After falling just short of the playoffs by one spot, the Women’s soccer team was looking to get themselves back into contention. Losing a few key members to graduation and others to red shirts, the Lady Hawks entered into another rebuilding year. After a slow start, the team is in a tough spot too.
“We played sloppy,” Chelsea Loewenstien, one of the team’s co-captains said. “We didn’t act like a team who has known each other for a long time.”
Much like the Men’s team, the lack of communication is causing the gameplay to suffer. Practices have been solid, but there is something missing when the games start. The heart and the passion that the players felt as kids has gone.
“We can fix the problems, but communication is the key,” Sissi Do Amor, head coach, said. “I think we’re going to get there, we just have to take it one step at a time.”
Injuries have been one reason for the slow start to the season. With players being injured during games at San Joaquin Delta College and College of the Sequoias, the team has had to move people around into positions they aren’t used to.
The first three games were not the start the Lady Hawks wanted. They fell in succession to Modesto Junior College, Delta and Santa Rosa Junior College.
“The first couple games we played against some really good teams,” Luke Enn, newly hired assistant coach said. “Every game we’re seeing them get better and better. We’re cutting down the mistakes.”
Krystal Byrne, a returning sophomore, led the charge against College of the Sequoias on Tuesday Sept. 10 with a hat-trick. Fellow forward Melissa Aboud added two more goals, allowing LPC to take the game 5-3 for their first win.
“Most of the teams will show more in the middle of the season, and this team will be the same,” Sissi said. “Our goal is to have the full roster for every game. If that happens, I think we’ll be fine.”
