By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Toledo, Ohio---The Owens Community College women's soccer team, fresh off back-to-back Region XII championships, will open the campaign for No. 3 at home on Friday against No. 9 Monroe (N.Y.) Community College. Following that, they will host Parkland (IL) College on Sunday at 12 p.m.
"I'm pretty excited about this team," said second-year head women's soccer coach Kenny Hewitt. "We've got a lot of potential, but you can't rely on potential. You've gotta try and get the best out of them. That's my job. I'm confident I'll do that. We've got a great group of girls. The returning players are taking good leadership roles, and I'm excited."
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Should Owens reach the national tournament once again, they would become the first women's sport at Owens to capture three straight Region XII titles and only the second program overall (men's basketball - 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94).
"This weekend is going to be huge for us as a team and (it will) just set the tone for the rest of the season," said sophomore Lydia Yeager (Start/Toledo, Ohio). "I think if we come out strong and play as a team, we're going to be just fine and come out with two wins this weekend."
The matchup on Friday will also mark the beginning of the fifth season of women's soccer at Owens. The program has compiled an impressive 56-17-7 record thus far Hewitt embarks upon his second season after leading the team to a 14-5-2 record last year, including an appearance in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I National Tournament.
"It's tough when we've got 15 freshmen coming in," Hewitt said. "It's a change from previous years. We've just got to work with that, take our time, make sure (the players) get connected and understand the philosophy of the team. Once that gets settled in, whatever it takes, one game or three or four, we'll get rockin' and rolling."
Yeager is also excited to get the season going after a strong preseason schedule that featured two NCAA Division II teams, Tiffin University and University of Findlay, and a strong NAIA team, Siena Heights University.
"(The preseason) just allowed us to work out all the kinks and things that didn't work and did work," Yeager said. "I think that we're going to be very strong at every position, so I'm very excited to get started this weekend."
Yeager, a defender, is part of a six player sophomore class that also includes goalkeeper Chelsie Randolph (Start/Toledo, Ohio), midfielder Dominique Cruz (Northwood/Northwood, Ohio), defender Siera Kovar (Bowsher/Toledo, Ohio), midfielder Jessica Kreger (Bedford/Temperance, Mich.) and forward Jordyn Wright (Riverdale/Forest, Ohio).
Aside from the sophomores, another group of student-athletes that will define how this season plays out is the program's first-ever international class, which also totals six players. They include Sophie Hollis, a midfielder from Surrey, England, Dayna Kingshott, a forward from King's Lynn, United Kingdom, Emily Ginley, a midfielder from Halifax, United Kingdom, Jermima Job, a midfielder from Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom, Ellie Kirby, a defender from Southampton, Hampshire, England and Talia Swartbooi, a midfielder from Johannesburg, South Africa.
"All of us together, it does create a really good environment," Hollis said. "We all get along with each other. We can all relate to each other. Anytime one of us is feeling down or homesick, we all pick each other up. But being out here with all the girls, all our minds just set (and) focused on soccer and trying to get to nationals this year, we're all just so excited and proud that we're the first internationals as part of this (program)."
Along with the six international players, the freshmen class also includes eight others from the local area. The rest of the group includes defender Jenna Kidd (Clay/Oregon, Ohio), defender Kathryn Spalding (Central Catholic/Toledo, Ohio), midfielder Kelsey Combs (Anthony Wayne/Waterville, Ohio), defender Lynzee Richardson (Napoleon/Napoleon, Ohio), midfielder Catie Phalen (Lake/Walbridge, Ohio), defender Sarah Wamer (Cardinal Stritch/Walbridge, Ohio), midfielder Mackenzie Oberle (Whitmer/Toledo, Ohio) and midfielder Kaleigh Strausbaugh (Bowling Green/Bowling Green, Ohio).
This year's schedule features 11 home games and seven away games. From Sept. 23 through Oct. 11, the team will hit the road for a tough five game stretch against competition from Region XII, but they will close out the regular season with five straight home matches. The Region XII postseason tournament will be hosted by Cincinnati State this year Oct. 31-Nov. 1.
"There's plenty of chances and opportunities for everyone to come out and watch the girls," Hewitt said. "We're going to have another exciting and good team this year, so come on out and show your support. We're going to be playing some good soccer, so trust me it's going to be enjoyable. We hope to see you there."
All games at the Owens soccer complex are free. Stay tuned to our Facebook page (here), our Twitter page (here), our Instagram page (here) and our YouTube page (here) throughout the weekend and the rest of the season for updates on the team's success.
Notes
The season opener is part of an action packed weekend for Owens athletics as men's soccer also begins its regular season, while the women's volleyball program opens its home season. Visit OwensExpress.com for full schedules from each sport!