Women’s Soccer Battle Non-Conference Opponents
Jarred Hubbard
After an underachieving season last year, the women’s soccer team look to improve and grow as a unit from 2018–2019’s disappointing record of 0-19. Manchester’s schedule has 18 contests with 7 being played on Good Field and 11 of the remaining games on the road. The Spartans will host the Hanover Panthers, Anderson Orioles, and the Transylvania Bats.
The Lady Spartans have also brought in more first years to come into the young core. They enter the season with 10 fresh faces added to the roster. But most recently they have gone on a small 7-game losing streak. Head Coach Christine Johnson, who is entering her 4th year at Manchester, comes into this season with higher goals and expectations set for the team.
She also brought in Josh Routte as an assistant coach to help deliver a winning attitude and more mental toughness. Routte was team captain and goalkeeper at Muskingum University before becoming goalkeeper coach and a managing member for 614 Ultimate Goalkeeper LLC.
Four players have been named as “players to watch’’ by the HCAC. Katie Green, Jayden Murray, Bridget Nash and Jessica Hudnall were all recognized and acknowledged for being this year’s standouts. They have set the stage in past years, with Nash and Hudnall appearing in all 19 games last year as first years.
The Lady Spartans played two games this past weekend against Otterbein and Olivet, both of which slipped away, and will return to the pitch at home against Alma on Saturday at 4 p.m.