Chris Yingling | Echo
Excitement runs high as Saturday's season opener for the Taylor women's soccer team approaches. The ladies strive to improve upon last year's 12-7-1 record for their 2014 season.
Taylor's 2013 season was one to remember. The Trojans' efforts earned them a tie for fifth place in Crossroads League standings. They made a run in the league tournament as the seventh seed, reaching their first league championship game appearance since 1999. The team would fall short to top-seeded Spring Arbor 1-0 in the final game.
Losing two high-impact seniors will be a tough bump to overcome. Forward Molly Drooger ('14) and defender Stephanie Kerstan ('14) will be sorely missed as the Trojans look toward the future. Replacing Drooger, Taylor's all-time leading scorer, will be a priority for the team as it adjusts to its first season without her in four years.
However, head coach Scott Stan is optimistic as the season opener looms.
"We've had seven years in a row of really good soccer here," Stan said. "And now, we've brought in a great freshman class, so the expectations are high."
Preseason injuries have derailed some of the team's preparations and are cause for concern as the Trojans begin the season with hobbled starters.
"Right now, this is the most injured that I've ever seen a Taylor team," Stan said. "We have 14 people with muscle injuries, which isn't terrible, but when everyone around you is playing fast and motivated, you tend to overdo things a bit."
A team that looked to senior leadership last year looks for an infusion of young talent as they take on a brutal schedule. A tougher non-conference schedule will test the grit of the younger squad before it heads into conference play.
"We've scheduled three non-conference games against top-20 teams in the nation and two more against top-40 teams," Stan said. "With us having seven upperclassmen and 17 freshmen and sophomores, it was a tad ambitious, but I'd like to think we'll do really well."
Freshmen players Megan Kammer and Nikki Zaino are excited for their first season with the Trojans and focused on helping the team improve as a whole.
"I've loved meeting the team. It's really comprised of great girls that really make you feel at home," Zaino said. "They made it easy to transfer from high school to college with how they take you under their wing and show you the ropes."
The bonds between the team members have formed in a short period of time and team chemistry is already being built.
"These ladies are just so welcoming. It's been just a few weeks and I already feel like I'm best friends with them," Kammer added.
The women's soccer team will open its season in Fort Wayne on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. against Indiana Tech during the Shindigz National Soccer Festival.
Photo provided by Taylor Sports Information Department
