The Hillsdale College campus has been buzzing with club sports action. Three of the club teams in season right now are women’s soccer, men’s rugby, and men’s soccer. The teams have started the competition part of their season and have been entertaining fans on the intramural fields on campus.
Women’s soccer is in the Women’s Midwest Alliance Soccer Conference, which is the first league that a women’s soccer team has been a part of at Hillsdale. The team is composed of 24 of Hillsdale’s finest female soccer players that have high aspirations for the future of their program.
When asked about what the team’s goals for the season are, junior co-captain Larissa Yashko said, “We want to build a stronger team and have higher commitment levels than in the past.”
She also added that the team aspires to become a varsity sport and wants to build a stronger presence on campus.
Almost halfway through the season, the team finds itself with a 0-4 record with losses from Grand Valley State, Western Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, and University of Michigan club teams. When asked about the slow start, Yashko attributed it to a high number of freshmen, which makes it hard to establish team chemistry, but it is also an indication that the team could be strong in the future. The girls’ last game is October 19th.
Much like women’s soccer, the men’s club rugby team has also seen consistent attendance at practices. To the team, this means they can make lofty goals and have an easier and more productive time practicing and preparing.
The team has only played one game so far, which was a loss to Grand Valley State University. In total, the team plays eight games, which take place on Saturdays either on the football field or the intramural field, depending on football scheduling. There are 17 players in total.
When asked about how the season was going so far, junior Dakota Michael said, “We have a lot of athletic dudes; we’re not too far off from having a varsity team.”
With the season in its early stages and strong commitment by the players, it is not hard for the team to be optimistic.
The men’s club soccer team is off to a strong start with a record of 2-2-1, with a goal differential of zero as they are exactly halfway through their season. They, much like the other club sports in season right now, are also witnessing higher commitment levels for their program.
They handed current league leader Saginaw Valley their first and only loss of the season. To start the year the team hosted around 120 fans for their home opener and hope to top that number at their game on Parent’s Weekend against Wayne State.
For more information to men’s rugby, men’s soccer, and women’s soccer you can go to their respective Facebook pages for updates on their schedules and more. Be sure to come out and support your Hillsdale College club teams.
