New year, new team
Lady Flames soccer ready for upcoming season
As students return to campus, attend their first classes and hit the books, the Lady Flames soccer team has been hard at work training for their upcoming season. After a disappointing end to their 2010 season with a penalty kick loss to Gardner Webb, the Lady Flames are back and better than ever. Since losing five graduating seniors, the Lady Flames picked up six new players to round out their 2011 roster. Fall practices began Aug 10 and Head Coach Jessica Hain has been working the team hard to prepare for their road opener against No. 10 ranked UVA Cavaliers Friday, Aug 26. Coach Hain said that the team’s main focus during pre-season training was that “In all that we train, our goal is to develop mental toughness, unity, perseverance and confidence. We know that the season ahead of us is a marathon not a sprint. We are seeking to use the strength within us through the Holy Spirit to go beyond what we could do on our own.”
The Lady Flames 2011 schedule consists of 10 home games and nine road games, including a rematch against Gardner Webb, which promises to be an incredible match. Other exciting games include matches against Elon, Radford, VMI, Charleston Southern and Liberty Flames rivals Coastal Carolina.
When asked about the upcoming soccer season, freshman Carleigh Kuntz says “I’m expecting only the best from Liberty’s soccer team,” Junior Andy Mallory says “I know they’ll be amazing, because this is Liberty.”
Tickets are already on sale for the Lady Flames home opener against the Longwood Lancers Aug 29 at 7 p.m. at Osborne Stadium. Longwood is looking strong after their season ending 4-1 loss to Morehead State last year. The Lancers finished with a 0-0 draw against Richmond and a 2-0 victory over Howard University in preseason play. When asked what the biggest struggle the team would be facing, Coach Hain said “Our biggest challenge will be to stay healthy. Over the past several years, we have suffered many injuries and we are praying for God to protect us and sustain us throughout this season.” Hain said that fans should watch out for “Senior forward, Aimee Luurtsema, led the team in goals and points last year. Senior forward and member of the Costa Rican women’s national team, Silvia Betancourt, is returning from injury and healthy. Redshirt junior goalkeeper, Karen Blocker is returning from injury and healthy.” Be early, be loud and wear red does not just apply to football and basketball anymore. The Lady Flames soccer team has been working hard and they deserve to have a huge crowd of fans cheering them on at their home opener. “The support structure around our team (from family, friends and fans) is very, very important. When a solid, positive support base is around…the atmosphere is powerful and it fuels the student-athletes” Coach Hain said.