With a 2-5-2 record, injured players and a rotation that is still being tweaked, the women’s soccer team could be discouraged as they head into conference play. However, Coach Tim Champion thinks the team is prepared to enter this new phase.

“We’ve definitely gotten better defensively, which we really needed to do, and the freshmen have had a lot of chances to play against some really good competition,” Champion said.
Sophomore forward Jenny Hummert agreed, adding that the team as a whole has improved and pulled together during non-conference play. “I think we’re learning from our mistakes and working off that and coming together,” Hummert said. “If something bad happens, we will come together, talk about it, and try to fix it for the next game.”

The Billikens open their conference schedule this Saturday, Oct. 1 against Charlotte at Robert R. Herman Stadium at 7:00 p.m.  The team had a tough non-conference season, playing three teams in the top 15 early on.

Although some key players are out with injuries and player formations are not yet set in stone, junior goalkeeper Katie Walsh says the best is yet to come.

“I think we’re still reaching our peak,” Walsh said. “I think once conference starts you’ll see some changes and some surprises. We’re not [where we would like to be] yet, but we’ll be there in conference for sure.”

Aside from picking up wins, the Billikens also want to work on scoring more goals as they go into Saturday’s game. With two 0-0 ties in the last three games, the team is definitely looking to put some numbers on the board. According to Hummert, the effort is one taken on by all members of the team, not just the offensive players.

“It kind of has to work its way up, with defense, midfield, everybody,” she said. “Everyone is a part of our goals; it’s not just one person. We work as a team to score.”
As conference play draws near, the Billikens are ready to take what they have learned thus far and apply it to their game. According to Champion, their most foolproof strategy right now is to take one game at a time.

“They have gotten to see what it takes to be very successful [by playing nationally ranked teams], and now they just have to turn that into what they can do to make that come to pass for them,” Champion said. “Playing a really difficult schedule can only help you later on down the road.”