Women’s soccer is ready to kick-off.
After regrouping as a team on Aug. 12, the team has a week to be game ready for their season opener on the road against Mary Baldwin Fri., Aug. 30.
This year’s club is driven by veteran leadership with Erin Saleeby at the helm for her fifth season as head coach, and tenth with Women’s soccer on campus.
“We’re excited about this season for sure,” Saleeby said. “Each year we’ve gotten better and better and it’s exciting to see that growth.”
The growth and leadership of the seven seniors and a graduate student will be on full display this season.
Along with these players, four juniors, four sophomores, and nine freshman build the 25-player roster for the year.
“It’s exciting to have a large senior class with so much experience and leadership. I think you win with juniors and seniors and having so many is a really good plus,” Saleeby said. “Having a large freshman class allows for them to learn from the experience and leadership of the seniors as well. They will get good experience before going D-II.”
But before the transition to Division II takes place, there is still one final season to complete in the ODAC.
Last season, women’s soccer started the year 5-1-1 before conference play.
The team finished their season 2-8 in conference play finishing 7-9-1 overall.
“The ODAC is a strong conference and as you get deeper into the season you get tired legs and injuries,” Saleeby said. “I hope that we have more depth this year to help prevent so much fatigue.”
Saleeby said to keep an eye on Bri Bitz (Graduate), Amber Gillen (Senior), Haley Woodward (Senior), and Ashli Wuss (Junior) to lead the team throughout the year.
On Aug. 21 women’s soccer traveled to Carolina University in Winston-Salem, NC for a scrimmage which resulted in a 2-2 tie.
Going into the year, Saleeby isn’t putting any boundaries on what her team can accomplish.
“I just want to play to our potential every time we step on the field,” Saleeby said. “If we do that, the results will take care of themselves.”
With Ferrum never winning an ODAC championship in women’s soccer, it would be the storybook ending for the seniors and college to win the conference on their way out.
“Everyone is very focused on what we are doing this year. With a large graduating class, they want to make sure they leave a lasting legacy in the ODAC,” Saleeby said. “We haven’t talked too much about the transition because we are focused on this season right now.”
