Women’s soccer strives for perfection

After a stellar season by the Virginia Wesleyan College Women’s Soccer team, the team has made a transition this year, due to the loss of several seniors and returning only seven players.

“We are a young team,” said head coach Jeffery Bowers, “but we are good enough to handle the environments that we have to go into when we travel.”

The Marlins have started out their season with a 3-1-1 record, with their only loss coming to the defending Division III National Champion, SUNY Oneonta.

The Marlins opened their season hosting both Nazareth College and Emory University in the Virginia Wesleyan Blue Marlin Classic. The Marlins dominated their home opener against Nazareth 2-0, with goals coming from senior Sharon Hay and first-year Marlin Christina Smith.

The Marlins continued with its winning ways the following afternoon with a 3-2 victory over Emory University. After going down 1-0 in the first half, the Marlins were able to fight back with a flow of goals from senior Nicole Hite, junior Danielle Burns and, once again, Hay tallied a goal.

“We were real happy with how we opened the season,” said Bowers, “but we need players to step up into leadership roles, especially the seniors.”

After rolling through the weekend, the women had a mid-week game against cross-town rival Christopher Newport University. After the first half, in which CNU went up 2-0, the Marlins came out fighting in the second session. After a costly handball in the penalty area, Hay stepped up to the penalty spot and nailed the first goal for the Marlins.

“I knew that I really needed to make that shot,” said Hay. “I knew that if I made it, then it would get us right back into the game.”

With the Marlins down 2-1, Hay struck again off a rebound from the CNU goalkeeper. Hay blistered a shot from 16 yards out to the lower left corner tying the game at 2-2. Neither team could muster another goal in the second half, and the game went into overtime. Although the Marlins dominated both overtime periods, they couldn’t put in a goal, and the match ended in a 2-2 draw.

“We played much better in the second half,” said senior defender Michelle Bolling. “We started to play within the system that our coaches set out for us.”

After only one day of practice the Marlins were on the road again, traveling to New York, for the Oneonta Hall of Fame Tournament. After being dominated by the host Red Dragons of Oneonta by a score of 3-0, the Marlins were back out the next day trying to get a win against Hartwick College. After a seesaw battle with the two teams trading goals, the Marlins were able to squeak out a victory, when Smith put home the winning goal with only one minute left on the clock.

“It was a big goal for Christina,” said Bolling.

The Marlins, who are ranked No. 12 in the nation and No.2 in the south region, are looking to have another great year. Coach Bowers believes that the talent is there to repeat, but it is a matter of having players step up into their roles. Another addition to the Marlins team is former VWC standout, and now associate coach, Julia Green.

“It is nice having Julia around,” said Bolling. “She knows what she is talking about, and it is also good to confide in her when things get tough.”

The Marlins look to continue winning, as they take on Emory & Henry College and Guilford College in two away conference games on Sept. 17 and 19. They return to Foster Field on Sept. 25 when the Marlins face the defending ODAC tournament champions, Washington and Lee University, at 4:30 p.m.