Earlier this month, the women’s soccer team fell to the University of Southern California Trojans 3-0 in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Columbia, Mo. The loss officially ended the season for the Bluejays.
“Our main goal was the NCAA second round, because it meant getting further than any Creighton women’s soccer team has been,” coach Bruce Erickson said.
Despite USC’s victory, going further than any other Creighton team “will remain the goal,” Erickson said when referring to the coming seasons.
“I think by being better and consistent the whole year, we put ourselves in a better match-up than playing at USC, who is in the Final Eight at the moment,” he said.
The Bluejays finished their season with a record of 11-8-2, MVC Scholar-Athlete Awards and Creighton’s fourth MVC Championship.
“Coming together and accomplishing it as a team was a huge accomplishment this year,” senior midfielder Tristan Moser-Bleil said.
Now, with the season in the past, Creighton is already making preparations for the season next fall.
“We have to work harder this off-season than any other year. We have a lot to work on and we haven’t scratched the surface on how good we can be,” Erickson said. “Everyone has to commit to being a better player and work to improve the team as a whole.”
Even some of the players who will be returning for next season have begun their preparation.
“Hard work and dedication during the off-season is what is going to make us the best team out there, and the availability of using all of the players on the team to increase and sustain the tone and tempo of the game,” junior forward Marcy Gans said.
The team’s effort will not be the only thing tweaked this off-season as the players have begun to personally condition.
“This off-season, I will do a lot of conditioning and footwork to improve my speed and vertical,” junior goalkeeper Kristen Casey said. “I will make and set specific goals of where I want to be for the spring season and going into the fall.”
The theme for this past season has been working with goals to accomplish great feats and the Bluejays will continue to work with goals to improve into next season.
“I think most of my goals will remain, but strive to get better and, as a team, go further in the NCAA tournament,” Gans said.
As with every season, a senior class of teammates will depart for life beyond college. Moser-Bleil will be heading back to Minnesota next year, but leaves advice for her underclassmen teammates.
“I think they just need to keep building upon what is already here and always strive to push this program further,” Moser-Bleil said. “College soccer is such a unique experience that flies by, so I would advise them not to take it for granted.”
Although many months of work still lie ahead for the women’s soccer team, the upcoming season is not far from the doorstep, and Erickson remains optimistic for next year’s team.
“We have a very talented group coming in next fall so there should be great depth and competition,” Erickson said. “We will continue to score goals and create an attack that is already dangerous [even] more dangerous, and a defending group that becomes all the more stingy.”