Women's soccer learns from present, looks to future

PUC’s women’s soccer team is facing the challenges of being a new team, but the team is persistent. 

Both men’s and women’s soccer were added this year as part of the athletic department’s ongoing expansion. Despite being a new team, the women feel a sense of pride in their accomplishments thus far.

“We’ve had our ups and downs, but I think we’re on the right path right now,” Head Coach Leslie Ferguson said.

Because it is their first year, the team has run into their share of issues. For one, they do not have a home field on campus so practice is often held at Munster High School and their home games take place at various local high school fields. The team will not have a real home to call their own until the completion of the Dowling Park complex.

Aside from finding a practice field, they have run into issues on the field. There have been major roster changes, as new players were added or transferred in, and some players have left mid-season.

Injuries have also plagued the team. Some were nagging all season and other injuries ended the season for players. Because of the shortened roster, players have had more playing time than usual.

 “We’ve had girls playing the full 90 minutes,” Ferguson said.

Above all, being a first-year team is harsh in general.

“We played a lot of tough teams,” Ferguson said, “and, being a young team, we didn’t look very well. But, we’ve come together as a team. Our record is 5-8, but some of those losses, we were pretty much in the game.”

While the team navigated the challenges of its first year, both Ferguson and the players are excited about the potential for next year. The team has a strong core of nine players that get along well.

“We had a rocky beginning, but it only made us grow together,” forward Maxine Rossler said. “Next year we are going to get off on the right foot.”

Things also look promising on the recruiting front, so the problems of a shortened roster might be a thing of the past.

“It’s looking like we have a pretty big recruiting class for next year,” Ferguson said. “We’re looking to have a strong roster for next year.”

 “[Having a full roster] is going to be a good feeling,” Rossler said.