Despite having a disappointing conclusion to the fall season, the Racers hit the ground running in preparation for its upcoming spring season tournament play.
The Racers kick off the first game of the season with the Murray State Indoor Tournament in Mayfield, Ky., Saturday. During the spring season, the team will play three 11 vs. 11 games, and a seven vs. seven against UT Martin.
The faster-paced indoor tournament atmosphere should be a good first tournament for the Racers, Head Coach Beth Acreman said.
A smaller field and faster in-game play should allow a lot of player touches on the ball and get everyone back in the swing of things. This season marks Acreman’s seventh year as soccer head coach.
The smaller area also means that if mistakes are made, recovery time is crucial. This will be a great opportunity for the Racers to showcase their defense, as well as their offense. It will also give them a chance to evaluate where they are as a team.
“I think the fall season was very frustrating, but I think it’s been a very good learning experience,” Acreman said. “They are fired up and ready to go. We had a few new players this season so getting them acclimated is always challenging.”
One of the major challenges the team faced was the task of scoring, Acreman said.
Becoming faster, stronger and, ultimately, better has been the main focus of the team’s spring training regiment. Injury prevention is also an important component. Less hindered by NCAA rules during the off-season, the players focus primarily on lifting, endurance and individual skills sets. With experience under its belt, the team is hoping to dominate its spring schedule.
“We are working toward the fall. Now that they’ve had a year of experience under their belt, it’s exciting to see what these players can really do,” Acreman said. “Next year we are going to be adding more players to the roster with new recruits, so we are just working on solidifying the foundation for those players to join.”
Unlike many other college sports, soccer’s championship season, or main season, is in the fall. While returning players have the advantage of experience, the task of cohesion is daunting.
Acreman said this year has been a great time to gain experience and commends her team for being dedicated day in and day out.
The team has developed into a really tight-knit group and has some of the best talent the Racers have had in a long time, Acreman said. Acerman said senior Shauna Wicker leads the Racers on and off the field. Wicker was the second leading scorer on the team and 10th in the Ohio Valley Conference during the 2011-2012 year with seven goals. Wicker sets her sights high for the spring season and said she thinks everything on the schedule is very winnable.
“I want to go out with a bang and lead the team well this season,” Wicker said. “I think if we get a winning mentality, that will carry us into the fall.”
The team’s struggle throughout the fall season has inspired the team to work even harder to come out on top during the spring.
“Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work as hard,” Wicker said. “You may be up against a girl that is more talented, but if you continue to fight, they will eventually give up. I tell the girls that wanting and desiring it is so much greater. I may not be the most talented player, but I continue to push myself and others to work hard.”
The spring season looks positive for Wicker and her teammates as they continue to train for their upcoming indoor tournament.
After the indoor tournament, the team will travel to Evansville, Ind., to take on the University of Evansville on March 6.
Story by Laura Kovarik, Staff writer.