Photo: Illinois Wesleyan University
This past sunday, October 18, the women’s soccer team had their only competitive game of the fall, an intra squad scrimmage. Due to COVID-19 the CCIW cancelled fall sports competition and this included women’s soccer.
There has been no word on whether the CCIW will proceed with spring season sports or if the fall canceled sports will compete in the spring. To replace the canceled season the team held four weeks of limited contact and COVID protocol-laced practices, fifteen in total.
“The cancellation of our season did not come as a surprise to a majority of the team. Nonetheless, it was very disappointing because soccer has been part of our lives for so long, it is our escape from school, work and stressors” said Junior captain Rachel White.
There is a possibility that they will play a shortened regular season and conference but nothing has been officially decided upon or been brought to the attention of the schools.
The team is led by head coach Tony Dulak and two captains. The scrimmage included three 20 minute games with rotated teams so everyone got the chance to play with each other and have constant play.
Photo: Andrew Zienty
“If we get to play in the spring, we could be competing for another CCIW championship. The thought of us being three-peat champions is keeping us going” senior captain Sydney Pinder said.
The white team won the first game 1-0 with a goal from junior forward Heather Dietrich. The white team also won game two 1-0 with a goal from freshman midfielder Anny Mitra. Game three went to the green team 2-0 with goals from sophomore midfielder Ang Kosmas and freshman forward Izzy Mitra.
“We have potential to play at a high level again this year, we need to focus on finishing chances on goal offensively and preventing breakdowns defensively” Pinder said.
“Competing again reminded us all why we haven’t given the sport up altogether and why we are still fighting to play the sport we love again” White said.
The first competition of the year was a double-edged sword, “we finally got that feeling of competing back, and we won’t feel that again for at least a couple of months” White said.
Last fall season the team went 15-6 in overall play while going 7-1 in conference play which earned them the CCIW conference title and another spot in the NCAA tournament.