By Alex Riley
Special to SMUMustangs.com
DALLAS – Play the game long enough and you'll see just about everything soccer has to offer. At least, that's what SMU graduate student Katina Tsapos once thought.
Last year was her fifth year with the Mustangs and she was ready to cap her career on a high note. Instead, she got an experience no one saw coming.
"It was probably the hardest year of my six years. There's been hard times, but nothing compared to what we all went through," Tsapos said of the team's COVID-shortened 2020-21 campaign.
SMU's fall 2020 schedule was shifted to the spring in response to the pandemic. A season that was supposed to start on February 9 featured a combined six postponements or cancelations before a season-opening match at Temple on March 17. A win against the Owls, followed four days later by an overtime loss to East Carolina was all the Mustangs were able to get in before COVID brought things to a premature end.
Six months later, the SMU women are back – with something to prove.
"I think our message this year is just perseverance," redshirt junior goalie Samantha Estrada said. "I think that if we can get through last year, we can get through anything this year. I feel like we're a lot stronger together. We trust each other more because of last year."
The 2021 roster features a blend of experienced players who have literally seen it all at this point, along with a large contingent who still don't fully grasp college soccer at the Division I level.
After the nine total upperclassmen and grad transfers are a combined 19 freshmen and true sophomores. With safety protocols often determining how much time players could spend together last year, this offseason became an exercise in building team chemistry as those restrictions relaxed.
"We're really focusing on how our individual actions, efforts and work ethic and things like that are impacting the great good of the team, and how individually we can contribute to produce outcomes and results and things like that," senior midfielder Courtney Sebazco said of the message the veterans are passing on to younger players.
Added junior midfielder Wayny Balata: "I think, especially with the new players and the returners, it's about trying to get that bond going so we can go through the season united and focused and connected. Once we get that going, I think we can definitely have a good season because we do have some good players."
The shortened previous season and lack of experience for a significant portion of the roster is a big reason why coach Chris Petrucelli built a preseason schedule that featured three exhibitions, including a match with Ole Miss at home and a visit to TCU. The ultimate goal is to be ready when the regular season opens at Houston Baptist August 19.
"We put in three exhibitions because, one, I knew they wanted to play and, two, we needed to play," Petrucelli said. "We needed to get 11 together and play against another team. I do think that there's a sense of urgency in the group and definitely they appreciate and are grateful that they get to play. You never really had that feeling before because you never really lost it. But now that they've lost that opportunity, I think every time they play they're grateful for it."
The preseason conversation for players seemingly ends with a similar message – SMU women's soccer is ready to compete for something bigger.
The common theme is to use last season's struggles as a motivational springboard for success this fall. With a schedule that features four NCAA Tournament qualifiers from last spring, three of which were conference champions, the Mustangs certainly have a shot. And after a year of uncertainty, they're excited to embrace a little optimism.
"I definitely have good hope in us and good faith in us," redshirt senior forward Jewel Boland said. "At the end of the day, you never know what will happen, but I'm an optimistic person and I feel like we can definitely get a championship and make a big name for ourselves and SMU soccer."
