Big expectations

Women’s soccer anticipates another title season

 

Having won the Big South Championship in back-to-back seasons, expectations for the Liberty University women’s soccer team (1-2-2) are high for the 2017 season.

 

“I think the expectations every year for Liberty athletics programs, with women’s soccer included, is to compete at a national level, win a Big South Championship or two, and advance into the NCAA tournament,” Flames Head Coach Lang Wedemeyer said.

 

“For us it’s really just day by day, strengthening those aspects that will lead to success.”

 

This is Wedemeyer’s first season as the Lady Flames head coach.

 

At 0-2-2, the team is not where they want to be, but if this season follows the pattern of the last two Big South Championship winning seasons, then the wins will come soon.

 

In 2015 the Lady Flames did not record a win until week 4, and in 2016, the Lady Flames began their season with a 0-3 start.

 

The Lady Flames recorded their first win of the season Friday, Sept. 1, defeating the Florida Atlantic Owls (3-2) 1-0.

 

The game against the Owls was the first of two games that the Lady Flames played in Florida over the weekend.

 

On Sunday the Flames will be taking on the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles in what is also expected to be a competitive matchup.

 

The Eagles boast a 3-1 record and have overall outscored their
opponents 10-3.

 

With key players Tori Collar and Baylee Gilmore sidelined with injuries, the Flames will have to rely on their bench depth to boost the win column.

 

“I’m not sure if either one of them is going to be back any time soon,” said Wedemeyer, concerning Collar and Gilmore.

 

“We’ve got very good freshmen that are playing a lot of minutes and we’re playing anywhere from 22-26 players a game, which is unheard of.”

 

“One of the things that I think we’re blessed with this season is a very deep roster,” Wedemeyer said.

 

“We’ve got some players who were injured last year who are back and they are contributing.”

 

Having excellent depth is crucial for long-term success.

 

If the Flames can also bring consistency to their play, the results have the potential to be exciting “I think, just in each game we’ve had we’ve progressed in some way or another,” senior Isabella Habuda said.

 

But what also makes Liberty’s women’s soccer team an intriguing squad is their heart for serving others and their desire to live for Christ.

 

“At Liberty we stand for Christ, and that’s definitely what we, especially the soccer team, stand for. Especially servant leadership,” senior Ashleigh Hill said.

 

The players also do not take being a student at Liberty lightly.

 

“Being a Liberty Flame, especially for the women’s soccer team, is being a part of something bigger than yourself,” Hill said.

 

Unity is a top priority for the Flames.

 

Following a goal that Liberty scores, the Flames make it about the team and not an individual.

 

“Stay compact as a team and always play for each other,” Habuda said.

The Flames have reason to be excited.

 

They have an athletic and leadership driven senior class.

 

They have a deep bench and a challenging yet thrilling schedule.

 

Once the Flames return from their tour of the Sunshine State, they will face off against the UMBC Retrievers at home before heading back down south to play the LSU Tigers.

 

The Flames will play three out of their next six at home before concluding the regular season with three out of the final four games on the road.

 

Couch is a sports reporter.