With a youthful squad, the Heidelberg women’s soccer team looks to rebound after a difficult 2011 season. Head coach Nick Spell enters his sixth season at Heidelberg with a young, but not inexperienced team. “We will be a team of youth but our sophomores gained valuable game experience. We look for them to carry that knowledge and experience into this season,”
Returning from a season ending injury a year ago is senior Rachel Johann (Evansville, Ind./Reitz). In 2010 Johann played in 18 games with 12 starts. She recorded two goals on 14 shots, 3 of which were on goal and one assist. A year after her injury, she is eager to get back of on the field again for the Berg in her senior season.
Offensively, the Berg will get back Krista Blake (Geneva), who did not play during the 2011 season. As a forward in 2010 however, Blake tallied one goal and four assists in her 19 games, all of which she started. Helping Blake offensively will be fellow senior forward Bethany Mattern (Youngstown/ Austintown Fitch) and sophomore midfielder Stephanie Crossman (Dayton/Bellbrook) who both saw considerable playing time in 2011.
Besides the eleven freshmen that will join the Heidelberg community as players, Blaine Bishop will join the team as the new Graduate Assistant. As a center midfielder at Hanover College (Ind.), Bishop helped the Panthers win a Heartland Conference championship and earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Bishop commented that she is, “excited for the girls to get on to campus, excited to see where they are developmentally and excited for the competition to begin.”
The Berg will open their season against Case Western Reserve on August 31st then Grove City the following day in Tiffin at Peaceful Valley. The Heidelberg women will then travel to Bishop’s alma mater and compete against Hanover College on September 8th. Like the men’s soccer team, the women’s team will open OAC play on September 29th when they travel to Marietta.