It feels like it’s been over a year since we’ve last seen the women’s soccer team take the field. Well, that’s because it has been over a year.
“It’s been 441 days from our last competition against Louisville…,” said coach O’Brien. “For the players, it’s been a long haul. 2020 was a tough year mentally for them.”
Everything about the offseason has been far from normal, from its length, the state of the world, and the uncertainty that it brought players and fans alike. While so much in the world has changed, the back-to-back ASUN champs have experienced some changes on their roster as well. The team graduated seven seniors last year, and the roster currently features nine freshmen.
Along with the large freshman class, the team has brought in three transfers from other D-I programs with coach O’Brien highlighting Kelli Beiler, a midfielder from Penn State, as one of the captains coming into the season. The team expects solid production from the experienced transfer group this year.
Among the 15 returning players, Molly Grant, Katia Hanger, Logan McFadden, and Cami Rogers were named to the Preseason All-Conference Team. With the combination of talented newcomers and promising returners, expectations for the team to have a legitimate shot at a third consecutive ASUN title are inevitable. The Bisons’ selection as the favorite to finish first in the preseason coaches’ poll is just one example of those high expectations.
Naturally, the team also has to deal with the perennial “target” on their backs as long as “defending ASUN champions” precedes their name. Teams around the ASUN will have their matchups with Lipscomb circled on their calendars.
“I remember when were in those shoes,” said O’Brien. “We lost in three championships in a row before we won our first one. There’s a hunger that those teams are going to have to knock us off… we get that.”
O’Brien said the staff’s philosophy is to shift their mindset when it comes to their back-to-back titles. “We tell the girls we’re not going to go out and defend a championship,” said O’Brien. “We’ve got to go and attack another one.”
The Bisons start regular season play this Saturday at home versus the Lee University at 3 p.m.