The Eckerd College Women's soccer team (1-8-1, 0-5 SSC) has had its battles over the past week, falling to both Nova Southeastern and Barry. However, the team is ready to take on yet another conference team and rival in the University of Tampa.
The Tritons fought hard during the game against NSU (6-4, 3- 2 SSC). The offense was unable to take advantage of the holes NSU's defense created due in part to the team's youth. With many freshmen and sophomores starting, their understanding of the game and their ability to spot gaps and utilize them is not where it might be if they were more experienced. Coach Joe McCauley hopes the team can gain better visual insight of the game, leading to a better read of the game and then, hopefully the team can take advantage of opportunities created by other teams' mistajes.
According to Coach McCauley, one of the toughest challenges the team faces is “each player coming focused to play their best game each and every day.” During the NSU game, lack of focus was exhibited from the players on the field from their inability to finish plays. If the team would have been more focused, McCauley believes the Tritons could have beaten Nova.
Even though
Marisa Berger allowed two goals, she was able to save five shots during the Nova game.
“She gives us confidence in the back line,” McCauley declares before going on to say that Berger is a great communicator who cleans balls that are deeply played through, and does well on breakaway type saves, which all together, allows her to be a solid goalkeeper.
Allowing Barry (4-8, 1-4 SSC) to score early set the pace for the rest of the game. Two freshmen,
Maggie Swanbeck and
Emily Johnson, had an outstanding connection that gave the Tritons their loan goal. Coach McCauley said it was classic, “textbook” soccer.
“The reason we were able to score is because individuals made it happen.” The team has to be more consistent in order to make plays like Swanbeck and Johnson did. “[The team] is in a constant tug-of-war with breaking old habits to create consistency”, McCauley states. “It would get us a few more wins, probably, if we were more consistent.”
The Tritons are about to head into a three home game stretch. Hopefully, this will be to the team's advantage as they are more comfortable when playing at home. Starting off, the team takes on rival Tampa (5-7-1, 1-2 SSC) Wednesday night at the Turley Athletic Complex.
Tampa, who has only played three Sunshine State Conference games, will cross the bay and find that the Tritons are ready and motivated to play to their full potential.
“Tampa can be caught because they are not playing well compared to past years,” Coach McCauley states. He believes as long as the Tritons can set the tone of the game by not giving up an early goal, finding a rhythm, and having players step up to make plays it can be a tight game and hopefully, a win.
Even though the team likes to take it one game at a time it is hard to not look toward Saturday's game against Clearwater Christian. This is not just another game for the Tritons because they will also be hosting a Breast Cancer Awareness event, where all proceeds will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, a cause the players care deeply about and enjoy doing.
“It is a good way [for the team] to contribute back,” says Coach McCauley.
One way the Eckerd community can help is by showing up to the game October 17th at Turley Athletic Complex at 7 p.m. There will be raffles, a bake sale, and other activities throughout the night. So come out, wear your pink and help the Eckerd College Women's Soccer team fight against Breast Cancer.
