Young but Strong: Women’s Soccer fires up for a new season
By: Alex Russel

Last year, the women’s soccer team ended up with a record of 7-12 overall and 6-4 in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

“I’m very excited for this coming season,” said Coach Linda Hamilton. “We are still young, with eight new players and 10 returning, but it will be exciting because we never know what is going to happen.”

The returning members of the team are fond of the incoming recruits.

“They are meshing really well with our returning players,” said senior Vladana Petricevic. “I can’t wait to see how well we click both on and off the field.”

One of the new recruits, Lauren Irurzun, is confident the team will come together seamlessly.

“Being a new recruit was definitely intimidating at first, but coming during the summer to train helped a lot with the nerves,” she said. “The team is great and welcomed us, the new recruits, with open arms.”

The players will depend on that chemistry to make it through this season’s difficult schedule.

“We play FSU, NC State, Wilmont, Richmond and UNC Charlotte,” Hamilton said. “Our non-conference schedule has many top 100 and some top 10 teams.”

Petricevic is looking forward to the August 28 game against Florida State University. The teams play one another.

“They are a very talented team who is in the top 10,” Petricevic said. “I’m ready to show them that any team can win on any given day.”

In conference play, Jacksonville University will undoubtedly be a challenge.

“They are our rivals, and there is so much emotion built up in that game,” said Vladana Petricevic.

With a young team and a tough schedule, Hamilton has her work cut out for her. The players have the passion to win — whether or not they have the perseverance will show on the scoreboard.