Several unknowns are facing the Madison College women’s soccer team this season.
First, it is making the move to NJCAA Division II, along with other WolfPack teams. The team had won four Region 4 Division III titles in the last six years.
Secondly, it has to replace 11 players from last year’s team, which won a conference and regional title and posted eight wins. Gone are top scorers Madison Johnson, Lexi Kulow and Lize Foye who scored a combined 15 goals and had 12 assists.
Finally, it has an all-time high 16 newcomers to the team, many of whom will be called upon to play significant roles this season.
Coach Matt Schwartz, who returns for his eighth season leading the team, is excited about what the season holds. He has eight returning players, including four who received post-season honors last year, and sees a lot of talent in the incoming class.
Team captains Keirstin McHugh, a forward, Savi Pursley, a midfield, and Peyton Yaun, a defender, will serve as team captains this year. They are joined by goalkeeper Morgan Thompson, who had the second highest number of saves in a single season with 115 last year.
“We have a great core group coming back this fall that will help carry their experience over to the new players,” Schwartz said in a news release posted on the athletic department website.
“We will be looking to Peyton (Yaun) and Savi (Pursley) to bring the edge to a rebuilding defensive unit that will be most likely featuring a number of first years.
“Kierstin (McHugh) will be invaluable up top for us, and hopefully can continue to build on the momentum she finished last season with. Anytime you can return a goalkeeper is an enormous benefit to your program and Morgan is one of the best to mind the sticks.”
The team opened the season with a come-from-behind 3-2 road win over Oakton College on Oct. 18. McHugh scored the game winner at the 72 minute mark, her second goal of the game and the seventh of her career.
The other goal was scored by Camille Gilbertson, a freshman from Cottage Grove, early in the second half to tie the game. Pursley had assists on the WolfPack’s first two goals.
Gilbertson is one of the incoming freshmen expected to contribute this season. She is joined by forwards Atziry Ocampo and Delaney Bracken, midfielder Emma Purcell and Logan Vollert and defenders Mirella Zielke and Alyssa Moore.
Madison College will open its home season on Aug. 26, with a match against Prairie State College at noon.
The next home game will be on Sept. 12 against Kankakee Community College at 3 p.m.