PREVIEW: Women's Soccer Looking to Build on 2016 Success
As a late hire last season, women’s soccer head coach Mike Webber had just over a week to prepare his 2016 squad for the season.
Regis Athletics Fall Previews
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Women's Soccer: Women's Soccer Looking to Build on 2016 Success
WESTON, Mass. – As a late hire last season, women’s soccer head coach Mike Webber had just over a week to prepare his 2016 squad for the season. While the transition was expectedly challenging, the Pride doubled its win total to finish 10-7-2 and third in the NECC. The 10 wins equaled the 2013 win total for second all-time.
The hope is that the returnees, with a spring and summer of offseason training and a familiarity with the program, will bring the crop of 11 newcomers along as the team continues to grow. “The returning class has a better idea of the expectation of the coaching staff,” said Webber. “That obviously gives them a leg up coming in but through the recruiting process some good relationships have been formed.”
Despite the leap forward, Webber’s expectations are somewhat tempered given the move to the GNAC. Webber mentions as formidable opponents. “The top teams in the GNAC are NCAA tested,” said Webber, speaking of Johnson & Wales (RI) and seven-time league champion Lasell who both went undefeated in league play. “It’s those middle tier teams that’s not like what we’ve seen before.”
A pair of notable names returning for the Pride are sophomore all-conference performers Rachel Kelly and Noelle Garcia. Both were also NECC All-Tournament selections one year ago with Kelly finishing the season as the team’s top scorer. “We always love sophomore year,” joked Webber about his young tandem. “Both had tremendous success as freshmen and now other programs are aware of them. Hopefully they’ve put in the time during the summer to stay a leg up on the competition.”
In preparation for league play, Webber put together a formidable non-conference slate to hopefully season his young core. “We wanted to see if we’ve improved and it’s great to have a non-conference schedule with opponents that will test you but also ones you have a good chance of winning.”
The Pride open the season hosting Maine-Farmington (Sept. 2) before jumping right into GNAC play with road games against Mount Ida (Sept. 6) and St. Joseph (Conn.) (Sept. 9). After hosting the next two conference games, Regis hosts former foe and NECC runner-up Lesley (Sept. 19).
The toughest stretch of the season begins at the end of September when the Pride play three of the GNAC’s top teams from last season beginning with a road contest against St. Joseph’s (Me.) (Sept. 27). Regis closes conference play Oct. 17 vs. Rivier then the regular season with non-conference games vs. Becker (Oct. 21) and at Framingham State (Oct. 24).