Adrenaline in the Air as WSOCC Kicks Off Season with Top-Tier AAC, NCAA Aspirations
By: Victoria White



    Every game before the Mustangs emerge onto the emerald pitch, the team blares music and dances like no one is watching.

    "Typically before we go out, in the locker, we just have a huge dance party," senior forward/midfielder Blair Thorpe said. "That's probably my favorite [team tradition]."

    Getting pumped up for ensuing competition will occur on Thursday, Aug. 16, when the women's soccer squad faces the DePaul Blue Demons at 7 p.m. on Westcott Field, for the first match of the season.

    "We know how to have a lot of fun," junior midfielder Emily Cope said. "We're a pretty funny team. Everyone's laughing. We are very serious when we need to be and we get work done. But, we definitely enjoy the process of it happening."

    The Mustangs have their sights set on surpassing last season's accomplishments by clinching an American Athletic Conference Championship and making a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

    "Team goals [are] we want to win conference," junior midfielder/forward Hailey Bishop said. "We want to win the conference tournament and we want to win an NCAA game."

    Personal goals for Bishop and Cope include scoring goals and serving in whatever capacity they are needed. Junior defender Jessica Cooley is striving to support all offensive endeavors, as well.

    "[My goals are to] work on my defense and try to get up the field as much as I can, as outside back, to help the offense," Cooley said.

    Ushering in a seven-strong incoming freshmen class, the upperclassmen have high hopes for how new skills and personalities will be implemented within the team.

    "I think we have a talented class and big potential," junior defender Katharine Herron said. "I'm really excited to have new talent, new players, a lot of depth on the bench and [to] be able to dominate in conference."

    Senior goalkeeper Catie Brown said the team has meshed well so far. She believes that their closeness off-the-field will translate to in-game success.
"We're not a clique-y team," Brown said. "We all really love each other and we're all just a big family. The way we've adopted the freshmen this year just adds that team chemistry and us being able to play as a team, win as a team, lose as a team. So, I think that'll be one of the huge advantages that we have going into the season."

    Additionally, the young talent has upperclassmen excited to build on the success of season's past and work together to accomplish their goals.  

    "I'm excited to see how we work together, our attack and how many goals we can score," Cooley said.

    Each team member has a unique passion for the sport and aspect about the team that they love most.

    "I like the style of play," sophomore forward Hannah Allred said. "I think that everyone fits together really well and [I] love the camaraderie of the team on and off the field."

    Ahead of the first game this year, Allred said her favorite memory on the team so far is the 2017 season opener against the then 17^th ranked Razorbacks.

    "My favorite memory from last year was the first game of the season when we beat Arkansas in overtime on a golden goal," Allred said. "The whole team was just celebrating together and the men's team was there. It was just a moment of unity between everyone and I really liked it."

                Sophomore midfielder Isabelle Nashmi also enjoys the togetherness.

    "I like the competitiveness [of soccer] the most," Nashmi said. "I like how it's really aggressive and I like that we can all play as a team together. That's my favorite part."

    Preparing for the season has been a grind.

    "Practice has been really intense," Nashmi said. "Everyone's kind of fighting to start, so it brings this extra fire to practices. I think the intensity has been really good."

    Allred agreed.

    "I think the level that our team is at this year is bringing out the best in everyone because everyone wants to compete and play," Allred said. "So, we're all trying to prove ourselves as much as we can."

    Positive practice sessions have been the key to a productive preseason for Brown.

    "Every practice, whatever skill or formation we've been working on in that practice, we've always come out of it really positively at the end. We haven't had a practice that we've been like, 'oh we just couldn't really get that' and I think that's something super positive about this preseason in particular," Brown said. "So far, it's been a really successful preseason for us."

    Conference play is slated to begin on Thursday, Sept. 20^th at home when SMU hosts American league opponent, Temple. In the midst of making their way through a challenging schedule, the Mustangs are ultimately aiming to achieve American Athletic Conference and NCAA triumph.

    "I think we can definitely make it back to the NCAA Tournament," redshirt-junior midfielder Hannah Fleet said. "Bottom line, we should definitely aim to win the conference tournament and make it back [to NCAAs]."