As winter approaches, Goshen College’s athletics department is seeing an end to many sports seasons, including women’s soccer.
When we train as a team we work really hard to stay focused
— Amy Drew
While the season’s results haven’t turned out the best for the team, there have still been positives to the season.
Head coach Justin Crew said, “From a results perspective it hasn’t been great … so that’s obviously been disappointing for everyone, for staff and players alike.”
Amy Drew, a senior on the team, “We’ve definitely had improvements throughout the season,”
Isabel Massud, a junior, said, “We had started out rough, caught up with some ties and then had that win.” Continuing, Massud said, “Our keepers have really been improving this season.”
Aina Lopez, a junior who was nominated for Everence Student-Athlete of the Week, was one of the most improved players according to Massud.
“The first 270 minutes [Lopez] played, she had eight or nine goals scored, and then in the second 270 she only had one goal scored on her,” she said.
The normal wear and tear of a soccer season seemed to affect the team this year. Drew said, “When we train as a team we work really hard to stay focused.”
But the results made it hard to keep going. “It’s hard for the team to keep up the energy when we don’t get the results, but I think we do a good job of always going for it and trying our best,” Massud said.
“The team is still working hard,” Crew said, “the team is still staying positive, the practices are good, the energy’s good, so I think that says a lot of things about [the team] as people.”
With the season coming to an end, that also means it’s almost time to say goodbye to the seniors on the team.
Drew, being a senior herself, showed hope for the coming years, saying, “We have a really good connection but we will be losing a lot of seniors on the team.”
“So I hope that the new players coming in will be able to blend well with the team and that the ones stepping up will be able to take charge and set a good example for the others.”
With two games left in the season, one against Grace College, and the other against Taylor, one or two results would secure the team’s spot in the playoffs.
“We still could make the playoffs, so that’s positive, that’s always our minimum goal … there’s still some opportunity there,” Crew said.
Massud made sure to encourage the community to turn out. “If you’re not doing anything on Saturday, come support us! It’s gonna be a good game with good energy and the seniors would appreciate it a lot,” she said.
The team’s last two regular season games will be on Saturday, October 26 at 7:00 p.m., and Wednesday, October 30 at 6:00 p.m., against Grace and Taylor respectively.
With both games at home, make sure to show up, push the Leafs to win, and help secure their place in the playoffs!
With reporting by
Caoimhe Farrell and Kevin Liddell
