The women’s club soccer team will play against the University of Michigan at home on Oct 29. Courtesy | Haley Strack
The Hillsdale’s women’s club soccer team looks to continue its winning tradition this season despite facing many setbacks so far this fall.
“We’ve had four teams cancel on us for our home games, which are really huge for us because we have a bigger team than ever before,” sophomore team captain Sophie Fink said. “Last year we made it to the playoffs for the first time in school history, and we’re looking to do it again, but we can’t do that if we don’t have these very important games at home.”
The team has played four games so far, with a 2-2 record. Three of those games have been away, with the most recent one taking place on Oct. 6 in Ann Arbor, Michigan against the University of Michigan.
Sophomore Sophie Schlegel said it was a difficult game.
“That game was such a tough game against the U of M. It was super cold, wet, windy, and dark,” Schlegel said. “We started off slow but came out the second half so strong, and we worked together as a team really well.”
While the game resulted in a 2-0 loss for Hillsdale, Schlegel said the team showed impressive teamwork.
“We had them on their toes and frustrated which was so great for us as a team,” Schlegel said. “We lost but ended up playing a great game.”
Despite a few tough losses, the players said away games and the travel that comes with them have been some of their favorite parts of the season so far.
“My part of the season so far has probably been traveling,” freshman Katie Holford said. “It’s so fun to squish into the huge white van as a team, and grabbing Chipotle afterwards isn’t too bad either.”
Sophomore Eryn Bayer said the team has bonded over the van rides with head coach Ken Koopmans who often is a wild driver.
“With Coach Ken’s crazy driving, it feels like the Magic School Bus,” Bayer said. “‘Please let this be a normal field trip!’ With Coach Ken? No way!”
The team added 11 freshmen to its roster this fall, which according to Fink, is a remarkable number for the team.
“The majority of the team is underclassmen, and there’s only two upperclassmen on the team,” Fink said. “But it’s really great, and it promises a great future for the program.”
Bayer said this year’s freshman class helps embody the spirit developed by the team last year.
“I think we were really close last season as a team, and I think that even though we’ve taken in a very big freshman class, that closeness thing has definitely continued and carried over,” Bayer said.
Holford said this year’s freshman class makes up most of the starting line-up, which has been a good experience for the freshmen.
“It’s so fun for all the other freshman girls and I to be out there together,” she said.
Playing together has provided the freshman class with a great bonding experience, Holdford said.
The team practices three times a week. Captains Fink and senior Brooke Timmerman work together with Koopmans beforehand to develop a plan, taking inventory from previous games and practices.
“Brooke, Coach Ken, and I meet, and we just talk about what we need to work on based on games or what we noticed,” Fink said. “It ranges from anywhere between sprints to little scrimmages to shooting drills, passing drills, and stuff like that. Anything we just need to improve on.”
The team will play against the University of Michigan again at home Oct. 29 at 1 p.m.
Ultimately looking to repeat last season’s success, the women are looking forward to their remaining schedule, and they are excited to continue playing the sport they love and have loved for a long time, Fink said.
“This is a program full of people who deeply love the sport,” said Fink.
