A season of learning along with the transition of an assistant coach taking over after the previous head coach left fuels this Mercy women’s soccer team for a new challenge.
Coming off a disappointing end at 9-5-3 (ECC 5-1-2) with a lost in the semifinals of the ECC Soccer Championship hurts for a team that has made the NCAA tournament in recent years. This rounded team knows how to compete with each other through the wins or losses and willing to improve this season from their experience.
Second year head coach, Jack Nicholson has established foundation in his program this year for his players to compete at a higher level against great competition.
“Great foundation played against high level teams gives us the experience to compete,” said Coach Nicholson.
Mercy women’s soccer returns 16 players from last year but lost goalkeeper of the year Kamy Amaya and three senior all-conference players to graduation. The team brings in ten newcomers, eight freshman and two transfers. The returners started to condition in prep to get better and stronger over the summer to prepare for the season
The freshman came in eager to learn as they transition to the college play which is quicker. Coach trusts his freshman this year who have been starting the last couple of games. Saint Rose transfer Ella Brower and Monroe Community College transfer Anna Deutscher, from Germany, come from really good soccer programs that play at an elite level but also add experience to a team looking to win the conference.
Mercy women’s soccer spent preseason becoming a well-rounded team that can score the ball more which they did not do much of last season and being aggressive on defense to stop opponents from scoring. Everyone came in ready to play and make big improvements from last season. The biggest impact in preseason was that everyone was playing great and continued to get better once the season began.
Coach Nicholson shouts out some of the returners and freshman that impressed him in preseason with their hard work going into the season.
“Both Malia and Alyssa have exceeded every day, Skylar has stepped from last year, Ancksu continues to be a scorer, and the freshman are making huge impacts this season,” said Coach Nicolson.
Mercy women’s soccer team also gets good leadership from captains Amaya Washington, senior forward/midfielder and Skylar Schwenkler, fifth-year senior midfielder/defender who have taken over to help the team play better and work hard. Coach Nicholson saw the two players confidence grows from last year which awarded them captains this year.
The underclassmen have belief in their leaders will get the team peaking at the right time and respect how they are going to have great accomplishments this season.
Alyssa Santiago, freshman midfielder recognizes her captains who continue to lead this program with heart and keeping the team together so far this season.
“The leadership from Sky and Amaya gives us great leaders who keeps us in check as a group,” said Alyssa.
Mercy has huge goals coming this season that audience will expect to be accomplished in the program. Coach Nicholson wants to get his team back into the ECC Championship along with a return to the NCAA Tournament. They made their non-conference schedule tough so the team can prepare for conference play.
The team plans to continue learning from their strengths and weakness from each game step by step to make improvements every day. They have heart, hunger, and will get back to their dominating years which they have a standard to. Players also have personal goals from themselves that they want to get done for the season.
Santiago breaks down how the team spent preseason writing down principal goals that the team wanted to accomplish as a group and personal self.
“Coming into preseason, we had a meeting as a group to write principles of having grit as a team and pushing ourselves to work hard in prep for the season,” said Alyssa.
Mercy women soccer team is currently 4-4-1 (1-1 ECC) and are coming off a win at home against New Haven 4-0 on Wednesday. The team averages 12.33 shot attempts, 6.00 points, 1.9 goals, 2.2 assists, and 3.67 saves per game. Mercy looks to continue their win streak on Saturday at home against ECC foe Roberts Wesleyan as the season continues on.
