Bobcats finish season with a loss, Parr remains optimistic despite tough season

The inaugural season of the women’s soccer team signaled the start of a tradition to grow–they established a foundation to build a successful program.

“It was gratifying to see all the preparation come together: combining the recruiting class with the existing class, getting the new soccer field ready, and playing in the Peach Belt Conference,” Head Coach Robert Parr said.

The women’s soccer team finished with a record of 5-10-2 and a conference record of 1-5-2.

Parr was able to identify holes in the team that he looks to patch over the off-season.

“We got a good core but we still have needs. We are solid defensively, we just need a stronger midfield and to generate more offense. The team learned a lot about where players can play. This season gave us a chance to experiment who is the best in what position,” Parr said.

Much of the team’s success can be attributed to the women’s chemistry. “The team bonded very well,” Parr said. “They are a close-knit group of ladies’. They have strong chemistry and camaraderie towards each other.”

In addition to the chemistry, the ladies success can also be attributed to vast awareness and knowledge of the game.

“The team was very good on picking up concepts. They weren’t repeating mistakes and progressed well,” Parr said.

In the spring season the team will primarily be focused on training rather than winning to prepare for the 2005 fall season. The team will spend a lot of time in the weight room along with a lot of running to improve speed and agility.

“I enjoyed meeting a lot of new people. The team communicated and got along extremely well for a first year team,” freshman Erin Krueger said.

The team enjoyed many things about this season.

“I enjoyed the atmosphere of the game and knowing that I am playing in college. I came to the team as a freshman and I got to start every game but one, that keeps me coming back,” freshman Alex Stover said.

The most memorable moment of the season came when the team was on the road in the playoffs against the number one seed, Francis Marion. The team took Francis Marion to double overtime but lost 1-0 in the closing seconds of the second overtime. Francis Marion went on to win the Peach Belt Tournament.

“If we could have taken that team to a shoot off we probably would’ve won. It was a maturing moment for this team. Next year we will win,” Parr said.

The improvements the ladies made from the club season included: competing on a much harder schedule, expanding depth, and learning more about the game.

“Some games we tied we should have won and some games we lost we should have tied. You learn through experience. Experience is invaluable,” Parr said.

The inaugural season was nothing short of excellent but it left the door open for improvement.

“This season was above average for a first year team. We have dedicated players who represent the university well and always want more,” Parr said.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Dec 3 2004. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry