NCAA recognizes women's soccer improvement

Steven Beauregard Guest Writer

It was a memorable season for Vassar's women's soccer team as their hard work and determination payed off in a winning record for the first time in three years. The vast improvement from last season, when the Brewers won seven fewer games, prompted the NCAA to name the team the sixth most improved in division three on Jan. 10. Led by new Interim Coach Tony Mohammed and Assistant Coach Eric Seideman, the Brewers posted an impressive 10-8-1 record. Mohammed cites improvement in developing strategies as a source of the team’s success.

"Coming in we had a talented group of players and we focused on the tactical aspects of the game. We worked on the 4-4-2 formation and how to defend as a team. Throughout the preseason we focused on our defensive schemes and the move on to how to be offensive. The biggest change was in our tactical improvement," said Mohammed.

Coach Mohammed was also instrumental in the team's turnaround, according to junior goal keeper Alice England.

"Tony helped turn our team around by making us a very strong passing team. We were always capable of playing at this level, but as a result of our well-planned practice sessions and his system of coaching we were able to achieve it this year. Even though we had many returning players this season, we became a completely different team from last year," said England. Freshman mid–fielder Annika O'Dea also gave the team's coaches credit for the strong performance this season.

"He was one of the best coaches I've ever had; he was very organized, focused and dedicated and that really helped the whole program," explains O'Dea.

Mohammed hopes to become the permanent coach next year and wants to apply for the position, which will be the subject of a national job search. The Brewer's remarkable season and the positive feedback from players could allow Mohammed to continue his work that has had such outstanding results in the past. Regardless, he says that the national search will guarantee a "qualified coach."
Mohammed also attributes the successful season to the team coming together and working as a whole.

"We don't really have a hierarchy on the team. The way we look at it, everyone has an equal role and voice. We feel that way we get the most out of all our players," said Mohammed. Sophomore Ali Fantl, who was injured during the season, agrees that team unity was a critical factor in the team's results.

The talent of freshmen was also key, according to Captain Sarah Combs ’05. At the end of the season, freshmen filled all four of the starting defender positions.

As for the NCAA's announcement, Mohammed says that "it was great to get recognized...it's a testament to how hard everyone worked." Fantl was also thrilled but says they "didn't need the actual title to know how much we improved."

It is worth noting that, in addition to the abundance of wins this season, the team also had many close loses. Both Mohammed and Fanti spoke of two separate games, both of which the Brewers lost- that best reflected the team’s ability. Mohammed recalled a game against Hamilton, a team that the Brewers lost to by three goals last season, that was particularly close. There were two shots off the post in the first half, but the team ended up losing by one.

However, it was their strong play that was remembered by Mohammed. Fantl felt the same way about a game against St. Lawrence where the Brewer's lost by one after coming back to tie it at two.

The team has already set higher goals for next season and the coach has said he wants them to win more conference games and hopefully the conference championship. O'Dea hopes that Mohammed will be leading the team once again.

“With the coach we have now, we will keep improving," she said.