnson.
Richards and fellow coaches are also excited about the incoming freshmen class. With the addition of nine academic and three redshirt freshmen, the team will boast a 31-woman roster this season, and Richards expects a great deal of competition to ensue amongst them.
“We have players [within the freshman class], I think, that can contribute right from the start,” Richards said, including goalkeeper Keara Lydon of Cranberry Township, Pa.
The Falcons must replace veteran goalkeeper Alyssa Arsenault this season after finishing her career at or near the top of every Bowling Green State University goalkeeping list last season, and Richards said that Lydon, though a freshman, will have the opportunity to compete for the spot.
Another highly touted recruit is defender Kaylee Draper of Perrysburg.
“She [Draper] could be a kid who comes in and does really well. Her development over the last six months has been fantastic,” Richards said.
He said that with her recent development, Draper has gone from a player who could come in as a freshman and help out sparingly to one with a chance to start.
The freshmen, along with the rest of the team, are not scheduled to report to campus until Aug. 4 when the preseason begins.
Currently, six to nine girls work five days of week on strength and conditioning. While it is mandatory for every player to join a summer team, it is not required for the team to stay on campus during the summer, according to Zuccaro.