ACU women’s soccer team understands the adversity they must overcome in order to compete and win at the Div. I level.
The team lost some starters from last year, but with 14 new faces on the field, head coach Casey Wilson recruited a team he knew would have the best chance for success in the Southland Conference.
“We expect quite a few of these players to be impact players throughout the season,” Wilson said. “Whether they start, or they become a part of our depth, we expect them to walk onto the field as if they are all starting.”
The seniors got together at the start of the summer to discuss the team’s goals. They all seemed to share the same ideas of their last season playing collegiate soccer to be one to remember, especially one for the younger players to remember as well. They want the program to be successful so that when they come back to watch years later they will know their first season as Div. I and last season on the team made an impact for ACU soccer.
“Honestly, I was really worried coming into the season, because there were so many new people with a lot of different personalities coming in, but we bonded immediately off the field, hanging out, being intentional and just loving on each other. I think that puts less stress on us as a whole.”–source?
To become successful in the Southland Conference, Coach Wilson scheduled many future conference foes for this season. He wants his team to get used to Div. I soccer so that it has a deep run in post-season play next year.
“Our ultimate goal is to keep evaluating our team as the season progresses, and get a little closer to hitting our peak by the time conference-play rolls around,” Wilson said.
Wilson said the team will have to overcome some adversity this season for them to be as successful as they want to be. That takes fighting off the elements as the season unfolds, whether that be the weather, injuries or simply learning how to play as a team when times are tough.
“We need to be able to adapt when we play teams that may throw off our game,” Wilson said. “We have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.”
The team expects to show the Southland Conference what the Wildcats can and will do.
The ‘Cats will host the Wildcat Soccer Pitch against University of Texas at Brownsville and University of Texas-El Paso. Game one of the series starts this Friday at 4 p.m.
