After back-to-back wins and the biggest win in Taylor women’s soccer history, the Trojans look to continue the momentum.
With a record of 4-2-2, the Trojans have kept themselves above .500. The last two games were won in dominating fashion on their home field.
“Our record was better last year,” head coach Scott Stan said. “We’ve gone eight or nine seasons with double-digit wins in a row. We try to play the hardest schedule we can find. It’s been a struggle, but I think we are playing well against the top teams.”
As they progress through the season, Stan is making every player feel that they have an impact on the team.
Stan spoke on the many different roles the team has. Some are regular starters and others are rotational players who keep up the energy.
“With thirty-three people on the team, it’s hard to feel you’re individually important,” Stan said.
The solution for Stan was the daily devotional that the team reads before every practice. Every athlete, from freshmen to seniors, takes turns reading, building a spiritual connection that helps bond the team together.
The team has learned to come together and create solid chemistry, a crucial factor during games.
“I just love the girls on the team. It’s one of the best things about being here, having people surrounding me that love me and will pick me up,” said sophomore defender Campbell Massey.
Massey described testimony night as a tremendous way to connect the players.
“It is something special. We all understand where we’ve been and what we’ve gone through. It helps us grow together,” Massey said, “We are here for one thing, and that is for Jesus and growing His kingdom.”
Senior forward Audrey Grimm spoke about the team’s ability to connect all the players. “We can get the job done when we need to, but we also have a lot of fun,” Grimm said, “I have a lot of great memories with the people on this team.”
The Trojans look to continue their momentum, having won the last two games 17-0 over the Defiance Yellow Jackets and 5-1 over the Trinity Christian Trolls.
The win over Defiance was the biggest win in program history, breaking a 12-year-old record going back to Taylor’s first-ever soccer match hosted in Turner Stadium.
“It was a record I wasn’t expecting to beat in my time here at Taylor. It was a great game for us,” said Grimm.
Grimm, along with five other players, scored two or more goals in the game. The wins have excited the team as they prepare for the upcoming conference games, instilling motivation to put in extra work to improve the team.
Massey had a successful week as well. She won the Crossroads League Defensive Player of the Week after her performances against Defiance and Trinity Christian.
“I’m going into sophomore year knowing what to expect from this season and how to play. Knowing how to push the team and leading by example is what I attribute to this,” Campbell said.
With two losses and ties, the Trojans have had plenty of opportunity to learn.
“I think that we were really tested earlier on. We learned how to adapt and adjust to the field. We’re going to bring that into the conference games,” said Grimm.
In the games against Northwest Ohio, they returned in the last eight minutes and tied the game. In our first game against Carol, they scored at the last minute to tie it.”
As the season progresses, Stan looks to continue the win streak in their upcoming match, the Trojans' first Crossroads League conference game of the season, against Saint Francis.
“We’re just going to do what we do. I think it will be a great game for us, but we aren’t nervous at all. They’re good, and we respect them. It’s been a long time since they’ve beaten us. We are going to come in and play hard and fast,” Stan said.
