The 2024 Citrus College women’s soccer season is here and they’ve made it clear that not only are they here to play, but have their eyes set on collecting their second conference title.
Despite the team failing to make the playoffs last year and finishing with a conference record of 8-4-2, everyone, especially head coach Tim Tracy, is determined not to let the same fate repeat itself this year.
Tracy said he intends on structuring his team to not come up short again by “really reinforcing the idea that every game matters and every result matters. It prevented us from making the playoffs because of those four ties ,which can’t happen again.”
At 6 p.m. on Sept. 6 the Owls open the beginning of their preseason against San Diego Mesa at Citrus College Stadium, a team in which they lost an exhibition game to last year 2-1 away from home.
However despite having lost to Mesa last year Tracy and the team seem fully committed to changing that result.
“Every year is a fresh opportunity,” he said. “I really like the character and the culture that these young ladies are bringing forth and it’s always exciting.”
It’s not just Tracy that feels the character among the group.
“All the girls are connecting pretty well, there’s really no cliques … when you know yourselves on a personal level more, you build a bigger bond in sports,” said Emily Cherry, a midfielder for the Owls.
Jasmin Alvarado, a defender for the team, is also feeling the group connection.
She said she loves that the group “are all making bonds that we can carry out off the field.”
In addition to the growing bonds the team have with each other, this group is eager to showcase their other qualities that will help propel them to a second championship in five years.
Another aspect that stands out with this team is “our IQ of play is better than what I’ve seen last year,” said Stevie Spencer, a captain and center back for the team. “When we are playing together we are connecting better, and we are more comfortable with each other on and off the field.”
Despite losing sophomores Jayme Beatty and Dianna Garcia last year, both of which combined for 25 of the Owls’ 50 total goals for the year, the team seem excited for their new batch of attackers.
“Our attack is better than last season…this year we have girls that have a little bit more of a higher IQ that play in the forwards position, and they have very strong shots,” said Cherry
One game in which the Owls can test their new firepower up top will be against College of the Canyons. Last year the team lost 4-0 in their home leg but tied 1-1 in the return leg, with a large majority of the team labeling this game as their most anticipated matchup with.
Spencer said, “it was very fun to play because of the competition.”
This year the women’s team is set to play The Canyon’s again Oct. 4 and 29.A full list of the games this season can be viewed here.
