Women’s Soccer Preview and Opening Weekend
(Defiance, OH) The Defiance College Women’s Soccer season is officially underway, and there is a large amount of excitement for the upcoming season. The team has some returning talent, along with young and eager talent ready to make an impact right away. DC returns 12 players who had seen varsity time for DC the previous season, while adding 9 new players to the roster. Another major addition to DCWS is adding Coach Jesse Kuelher to the staff as a full time assistant!
With this returning talent along with the new additions, there is a good feeling about the upcoming. Senior captain, Kassie Memmer, from Bowling Green, Ohio, has this to say, “This is a really exciting season for DCWS, we have a strong group of returners as well as a strong freshman class. From day 1, it was evident that our team is made up of hard workers and we are all excited to see what the season has in store for us.” DCWS looks to improve on 2-13 season the previous year, and has already gotten off to a strong start!
DC started their season with the Purple and Gold Tournament against Hidelberg last Friday by losing narrowly to a strong Hidelberg opponent. The game started off intense and evenly matched, til a shot in the 25th minute by Hidelberg barely missed the tip of freshman goalkeeper Rachel Lowell. Hidelberg followed up with a quick goal afterward in the 28th minute by Hidelberg.
DCWS was not giving up after these two quick goals by Hidelberg though. They continued to fight until they had an answer of their own in the 85 minute on a goal during a penalty kick by Senior Kassie Memmer, that was buried into the right side of the net. This was not enough for Defiance to come back during this game, but it gave them a spark for the next game.
DCWS won a blood pumping game this past Sunday. They played another tough opponent, Bethany COllege, in a nail biting game that went into overtime. The Jackets started off strong with the second goal of the season by Kassie Memmer, who beat a defender and that extra space was all she needed to put it past the diving keeper. The game was evenly matched after that, until a goal in the 65th by Bethany to tie the game. They continued to go back and forth, leading to overtime.
The OT had barely started, when 3 minutes in Sophomore Katie Settich scored a goal deep from the left side of the field, marking it her first goal of the season, and leading the Jackets to an overtime victory!
DCWS continues their season this Saturday at home at 2pm against Oberlin, and Tuesday against Malone at 4pm.. Come out and support, and as always, Go Jackets!
Written by Zachary Bires
